If you love food, wine, music and the outdoors, I hope you are spending this weekend in Noosa because we roll them all together in one tasty package at the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival which kicked off yesterday in grand style.

Did I mention the great weather to boot? Check out the gorgeous view (below) that greeted The Today Show for their live cross this morning from Noosa’s Main Beach, one of the festival venues. Did you see the segment from your cold lounge room and wish you were here?

The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival, celebrating its 10th year from May 16-19, got under way yesterday with the Asian Food Trail, Seafood Afloat Trail, Westpac Ruby luncheon where a panel discussion about the role of women in hospitality and the media provided plenty of food for thought, and the amazing Edible Music gala opening where 10 of the world’s best chefs chopped and stirred in time to the Queensland Virtuosi Orchestra.

A sneak peek at Festival Village in Noosa Heads Lions Park yesterday got the taste buds tingling in anticipation of two great show days this Saturday and Sunday where you wander around, bumping into Adriano Zumbo, Poh, Matt Moran, Christine Manfield and David Williamson, while deciding which tastes to try, dished up at kiosks from some of Noosa's and the Sunshine Coast's best restaurants, washed down by wines and beers from almost 40 kiosks. Luckily there are free buses and ferries to get you there and home again!

It’s always fun plotting which of the dozens of celebrity chef cooking demonstrations to make it to, where you can watch a master (including chefs from the S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list) at work in the kitchen for 30 minutes, graciously sharing their knowledge as they prepare an amazing dish. Meet the chefs, critique the critics including Matt Preston in a “Dude Food” cook-off, taste yummy products, see the latest kitchen gear or hear debates on topics including “Food and wine are better than sex”.

Stay around as the sun sets tonight, Saturday and Sunday for entertainment on the main stage: Tonight’s welcome concert has Pantastic Steel Band, Soul Cutz and Martini Club. "Don’t Stop Me Now", but on Saturday it’s Queen Bohemian Rhapsody and Mahogany (4-7.30pm) and on Sunday, Timomatic will "Set It Off" on the main stage, along with Relish and The Fabulous Singlettes (3.30-7.30pm).

If you’re on the beach this weekend, drop into the Visit Noosa marquee on the sand, right next to the festival’s Beach Barefoot Marquee, and say ‘hi’ to one of our friendly Visitor Information Centre volunteers. They can help you with anything you need to know about your stay in Noosa.

By the look of this, it's going to be one of the most popular spots in Noosa this weekend. All it needs now is a well stocked Esky ...

 

I have mentioned previously how well fun and fitness go together in Noosa and I am not alone in thinking this, although some take more advantage of it than others. This weekend, April 27 and 28, will be a perfect showcase when thousands of elite athletes, weekend fitness junkies, families who love to stay fit together and those who just love to run, swim or cycle come to town for the Noosa Ultimate Sports Fest.

With nine events across running, swimming and cycling, the festival (formerly the Noosa Winter Festival) boasts an event for all ages and fitness levels (the 5km family fun run being more my cup of tea). With ocean swims in Laguna Bay, which is looking stunning this week, hinterland cycle events and runs that take competitors through beautiful beach scenery, it will also be a fantastic spectator weekend.

Apart from the competitors events, there is plenty of action off the track at Festival Village in Noosa Heads Lions Park which has become “event central” for the wonderful festivals that make the most of Noosa’s year-round mild weather.

After discovering the expo at last year’s Noosa Triathlon event, I am looking forward to the HOT 91.1 Sport & Lifestyle Expo (open Saturday, 10.30am-5pm and Sunday, 7am-2pm) with exhibitors showing the latest in nutrition, sportswear, bikes and more – great to have a wander around whether you love catching up with the latest bicycle technology or are looking for new swimmers or sunglasses.

Make sure you drop into the Visit Noosa marquee and pick up a gorgeous Ultimate Noosa postcard, pictured, to send to family and friends – just a little bragging about your stay in Noosa is allowed!

There’s also plenty of fun at festival village all Saturday afternoon with a jumping castle for the kids from noon to 5pm, and live music with acoustic duo Finchington from 1-3pm. On Sunday, kids will love The Little Street Circus from 9-11am and they can knock their socks off on the jumping castle all day. Live music is by Jesse Taylor from 9.30-11am and again from noon to 1pm, just before the cycling presentations.

There is also great entertainment along the event courses, with the Northside Youth Jazz Ensemble performing along the run course at Cloudsley Street, Noosaville on Sunday, 7-10am (hopefully getting everyone in the mood for the Noosa Jazz Festival later this year). DJ Jimi entertains runners and spectators at Webya Rd roundabout, Noosaville from 7-10.30am.

