Village Green: Your Sustainable Travel Guide to Noosa
You know it for its picture-perfect beaches and lush hinterland, but did you know the Sunshine Coast region of Noosa has serious cred on the eco-tourism front? In this landscape of extraordinary beauty, you’ll find a solar-powered ceramic studio, restaurants getting creative with food waste and five-star luxury sans the single-use plastic. This means you can hike the UNESCO-recognised Noosa Biosphere Reserve, kayak the Noosa Everglades or laze by the seaside – where the only footprints you leave behind will be in the sand. We teamed up with the good folk at Visit Noosa to create this sustainable travel guide to Noosa!
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED (BELOW RIGHT: BOUNCE NOOSA)
EAT
LANAI NOOSA
An elegant lunch with a view of the Noosa River? Don’t mind if we do! The Lanai Noosa team creates magic with sustainably sourced seafood and locally crafted artisan products. Native ingredients are blended with exotic influences, a theme that runs throughout the entire menu, from oysters served with a Green Apple mignonette to ‘Fairy Bread’ donuts with vanilla custard and Davidson Plum syrup. Dress up, kick back with a chilli margarita and enjoy a spot of coastal bliss! We had a chat with Ryan Fitzpatrick, owner and Executive Chef, about what makes Lanai tick…
Lanai is known for its innovative pairing of native ingredients with exotic influences. How do you go about conceptualising a new dish?
Creating a new dish usually starts with a seasonal ingredient or a native element we’re excited about – something fresh, local, and full of character. From there, we look at how we can elevate or contrast that with flavours or techniques from around the world. It’s a bit like storytelling through food – each dish needs balance, personality, and a little surprise. Collaboration plays a big part, too; we workshop ideas in the kitchen, trial combinations, and refine until it feels just right on the plate and fits the Lanai experience.
Is sustainable and local sourcing important to you?
Absolutely! It’s at the core of what we do. Sourcing sustainably and locally isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about respect – for the environment, for our producers, and for the ingredients themselves. We’re lucky to be surrounded by incredible produce here, and we believe the best food starts with knowing where it comes from and how it’s grown or caught. Supporting local suppliers also means we’re investing back into our community, which is just as important to us as what ends up on the plate.
How has being situated in Noosa influenced your – and Lanai’s! – vibe?
Being in Noosa has shaped everything about Lanai – from the way we approach food to the atmosphere we create. There’s an effortless, coastal energy here that really encourages a slower pace and an appreciation for the simple things done well. That’s something we try to reflect in the restaurant: relaxed but refined, connected to the land and sea, and built around sharing good food with good people. The natural beauty and strong sense of community in Noosa constantly inspire us – it’s more than just a backdrop, it is part of who we are.
If you could pick your ‘last meal’, what would it be?
My wife’s Fiji Chicken Curry, it 100% ticks all the boxes! It’s an anytime meal too, for lunch, for dinner, late night post-session snack or even breakfast leftovers.
Sourcing sustainably and locally isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about respect – for the environment, for our producers, and for the ingredients themselves.
Lanai Noosa: 1/201 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville QLD 4566
LOCALE
Linger longer over dinner at Locale, an Italian-inspired eatery nestled in lush gardens just steps away from the golden sands of Noosa Main Beach. Think handmade pasta, fresh seafood and tempting antipasti, seasonally inspired and made with traditional Italian produce sourced fresh from Maravista Farm in the Noosa Hinterland. Food waste goes back to the farm to be transformed into compost, closing the farm-to-plate circle.
LUCIOS MARINA
Matteo Galletto’s family have been in the business of feeding people for generations! At Lucio’s Marina, he and his wife, Dieuwke, combine quality local seafood with the cooking traditions of northern Italy to create tastebud-tempting dishes.
SLOW FOOD NOOSA
Part of a global grassroots movement, Slow Food Noosa connects the joy of good food with a dedication to the community and the environment. In 2017, organisers introduced the “Snail of Approval” program, which celebrates producers and restaurants that use local, ethically sourced ingredients. Look out for food education events like Farm Trails – a perfect way to explore the region and meet the farmers!
SUNSHINE SOCIAL
Sun’s out, mugs out! Fill yours with a sustainably sourced brew from this community-minded roastery and café. Sunshine Social partners with Pottery for the Planet to offer a ‘mug library’, reducing the need for single-use cups. Ben Clark, owner of Sunshine Social, tells us more about how they’re making good coffee even better.
How important is supporting community to Sunshine Social?
The local community is everything to us. Being a socially and environmentally minded small business is core to everything we do. It’s in our blood and we see it as the only way to do business. Put simply, we want future generations to be able to enjoy coffee as much as we do. Sunshine Social is a real hub for locals and coffee lovers alike.
We partner with several incredible community organisations, including YouTurn who focus on youth homelessness and mental health in the region. We offer free Café and Barista Basics training for YouTurn clients to help give them a strong start on their hospitality pathway. We also raise funds for YouTurn annually through being an ambassador of the CafeSmart campaign. We also support other organisations such as Ocean Heroes who run surf lessons for kids on the spectrum, and we sponsor the Sunshine Beach Surf Club life members.
We love the idea of your ‘mug library’ and collab with Pottery for the Planet! Can you tell us a bit about your focus on a circular economy and managing your carbon footprint?
