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The Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort has been a fixture of Noosa’s tourism scene for many years. I remember it from the days when it was Sheraton, and when it was painted pink – which stood out such that you always knew you’d arrived at Hastings Street. The pink has long gone and these days it’s all white chic with a certain je ne sais quoi that comes from its branding as Sofitel, one of the luxury brands of French hospitality company, Accor.
The hotel underwent an extensive, multimillion-dollar renovation in 2013 and the ambience today is of 5-star luxury with a relaxed beach atmosphere. It has a prime location, with access to Hastings Street and being just a two-minute walk to Noosa Main Beach. It also hugs the Noosa River, so there is water access. Between 10am and 6pm, you can take a ferry from directly outside the resort to the restaurants and cafés at Gympie Terrace.
Some of the 176 guest rooms, suites and villas have views over the Noosa River, while others overlook the resort swimming pool, an expansive tropically landscaped area with swim-up pool bar, lots of beach umbrellas and sun lounges, and 5 luxury cabanas that are available for rent. All the guest rooms are spacious and filled with light. Rather than having a beach theme, they draw on colours and textures inspired by nature and the area’s indigenous heritage.
Furnishings are quite classic with lots of timber and soothing palettes of greys with orange accents. Local artworks feature throughout the public spaces and in the rooms. I love the Aboriginal artwork hanging above my bed – and, by the way, the king-sized bed is a dream to sleep in, as Sofitel beds always are. There’s a pillow menu to choose from, but the pillows on the bed are dream-like too, so there’s no need to make the call.
It’s rare to find a hotel room so big these days, and I guess that’s another advantage of the resort’s long history. My room has a balcony overlooking the pool, while inside there’s a sofa for watching the 42-inch LCD TV, a sitting room chair, a small dining table and 2 chairs, and a large desk with chair and reading light. There’s also a kitchenette fitted with a microwave, sink, toaster and bar fridge. A plunger with Andronicus ground coffee is provided and there’s a good assortment of Dilmah luxury leaf tea bags. Free wi-fi is available to Accor loyalty club members (it’s free to join if you haven’t already).
The bathroom is big too, with a long vanity bench, shower and separate spa bath. There’s a make-up mirror for close-ups, bathrobes and complimentary slippers. The resort has a luxurious-looking day spa but sadly there was no time to check it out. There is an undercover carpark with valet parking provided.
Breakfast is offered in the hotel restaurant, Noosa Beach House Peter Kuruvita, which as the name implies, doubles as the restaurant for lunch and dinner, with menus overseen by renowned chef and television presenter, Peter Kuruvita. The Riviera Bar & Lounge in the hotel lobby has live entertainment on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In the lobby at dusk, a candlelight ritual marks the passage from day to night. During school holidays, there’s a calendar of activities at the resort including art classes, surf lessons, candle making, cupcake decorating, and sunset kayaking.
For hotel guests with cash to splash, 5 luxury poolside cabanas are available for half-day bookings. These take a maximum of 4 guests per cabana and include personalised butler service, a fresh fruit platter, and a personal iPad to peruse menus and magazines. For those who don’t want to do anything at all, the hotel has a 12-noon checkout, leaving plenty of time to loll about in the gloriously comfy bed.
If you go:
Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort
14-16 Hastings Street (carpark entrance off Noosa Parade)
Noosa Heads Qld 4567
Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5449 4888
www.sofitelnoosapacificresort.com.au
Christine stayed in Room 515 as a guest of Tourism Noosa to preview the Noosa Food & Wine Festival.