If you want to avoid parking hassles, park in the Cooyar Street car park in Noosa Junction and catch the shuttle bus to Noosa Heads Lions Park on Saturday, 11am-5pm and Sunday, 5am-2pm.

See all the swimming events around Noosa Main Beach, Tea Tree Bay and Little Cove on Saturday, with cycling and running events on Sunday. Click here to see the event timetable.

While I am not usually what you might call a romantic, there is something special about sitting on the beach, watching a bride and groom take their vows surrounded by Mother Nature in Noosa. Most weekends on a Noosa beach there are barefoot brides, bridesmaids with high heels in hand and grooms with trouser legs rolled up.

If they are not getting married on the beach, they are having their photos taken with the stunning backdrop of Laguna Bay and Noosa National Park, or on their way to a beachfront restaurant reception. Even the encroaching tide never seems to worry the bridal party at a Noosa wedding.

One of the loveliest beach wedding scenes I've seen was at Little Cove, a gorgeous bay just to the east of Noosa's Main Beach, where the female guests had placed their bejewelled, strappy and colourful stilettos in a neat, heart-shaped arrangement on the sand while they joined the happy couple at the water's edge. Dolphins even joined the party, playing in close to shore.

I recently read that more than 60% of weddings on the Sunshine Coast take place in public spaces - I'm sure that figure is higher in the Noosa region, with the choice of locations covering beach, foreshore, river (especially Noosa Marina where the boardwalk and jetties provide a perfect setting before a riverfront restaurant reception), lakes, hinterland B&Bs and country parklands. There's even a magnificent Greek-style amphitheatre surrounded by a lake and the Noosa Botanic Gardens, complete with rose arbour - or Makepeace Island.

I must admit that most weddings I've dropped in on have a glorious sunset backdrop, although I've heard that sunrise is also popular ... and thanks to the wonderful geography of the Noosa region, there's a picture-perfect backdrop at any time of day.

If I were arranging my wedding over again (enough time has passed so the thought of it no longer ties my stomach in knots) it would have to be in Noosa and it would have to involve a gondola (did I say I wasn’t romantic?) or the Noosa Ferry or 1940s-inspired classic wooden power boat. Then there’s always a cool convertible, 1950s Bentley, limousines …

If you're in Brisbane next weekend and thinking of wedding bells, head along to the Queensland Brides Wedding and Honeymoon Expo at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank (March 22-24), and look for the Noosa Weddings stand - you'll find out why so many brides and grooms love a Noosa wedding.

Even with the best coaching, dog surfing is never going to be more than a spectator sport in my household!

Tucker, my much loved arthritic corgi, is so height challenged he makes a 2ft swell look like a 50ft monster. That just about rules out the doggie surfing basics workshop at Noosa River mouth on Sunday March 10 for us but don’t let it stop you.

With a few doggie surfing basics under his collar, your pooch might be a winner in Noosa Festival of Surfing’s Dog Surf Spectacular that afternoon (click on image below for some great dog-surfing action).

Noosa Festival of Surfing is running from March 10-16 at Noosa’s First Point - that’s the spot where the surfers congregate that you can see to the right of Main Beach.

My partner, K2, is a Noosa surfer of long standing.  He remembers the days when Noosa’s main street was lined with ordinary houses. True.

I think he would really enjoy the festival event, Like a Cup of Tea with God – the rich surfing history of Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, presented in words, music, movies, photographs and art.

And a surf movie on the beach? How good is that! Expect heart-stopping big wave riding on the beach screen from 6-9pm on Monday March 11 with Nightrider featuring Mark Visser, Storm Surfers featuring Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke Jones, with Mark, Tom and Ross in conversation live on stage.

They have more than a few big names signed up this year, names that even I recognise like seven-times world champion Layne Beachley, four-times world champion Mark Richards, two-times world champion Tom Carroll, world champion Rabbit Bartholomew, two-times world longboard champion Joel Tudor, world longboard champion Josh Constable, big wave heroes Ross Clarke Jones and Mark Visser and surfboard design gurus Simon Anderson and Bob McTavish.

Well maybe I don’t know about the surfboard designers…but I bet K2 does.

The world’s biggest surfboard riding event, the Noosa Festival of Surfing, celebrates its 22nd anniversary this year with more than 20 pro, amateur, specialty and team surfing events plus free entertainment on a beach stage and the surf expo on the sand.

