The perfect Noosa holiday is made up of four key ingredients - balmy beach days, breathtaking coastal walks, good food and relaxed vibes.

Here the pace slows, friendly locals welcome you with a smile and you can take the time to truly relax. Read: put your email on out of office and switch your phone to aeroplane mode.

For many, a Noosa escape starts at Noosa Heads, where pristine nature hugs the iconic, tree-lined Hastings Street.

Noosa is listed as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and the best way to appreciate the region’s stunning natural beauty is by lacing up your runners and exploring the lush oasis of Noosa National Park. Here, you can spend your time swimming in the sparkling blue sea, snorkelling amongst the fish and dolphins that call this glorious spot home, surfing the perfect waves or walking the coastal tracks. Then it’s time to take your sun-kissed self to Hastings Street for the ultimate foodie tour at some of the region’s best restaurants, before exploring the trendy boutiques and watching the world go by with a cocktail in hand at one of their streetside bars.

Beyond Noosa Heads, the region is home to a cluster of relaxed coastal towns and postcard-perfect hinterland villages you need to add to your itinerary.

Jump in a kayak and paddle alongside pelicans, sea birds and glossy black cockatoos into nirvana, also known as the Noosa Everglades. One of only two everglades systems in the world - and spanning the Noosa and Great Sandy Biosphere Reserves - you’ll find a genetically blessed wilderness of narrow waterways lined with ancient tea tree forests that stretches 60km.

Hop in a 4WD and travel from Noosa North shore along the Great Beach Drive – a jaw-dropping length of golden coastline fringed by peach-hued dunes – that takes you along the sand to Rainbow Beach and north to K’gari (Fraser Island). With wide stretches of beach as your highway, you’ll be cruising alongside the area’s locals including dolphins, turtles, rare bird species and even Humpback whales during the winter months.

The Noosa Hinterland, with its rich foliage, tranquil retreats and undiscovered pockets of beauty is fast becoming a must-visit for lovers of good food, craft beer and artisanal gin… so, just about everyone.

The best way to explore is by car - preferably with the windows rolled down and an acoustic playlist pumping. Map out your journey through Boreen Point, Kin Kin, Pomona, Cooran and Cooroy, making sure to stop into the boutique breweries, local distilleries, country pubs and homely cafes that make the region so inviting.

Plug into nature and wake up with the hinterland’s leafy backyard on your doorstep or fall asleep to the sound of the ocean with Noosa’s range of luxury retreats, self-contained apartments and charming country cottages. Whether you’re looking to dial up the romance with your significant other, have a foodie adventure with your mates or a getaway with the family, you’re spoilt for choice in this beautiful region.