We are constantly surrounded by pictures of travelers who post images of gorgeous views on social media taken from the tailgate of their vintage van, while between a cuddle with their partner and a cup of steaming coffee, they enjoy a breakfast with a view at dawn.
I enjoyed such trip from Brisbane to Noosa on a rental van as you can also rent one in Australia.
I was so impressed by Noosa that I decided to stay longer than expected.
Noosa Main Beach is a white and golden sand beach and perhaps one of the most beautiful beaches in eastern Australia, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and close to Noosa National Park, a national park with more than 10 kilometers of coastline, including wilderness trails and lots of wildlife to see.
Hastings Street is the main street in Noosa village and it is dotted with shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and boutiques.
The Australia Zoo is not far from here and it is a zoo famous for its rich collection of exotic animals. It was one of the places in my bucket list to visit here in Australia.
It is located in Beerwah and it was just a short drive away from our spot.
Although the Zoo focuses mainly on crocodiles and similar (almost half of the Zoo is dedicated to them), it offers the opportunity to see most of the Australian animals (and some that have nothing to do with Australia). As soon as we entered, needless to say, the first thing we went to see were large reptiles so after the show with the tortoises we waited until late morning to be able to watch the show with the crocodiles. I have to say that the show disappointed me a little if only because I was used to seeing Steve Irwin's exploits on television and the show wasn’t up to the part. The whole show lasted 30 minutes during which they joked with the audience, showed the various (non-venomous) snakes present at the Zoo, put on a really beautiful show with different types of birds and finally the show with the crocodile. It's a shame, however, that it lasted maybe 5, maximum 10 minutes, probably also because I had the impression that the trainer wasn't really at ease with the crocodile (which was also a beast measuring almost 5m).
After the show we went to visit the kangaroos, which are really docile and soft, and then the koalas (even softer). Then we finally visited the tigers and had a bite to eat inside the park.
In this area there is even a place called Noosa Everglades: a freshwater and brackish system located on the northernmost part of the Sunshine Coast, offering an unforgettable kayaking and canoeing experience.
There are several golf courses and many Australians play this sport because Aussies love any outdoor activity.
If you ever come to Sydney, you can take a direct flight to Brisbane, followed by a bus or rental car to reach Noosa Heads. Alternatively, you can fly direct to Sunshine Coast Airport and then take a bus or rental car to reach Noosa Heads or rent a van to travel around in total freedom. Van life is cool - perhaps only for a few days - and Australia is the right place where to try it because there are many parking spots for vans with public facilities such as showers, bathrooms and changing rooms too.
