Welcome to Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels and share what makes them worthy of your wishlist.
Ever since Noosa was voted the best town in Australia in Australian Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, it has been high on my list to revisit. It’s been some 15 years since I headed to the coastal resort area on the Sunshine Coast, which gets to boast that it’s home to one of only two Everglades in the world. It now also gets to boast that it’s home to the newly opened Noosa Elysium Resort, a five-star accommodation, which was high on most travel journalists’ lists to check into when it opened its doors. I stayed at the sister property, Manly Pacific, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches one month prior, which was brilliant, so my expectations were high.
On arrival, the freshly painted white building, which has retained its ‘80s bones and is surrounded by palm trees, feels immediately nostalgic. Originally built in 1989 as a Sheraton before being reborn in 2013 as the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, its third iteration is certainly its most fabulous. And that’s thanks to the $30 million rebrand. The property sits on Noosa’s main drag, Hastings Street, and inside, it’s light and breezy in the way all good resorts are, signalling it’s time to slow down and relax.
The nostalgic white facade.
Natural light pours into the lobby's floor-to-ceiling windows.
Right on cue, a glass of bubbles lands in my mum’s and my hands. We relax in the double-height ceiling lobby as a friendly staff member talks us through the hotel’s offerings, before guiding us to our suite.
It’s a big call to make, and I promise it’s not recency bias, but this suite appeals to my design sensibilities more than any other I’ve stayed in. Mum agrees. Melbourne-based studio Mitchell & Eades was responsible for the modern coastal design, which sees oatmeal and pale blue punctuated by tangerine accents, alongside light-coloured timber, rattan and linen. Colourful, abstract artworks commissioned by Western Australian artist Sarana Haeata line the walls and bring a bit of personality to the understated space.
There are many things I love about this suite, but three things really stand out to me as considered design. The first: a hallway which doubles as a walk-in wardrobe with two suitcase racks (so the second traveller doesn’t have to awkwardly unfold their bag on the floor) and both slides for the pool and slippers. The second: a huge kitchenette and minibar that is well stocked with premium bits such as local Noosa Vodka, Nil Desperandum Rum, Australian wine, Ruinart, nuts, chips and chocolate. There’s also a Zip Tap and small dishwasher.
A modern coastal design by Melbourne-based studio Mitchell & Eades dominates the rooms.
Colourful arworks act as the perfect visual centrepiece for the newly renovated walls. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Gold accents create a sophisticated, luxe aesthetic.
Guests are provided with high-quality robes, ESPA toiletries and a premium Dyson hairdryer.
Mum takes a photo of the bathroom for design inspiration. It’s enveloped in marble and elevated with gold accents, and there is a huge double walk-in shower, two vanities, a freestanding bath and Dyson hairdryer. Outside, a balcony with tangerine-and-white striped chairs overlooks the Noosa River and makes for an idyllic sunset spot during the stay.
Bar Capri and Cibaria are the dining facilities onsite so we head down for a quick lunch to taste some of head chef Lucas Bach’s menu. Lush, tropical greenery gives the open space an almost jungle-treehouse vibe as we tuck into lobster rolls, oysters, fritto misto, and burrata with peach paired with a Sicilian spicy marg and passionfruit mojito.
Wine and dine at Cibaria Noosa. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
Tuck into delicious Italian-inspired bites. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
We spend the rest of the day by the pool. It’s huge and the swim-up bar is an extra bit of fun that makes you feel like you could be at a resort somewhere like Fiji. There are plenty of loungers and umbrellas (120 to be exact), but spreading out in one of the cabanas is definitely the way to go. From here, you can relax on white sunbeds or the sofa and order drinks and nibbles straight to you. We spend hours here on a demanding schedule of swimming, sipping, eating and reading.
Dinner both nights is spent at Cibaria. There are lots of different nooks to get cosy in so you feel like you’re having a different experience each evening. I’d recommend sitting at the bar where you can take in the culinary theatre and have a chat with the chefs. The menu centres on the “ias": bisteccheria, forneria, spaghetteria, and pasticceria. I ordered the same main on both occasions because it’s that good: pennette vodka with Moreton Bay bug and spicy vodka sauce. We also indulge in yellowfin tuna crudo, a prawn cocktail and the must-order tiramisu.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Order drinks and nibbles at the swim-up bar. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
There are 120 loungers by the pool. (Credit: Elise Hassey)
When we return to our room, turndown service treats await – tea, chocolate and our slippers laid out – and the gentle hum of meditation music lulls us into a slumber.
Come morning, the Cibaria space transforms into Terrazzo where a full buffet spread offers a more elevated take on the usual hot and cold breakfast suspects, including native spreads and Eumundi Butcher’s sausages. The only downside is the barista-made coffee was average on both mornings.
Elysium Noosa Resort is beautifully considered and best suited to families looking for a luxurious coastal stay or couples on a romantic getaway. Its perfect positioning makes it a great base for exploring Noosa proper, that is, if you can pull yourself away from the calm resort atmosphere, which I definitely could not.
