As dusk falls over Noosa, Bar Capri is buzzing. Fronting Hastings Street, this is the perfect spot for people-watching and a refreshing libation before dinner up a short flight of stairs to Cibaria Noosa, the new signature restaurant at Elysium Noosa Resort.

The bar, the restaurant, and the hotel are all familiar to us over 30 years in various incarnations. We stayed there early in its life as a Sheraton and then more recently when it was a Sofitel.

Now Accor has rebranded it again and the property has been reintroduced as Elysium Noosa Resort. It is managed by Accor as part of the MGallery collection of luxury hotels. (Elysium Noosa Resort is the sister property to Manly Pacific, which was awarded UNESCO’s acclaimed Prix Versailles in 2024.)

The hotel has a prime position right in the heart of Hastings Street and dining at Cibaria Noosa is part of the experience. Back in the day it was known as Cato’s, named after Australian author Nancy Cato, who lived in the Noosa area.

It has been refreshed and updated several times and is now a busy trattoria. When it comes to Italian cuisine, I’m a bit of a traditionalist. So, it was the tagliatelle verdi bolognese for me. My tip? Try the Sardinian flat bread, it is amazing.

Friday night we ate at Locale at the other end of the street. That is a tradition for us (try the tagliatelle with Fraser Island spanner crab) and so is coffee at Aromas Noosa, where we sit at those little Parisian style tables watching the passing parade … and what a parade it is!

Noosa was absolutely pumping the weekend we were there. It gets better by the day towards the cooler months. The crowd swelled by the several thousand people who had come to see the dog surfing championships, part of the Noosa Festival of Surfing. Hilarious. I have never seen so many people on Noosa Main Beach.

Noosa is just an hour and a half from Brisbane so for us it’s easily accessible and our regular getaway. Oh, I know southerners think so too. In fact, I know some Melburnians who claim they invented Noosa but … guys, it’s always been here! We appreciate the sentiment though, and at times it is a little bit like Toorak by the sea. But Noosa Heads is not, as some erroneously claim, snooty. Not a bit.

Everyone has their own reasons for loving it. There’s the shopping, the dining, the ocean, the beauty of nature adjacent to this boutique resort town. We walked in Noosa Woods on our first morning, strolling to the mouth of the Noosa River with a view out across to Mount Cooroy in the distance. It’s the land that time forgot and so close to Hastings Street.

At the other end of this famous thoroughfare, you can walk through to Noosa National Park passing the peeling waves of First Point and Johnson’s. Then it’s out around the headland, with magnificent views all the way, including the occasional koala. Tea Tree Bay, a 15-minute stroll from the National Park car park has been our favourite spot over the years – a little paradise with a pandanus-fringed beach and a perfect point break. We have surfed here sharing the waves with turtles and dolphins and, oh yes, those other surfers.

One thing I love is that all this can be experienced without driving. Arriving at the Elysium Noosa Resort I happily handed the car keys to the concierge and that was that for the weekend.

We have stayed up and down Hastings Street over the decades and I have written about so much of the accommodation here (someone had to do it). It’s surprising just how much there is.

Some people like to stay a little further out of town, where it’s a little less expensive. The only time I did, my surfboard was stolen off the top of my car overnight though. I saw that as an omen.

Much as we love some of the apartments we have stayed in at Noosa, I prefer a hotel with all the services inherent in a good one. And the service is impeccable at the Elysium Noosa Resort.

This reimagined resort introduces 175 beautifully transformed rooms and suites, alongside a new collection of dining experiences by celebrated Sydney restaurateurs Anna and Alessandro Pavoni – including Cibaria Noosa and all-day Mediterranean destination, Bar Capri. The Riviera Bar off the lobby is the place to watch the sunset over a cocktail or, in my case, a mocktail.

Every room features a private balcony and calming outlook, with categories shaped to suit the mood of every stay – Ocean View Suites that capture the shimmer of the Pacific, tranquil River View retreats with soft afternoon light, poolside sanctuaries with private cabanas, and charming Village outlooks. The pinnacle is the Elysium Suite.

An Ocean View Junior Suite at the refreshed resort. Photo: Elysium Noosa

Meanwhile, the pool area has been rejuvenated as one of the resort’s defining centrepieces. The pool itself has been fully re-pebblecreted, with the surrounding sandstone meticulously restored to its original beauty. Within the refreshed, vibrant landscaping, there are 120 new sun lounges.

Emerging as a sophisticated oasis from sunrise to sunset, the pool terrace invites indulgence and relaxation in equal measure. There is poolside dining and a signature swim-up bar.

Inside bespoke bedding configurations are available upon request, while beautiful new in-room amenities enhance comfort and indulgence: From Australian-born Grown Alchemist to the introduction of professional spa brand ESPA, known for its world class holistic approach to skin and body care.

Designed by Melbourne interior design studio Mitchell & Eades, Elysium Noosa’s interiors capture the relaxed sophistication of Noosa while subtly nodding to the understated luxury of the European coastline.

Guided by a “less is more” philosophy, the design uses a muted palette, refined panel detailing and subtle bursts of colour to let the natural beauty take centre stage.

Colours, textures and forms reference Noosa’s beaches and native flora, from banksia to bunya and kauri pine with playful touch points grounding each space in local character. Guest rooms feature rattan, linens, stripes, and timber and gold accents that nod to the local history of red cedar milling and gold mining. Much of the furniture, joinery and fabric is custom-made, including the signature headboards and handcrafted minibars, whose fabrics draw inspiration from the rugged shoreline and, in prestige suites, subtle yellow piping that speaks to the local vibrant summer energy.

Prestige Suites offer more room to spread out – and take in the views. Photo: Elysium Noosa

There are sandy towel drop points in each suite. “This is Noosa after all,” Elysium Noosa general manager, Mark Wilkinson says.

“This property holds a special place in the heart of Australian tourism and its visitors – it is a destination that embodies the relaxed elegance, natural beauty, and welcoming spirit that Noosa is known for. There is something indisputably unique about this hotel and its iconic setting.”

For us Elysium Noosa Resort is a new incarnation of a classic property and one to be savoured. Memo to hotel: We will be back. Soon.

Elysium Noosa Resort, Hastings Street, Noosa Heads. Rooms from $700

The writer stayed at his own expense