Noosa River Ferry: The Relaxed Way to Discover Noosa
- Written by: The Times
Some destinations are best explored on foot. Others are best experienced from the water.
The Noosa River Ferry offers one of the most enjoyable ways to discover Noosa, connecting the bustling atmosphere of Hastings Street with the quieter charm of Noosaville and Tewantin. Instead of worrying about traffic or parking, visitors can simply step aboard and watch the scenery drift by.
The journey itself is as much an attraction as the destinations.
Where does the ferry start?
The full service operates between Noosa Marina at Tewantin and Hastings Street, beside Noosa Main Beach. Along the way, passengers can board or leave the ferry at several convenient stops spread along the Noosa River, making it easy to explore different parts of the region. The service includes seven stops between Tewantin and Hastings Street.
Ferry stops
Depending on the direction of travel, the ferry stops include:
- Noosa Marina, Tewantin
- Noosa Yacht Club
- Pelican Boat Hire
- O Boat Hire
- Gympie Terrace (Terrace Boats)
- Quamby Place
- Hastings Street (Sofitel Jetty)
The hop-on, hop-off format means visitors can spend an hour or an afternoon exploring before catching the next ferry.
What will you see?
The cruise offers constantly changing views of the Noosa River.
Passengers glide past waterfront homes, quiet canals, parks, fishing boats, paddle boarders and some of Noosa's most photographed scenery. Birdlife is abundant and, with a little luck, you may even spot stingrays or other marine life in the clear water.
Unlike travelling by car, the ferry encourages visitors to slow down and appreciate one of Australia's most beautiful river systems.
Places worth stopping
Each stop offers something different.
- Hastings Street for shopping, cafés and Main Beach.
- Quamby Place for riverside dining.
- Gympie Terrace for relaxed cafés, picnic areas and walking paths.
- Noosa Yacht Club for waterfront dining.
- Noosa Marina for boutiques, markets, restaurants and cruises departing into the upper river.
Many visitors spend an entire day moving between stops at their own pace.
Finishing the journey
The ferry completes its route back at either Hastings Street or Noosa Marina, depending on the direction you travel.
Many visitors choose to finish the afternoon with dinner beside the river before watching the sun set across the water—a fitting end to one of Noosa's most relaxing experiences.
The Noosa Times View
If you only have time for one activity beyond the beach, make it the Noosa River Ferry. It combines sightseeing, transport and relaxation in one experience, while revealing a side of Noosa that simply cannot be appreciated from the road. It is one of the easiest—and most memorable—ways to discover why the Noosa River is considered the heart of the region.
https://www.noosaferry.com/
https://www.noosariverandcanalcruises.com.au/