Our focus on a circular economy and reducing our carbon footprint helped us divert 13 tons of coffee grinds from landfill through donating grinds to local community gardens in the last 12 months. We voluntarily collect all of our grinds in bins and transport these to several locations in the shire at our own cost. We assessed our business’s environmental impact, and knew that we could turn our waste (coffee grinds) into a resource. When you add coffee grinds to the soil, this contributes to soil health and ecological resilience while supporting local gardeners to grow healthy food. The outcomes have been hugely positive both environmentally and socially.
Our community partners are saving both purchasing and transport costs on compost for their community / permaculture gardens. They’re also seeing stronger outcomes for their produce by adding high-quality organic matter and building resilience in the soil. This contributes to higher yield, better quality produce and strong health outcomes for individuals and the community as a whole. This initiative also reduces landfill costs for the Noosa Council, because we send less waste to landfill.
We also partner with Simply Cups: they collect our customers’ take-away coffee cups on site and convert these into sustainable upcycled products, including sustainable building materials. Our partnership with Pottery for the Planet involves upcycling their ‘imperfect’ cups by offering a ‘mug library’ for our customers, helping to reduce single use cups and Potter for the Planet’s waste.
We’ll also shortly be introducing GoodCups (washable, re-usable cups) into the café to start shifting away from single use cups entirely.
Being a socially and environmentally minded small business is core to everything we do. It’s in our blood and we see it as the only way to do business.
What’s the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had?
It was while travelling Australia with my wife and kids and camping at Osprey in Exmouth. Waking up, making a pour-over using the last of my Panama Geisha, ocean views, watching the kids snorkelling out front with turtles… There’s nothing better.
What makes you sit back at the end of a busy day at Sunshine Social and go, “That’s why we do it!”
Happy staff, happy customers and happy planet. When our team and customers are having a laugh together and enjoying good quality coffee out of sustainable cups while dripping wet after a surf out front – then I’m stoked.
Sunshine Social Coffee Roasters Café & Roastery: 26 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach. Sunshine Social Cotton Tree Café will be opening its doors at 1 King Street, Cotton Tree early September 2025.
STAY
ABOVE: SOFITEL NOOSA PACIFIC RESORT
TREAD LIGHTLY
Careful with your carbon footprint? Tread Lightly is a nifty program that offers visitors various ways to help offset the impact of their travels in the Noosa region. The initiative also includes beach, creek and riverside clean-ups, plus the chance to win over the local koala population by planting a tree on the Noosa Biosphere Trail. Homesick gardeners can don gloves and get involved in a bit of bush care. It’s a great way to give back!
RACV NOOSA RESORT
Stylish rooms, poolside dining and relaxed, family-friendly activities… No wonder RACV Noosa Resort was awarded People’s Choice for four years running at the Queensland Tourism Awards. It was also awarded Best Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Project by the Energy Efficiency Council in 2020 for efforts to reduce the resort’s energy consumption.
Partnering with Plastic Free Noosa, RACV Noosa Resort has eliminated plastic straws, non-recyclable coffee cups and water bottles, replacing them with fully compostable products and other alternatives. Just a few minutes’ drive from the region’s iconic beaches and the vibrant hub of Hastings Street, it’s the perfect escape for those with tiny tackers in tow.
SOFITEL NOOSA PACIFIC RESORT
With Sustainable Tourism Certification from Ecotourism Australia, Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort gives guests – and the planet – the five-star treatment. Be pampered in the Aqua Day Spa, then dine at the award-winning Noosa Beach House, where the menu highlights local suppliers. Indulge in the mini-bar (sans single-use plastics), sip from in-room reusable water bottles and wash away the salt and sea using your room’s refillable shower products.
BOUNCE NOOSA
One for adventurers! Bounce is all about effortless, beach club-style relaxation; a home base where you can put your feet up after a long day’s play. Join in the weekly yoga classes, national park walks, wine and cheese nights and a Thursday run club to connect with active like-minded souls.
WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL CONTENT? RIGHT THIS WAY!
VISIT
above PADDLE OUT WITH KANU KAPERS
KANU KAPERS
Glide along the Noosa Everglades’ enchanting waterways on custom-designed sea kayaks. Passionate about caring for this delicate ecosystem bursting with unique flora and fauna, Kanu Kapers offset their carbon footprint by supporting local legends The Koala Crusaders in their conservation efforts.
ADVENTURE TRIBE
If lazing poolside is not your vibe, get in touch with Adventure Tribe, an eco-friendly bunch that are all about holidaying your way – with a side of conservation. Whether you’re into hiking, camping, abseiling, climbing, surfing or mountain biking, with a group or flying solo, your outdoor experience will support local wildlife initiatives and take your breath away at the same time. (We might catch you napping at the pool after…)
POTTERY FOR THE PLANET
Steadfast in their mission to change single-use culture, Pottery for the Planet is all about unique, handmade designs and choosing to reuse. Famed for their gorgeously glazed travel cups, which launched in 2016, the Noosa-based Ceramic Studio now has solar-fired cups and a wide range of stunning homewares and portable pottery items. Take a tour to browse the vibrant showroom (perfect for picking up gifts), chat with a potter and learn more about the making process.
PLASTIC-FREE NOOSA
Ditch the p-word! Noosa is leading the charge to become the first plastic-free community in Australia. Top of the naughty list: single-use water bottles and coffee cups. An initiative of Tourism Noosa and Council, Plastic Free Noosa provides resources and directories, and also runs events, to help businesses, residents and visitors kick trashy plastics to the kerb. So, if you wanna look like a local, get yourself a reusable coffee cup (see: Pottery for the Planet, above!).