This will be my last column for our Hotel Addict series in Australia. Next month, I will be packing my bags and relocating to the UK. You’ll find my writing popping up on our sister website, International Traveller. But this stay truly was the perfect accommodation to end on; coastal views, sunshine and Moreton Bay bug pasta – a girl couldn’t ask for more.
Accessibility: Accessible rooms feature open-plan layouts with lowered peepholes and light switches, bathroom/toilet handrails and kitchenettes with underbench clearance. Public spaces are accessibility friendly.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Rachael Thompson is a freelance travel journalist. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love, Bed Threads and Australian Traveller/International Traveller. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
When the winter chill settles in, an escape to Hamilton Island’s year-round tropical shores is the only acceptable coping mechanism.
As a heliophile with the cold tolerance of a Mediterranean house cat, the arrival of winter tends to spark a particular panic. How will I survive? Must I really start layering? What do you mean, Aperol season is over? But there are far better ways to spend the cooler months than sulking in the depths of your doona.
Enter, Hamilton Island. With its year-round sunshine and permanent on-holiday atmosphere, this Whitsundays favourite promises a veritable slice of summer in winter.
Think salt-stiff hair and the smug pleasure of devouring seafood beside the water while friends back home are defogging their windscreens. Here’s why Hamilton Island should figure into your winter plans.
1. Year-round summer weather
Hike under sunny winter skies on Hamilton Island. (Image: Andrew Caitens)
In the crisper months, Hamilton Island offers perfectly mild, sunny weather (17-24°C) that lends itself to morning swims and afternoon spritzes. Better still, you can enjoy the island’s outdoor adventures – from hiking to mountain biking – without the humidity or rain you’ll often find in summertime. With direct flights from most major Australian cities offering ease of access, Hamilton Island is the ideal place to flee the cold.
2. Getting active without the humidity
Zip around Hamilton Island by buggy. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Whether you’re hiking up to Passage Peak or exploring the island by buggy, tropical Queensland humidity is nobody’s friend. The one way to guarantee you will avoid the inevitable stickiness and fluffy hair? Visit during winter. There’s plenty to be enjoyed, from sunrise yoga at The Sundays (exclusive to guests of The Sundays) to playing golf on Dent Island.
3. Hamilton Island Race Week
Feel the thrill of Hamilton Island Race Week. (Image: Salty Dingo)
Taking place in August, Hamilton Island Race Week is a destination in its own right that attracts spectators and racers from around the globe. Boating enthusiasts and thrill-seeking holidaymakers flock to the island, which is palpably energetic as the first yachts set off for Dent Passage from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The annual action-packed week, taking place from 15 to 22 August in 2026, offers an exciting calendar of on- and off-water events – spanning everything from celebrity chef dinners to golfing comps and wine tastings.
4. Best time for snorkelling
Explore Hamilton Island’s winter waters. (Image: Andrew Caitens)
While the crowds on Hamilton Island may disperse with the cooler weather, the marine life certainly doesn’t. Winter is widely considered one of thebest times to snorkel and dive in the Whitsundays.
It’s down to a number of reasons: excellent water visibility, higher chances of seeing whales as they migrate north and – best of all – no nasty stingers. This means no need to wear those notoriously unflattering full-body wetsuits visitors have to wear in warmer months. On top of all this, you’ll find calm seas ideal for sailing and Great Barrier Reef tours.
5. Fewer crowds
Experience a quieter Hamilton Island on a kayaking adventure. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Winter is often the quietest time to visit Hamilton Island, with the peak season crowds thinned to a relaxed trickle. You can snorkel or dive straight off the reef-laced waters of Catseye Beach, then swap fins for a buggy and zip between One Tree Hill, the marina and sunset cocktails without the usual summer queues. Active days stretch from kayaking, sailing and jet skiing to hopping over to famous Whitehaven Beach to witness those breathtaking white swirls of silica sand. You won’t have to elbow your way to the front of the crowd to get a good snap.
6. Delicious dining
Treat yourself to Bommie Restaurant’s fine dining featuring fresh, seasonal Aussie produce. (Image: Nikki To)
The food on Hamilton Island tastes just as good any time of year, and winter is still perfect weather for sundowners. Start with an iced tea Negroni at harbourside Bommie Deck, before transitioning to Bommie Restaurant for a fine-dining feast centering on seasonal Aussie ingredients. Or perhaps enjoy a more casual poolside evening at Sails Restaurant, where plates of chermoula chicken skewers, baked cauliflower steak and crispy sumac squid come served with ocean views. From family-friendly pub meals to elevated wine tastings, there’s something for everyone.
5. Clear skies for idyllic views
End your day with golden Hamilton Island sunsets over the water. (Image: Hamilton Island)
Never let a cloud rain on the parade of Hamilton Island’s spectacular scenery. Winter brings clearer skies and more stable weather to the Whitsundays, meaning your picture-perfect sunset at One Tree Hill is likely to remain that way. And after putting in the legwork to hike to a scenic lookout, the last thing you want is a vista hidden behind low cloud and haze.