The festival, which raised more than $8000 for Frangipani Dreams and the Noosa Malibu Club’s youth development scheme in 2012, will again donate bar profits to charity and community benefit organisations.

On-line competitor entries in amateur divisions, with age groups from under 15 to over 65 are open, along with specialty, team and professional events.

The festival expects to attract more than 500 competitors, along with up to 5000 supporters and spectators from all over the world.

Find out more from the festival's Facebook page or website.

Our Guest Noosa Blogger is Kerry Heaney, from the Eat, Drink + be Kerry blog.

Fun, fitness and beach are three wonderful things that go together beautifully, and here in Noosa we have them in abundance. They come together at Main Beach in Noosa this Sunday for a ripping finale to the Kelloggs Nutri-Grain IronMan series for 2013 when the iron giants face off to see who will be crowned IronMan and IronWoman champions.

It’s been a summer of amazing feats and it all comes down to the wire this Sunday. Recognised as one of the greatest IronMen of all time, six-times winner Shannon Eckstein is one victory away from breaking the event record and the odds are in his favour – he only needs to place in the top eight to take out his seventh championship.Ready to rain on his parade are Sunshine Coasters Kendrick Louis, in second place, and Ali Day not far behind. I saw Ali at a media conference in Noosa this week and he’s pumped to take out his maiden win of the series.

Also at the conference were Noosa’s Jordan ‘Magic’ Mercer and Alyssa Bull from Alexandra Headland, on the Sunshine Coast. All three athletes were eyeing off the swell that has come to Noosa’s shores this week. Naomi Flood leads the women’s series, with Courtney Hancock a paddle length behind.

Jordan (pictured right - photo courtesy of Paul Smith Images) will be in contention for another podium place this Sunday – and the Noosa spectators will be cheering her on. Jordan told us why she loves Noosa:

“Noosa Heads is a little place of paradise which I am so blessed to be able to enjoy every day of my life. Its natural beauty inspires me to live an exciting fit and healthy lifestyle. I love how Noosa has a perfect balance between relaxation and an amazing hype when it hosts world-renowned festivals all year round.

"For a professional athlete like myself, Noosa is an ideal destination for just about any training. It has amazing facilities as well as natural wonders like the National Park where I can run for hours and enjoy breathtaking views while exploring its many wonderful trails.

"It really isn't so painful training 20 hours a week and cooling off in the crystal clear ocean! I love paddling my board and ski around the famous points of Noosa. It is my favourite place in the whole world.”

And what’s great about Noosa?

"Absolutely everything! I am so lucky to live and train here. I can not imagine living anywhere else. You may think I sound a little biased but I invite you all to visit Noosa and experience it for yourself!”

The Telstra IronWoman race starts at 11.30am. The Junior series is from 12.30pm and the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan race is from 1.30pm.

If you’re not in Noosa this weekend, see all the action on Network Ten from 1pm (AEST), with replays on One HD (check your local guide)

You can almost feel the earth tremors as the best ironmen and women in the country roll into town this weekend - Shannon Eckstein, Ky Hurst, Courtney Hancock, Matt Poole, Ali Day, Candice Falzon, Hayley Bateup.

They're in Coolum this Sunday February 17 for the second last round of the 2013-13 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series and Telstra IronWoman Series, and with some unexpected results over the past few rounds, it should be a day of great racing.

They're not called Ironmen and women for nothing - they're Australia's elite athletes competing in the most gruelling ocean-based competition on the planet. It really should be an amazing spectacle as they swim, surf-ski and board through the surf at Coolum Beach. 

There have been a few upsets as the Ironmen and women have competed around Australia this summer and they're heading into the home stretch this weekend - next week in Noosa (February 24) is the final race of the series when the Ironman and Ironwoman champions will be crowned.

Shannon Eckstein leads the men's series by 40 points from Sunshine Coast local Kendrick Louis, followed closely by another local, Ali Day. But with 100 points up for grabs for a first-place finish on Sunday, it's still anybody's game.

Naomi Flood leads the women's series, ahead of Brodie Moir and Courtney Hancock. Here in Noosa we'll be watching home-town favourite Jordan "Magic" Mercer who has scored two podium finishes in the previous two races. Jordan, coached by her dad, former Ironman champion Darren Mercer, has great natural talent, and is a delight to watch in the surf.

We welcome all the Ironman and Ironwoman competitors to the Sunshine Coast and look forward to a day of great racing in Coolum on Sunday.

The Ironwomen race from 11.30am and the Ironman series starts at 1.30pm. If you can't be there on the day make sure you check out the action on the Ten Network from 2-5pm.

Blog written by Guest Noosa Blogger - Phil Jarratt, Festival Director - Noosa Cricks Jeep Festival of Surfing:
The biggest surfing event in the world returns to Main Beach with hot surfing all day and a free party on the sand every evening. The biggest pro surfing division seen in Noosa in several years will attract the world’s best longboarders to the Noosa Crick’s Jeep Festival of Surfing March 10-16. Headline event the Vans Duct Tape Invitational will be one of the biggest crowd pleasers, with the style-masters of longboarding from around the world performing on old-style single-fin loggers. The popular logger format really highlights the difference between longboarding and shortboarding, and defending event champion Noosa’s Harrison Roach can be expected to give the internationals a run for the money.

PJ Burns Festival Village will be Party Central on the sand at First Point, with the XXXX Summer licensed beach bar overlooking the waves, big Zinc entertainment stage and screen next to it and a lively surf expo. The free entertainment program will kick off every afternoon as the surfing winds down, with sunset live music, surf movies, fashion parades, book launches and tribute nights.
In a nut shell - who will be there?
Multiple world champions Layne Beachley, Mark Richards, Tom Carroll and Rabbit Bartholomew, plus big wave legends Ross Clarke Jones and Mark Visser, California style gurus Joel Tudor, Alex Knost and Tyler Warren, and local heroes Harrison Roach, Josh Constable.
Opening day spectacular
See the best stand up paddlers in Australia race over a close-to-the-beach 5k course, the hilarious VetshopAustralia.com.au Dog Surf Spectacular, the legends of surfing in action, the traditional Hawaiian opening ceremony and paddle-out, and the sunset sounds of Band of Frequencies.
Big waves, big hearts
Not to be missed – big wave legends Tom Carroll, Ross Clarke Jones and Mark Visser present their spectacular movies (Storm Surfers and Nightrider) and talk about what it feels like to fall out of the sky on the biggest waves ever ridden. Free on the Zinc Stage and Screen, Monday from 6.30pm.
Deus Surf Swap Meet
Friday 1-6pm in the PJ Burns Festival Village, bargains galore, and meet the legends of surfboard shaping from the 1950s to the present.

Australia Day – that Aussie of days is nearly upon us. Being a Noosa local one of my favourite things to do is spend time with family and friends on the Noosa River. Hiring a party pontoon boat is a definite favourite, heading to the river mouth for a quick swim, a fish in one of the canals and enjoying a good old fashioned sausage sizzle whilst checking out some magical homes along the way.

This year friends have decided to set up camp along the Noosa River foreshore and no doubt there will be plenty of other locals and visitors thinking the same. Getting in early to set up the marquees for some additional shade is always a good idea and finding a spot close to one of the barbecues is also a must. It’s also a great spot for kids of all ages, with the little ones being able to swim safe, whilst the bigger kids can enjoy the foreshore on bikes or skateboards and perhaps enjoy some fish and chips or an ice-cream from one of the many eateries along Gympie Terrace. 

Of course heading to Main Beach is also a tough one to beat – having a surf and swim is one of those quintessential Australia Day things to do and if I can get the family up early enough, we might just do both – sounds like the perfect Australia Day to me!  Happy Australia Day everyone!

Dawn, morning tea, the midday sun, sunset or as the night lights twinkle ... so many perfect times of day in Noosa.

Tucking into fish and chips by the Noosa River with friends last week, talk turned to the best times of day. Here are some of our favourites that together would make up an ideal day in Noosa ...

An early morning run along the Noosa National Park coastal track, arriving at Alexandria Bay with the sun sparkling on the water is a stunning start to the day. I’ll take my friend’s word on this as I’m more of a sunset person than sunrise, but apparently the thing to do after an early swim, walk or run is to grab a coffee from the Sails Restaurant takeaway cart facing Noosa’s Main Beach, or head to breakfast at Bistro C or berardo’s on the beach.

We couldn't pass up the thought of shopping – step off the beach and on to Hastings Street or stroll along Gympie Tce and Thomas St at Noosaville, dotted with lovely homeware stores and boutiques.

A bucket of prawns and cold beer at lunchtime, perched on a bar stool on the deck at Noosa Heads Surf Club, looking right over Noosa beach is a favourite way to escape the midday sun.

If it’s Sunday, a drive to the Noosa hinterland is on the cards with a stop for a macaron on the way at Maison de Provence in Cooroy (Adriano Zumbo dropped in there before Christmas). If we’ve booked ahead, it’s off to a spit roast lunch at the Apollonian Hotel in Boreen Point.

Another locals’ favourite on a Sunday is the Peregian Markets in the morning (1st and 3rd Sundays), then stay on for the Peregian Originals free outdoor concerts in the park (1st Sunday of the month). On the way home, stop in at Sunshine Beach Surf Club for live music on the deck to wind down the weekend.

A list of favourites has to include ice cream – at any time of day. My long-time favourite is Massimo’s in Hastings St (pink grapefruit sorbet really wakes you up) or I head to Amo Gelato on Gympie Tce for their decadent Belgian chocolate or amazing liquorice ice cream.

As I mentioned earlier, my favourite time of day is sunset – it’s harder to decide what my favourite activity is. If we’re feeling energetic, the family heads out for a paddle on Weyba Creek – two in a canoe, one on a kayak and one on a stand-up paddle board. We count the stingrays as they flick past and glide over to watch the flying fox colony stir for their dusk departure. Weyba Creek is one of our true hidden gems – overhanging tree trunks reflecting in the waters, birds nestled in hidden passage-ways through mangroves and the old bridge from where you can catch fish from a great height.

If we’re not feeling so energetic, it’s a quiet moment with a bottle of bubbles at Noosa Spit to catch the sun set behind the mountains, or a cocktail at Season Restaurant overlooking Laguna Bay.

And for the final word: Any time in Noosa is paradise.

Do you still do the Christmas countdown?  I can’t avoid it at home with the kids reminding me twice a day for at least 2 months, and while I love Christmas (just a big kid at heart), the countdown is a scary reminder of what still has to be done... Christmas tree, decorations, presents, keeping the chocolate advent calendar out of the dog’s reach – so much to think about and do – but it’s all great fun, isn’t it?

I especially love Christmas lunch – well, I love the idea of Christmas lunch and an even better idea than doing all the preparation and cleaning up yourself is getting someone else to do all the hard work. Christmas lunches and dinners are so popular in Noosa with amazing temptations on offer – from Christmas buffet breakfasts to scrumptious 4-course lunches, seafood buffets and French champagne and truffles.

Check out the Noosa Festive Season Guide 2012-13 with more than 60 restaurants listing their festive fare from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. There are also dozens of Christmas, New Year and holiday events and activities – where to see New Year’s Eve fireworks, opening times for major attractions, and ideas to keep the kids entertained when they’re not at the beach.

If you love singing along to Christmas carols, head to the Tewantin Christmas Carnival this Sunday; Noosa Chorale’s Christmas Cheer concerts this weekend; Coolum Christmas in the park on December 15; Christmas carols in Noosa Junction on December 21; the Peregian Beach Surf Club Nippers Christmas Eve carols; Carols on the River at Noosaville Lions Park on December 23; or an evening of carols at Palmer Coolum Resort on Christmas Eve.

Then on New Year’s Eve there are events all over town from the gypsy-fuelled ska surf rock of Caravana Sun at Noosa Heads Surf Club; to scrumptious dinners at Trios or The River Deck at Noosa Marina, Tewantin (where you get the bonus of amazing views of fireworks over the river at 9pm and midnight); Sheraton Noosa’s New Year’s Eve gala celebrations; and one of the coolest shows in town, the Cool Town Ball with Tijuana Cartel and Cheap Fakes at Coolum Civic Centre. And for something completely different, a New Year's Eve Everglades tour with champagne lunch from Kanu Kapers.

Other New Year’s Eve fireworks will be in front of Sunshine Beach Surf Club (9pm); Palmer Coolum Resort (9pm); Coolum fireworks in Tickle Park (8pm and midnight); and New Year’s Eve flares at Lake Cootharaba (8.45pm and midnight).

Then there’s all the fun for the kids – ride the train with Santa at The Ginger Factory; free moonlight movies at the Eumundi Markets Summer Nights every Friday from 5-9pm, along with a flea circus and magic show, music, Christmas carols and of course the unique market stalls; an Elfish Christmas children’s show at the Majestic Theatre, Pomona; children’s fun at the Coolum Twilight Markets every Friday from 4-8pm; have your photo taken with Santa and a ’gator at Australia Zoo; children’s pantomime at Noosa Arts Theatre in January; and for the ultimate Christmas story, Miracle on 34th Street at The J on December 22.

See the Festive Season Guide – either on the visitnoosa.com.au website or the Visit Noosa Facebook page.