Down Under Diary #4: Noosa – Laundry Disaster, Desperate Cash Hunt, and a Coastal Walk with(out) View

G’Day and welcome back to the Down Under Diary! We rolled into Queensland a.k.a. the Sunshine State with high hopes: golden hours, dreamy beaches, blue skies, and a dolphin or jet ski tour. But let’s just say the sunshine part felt more like wishful thinking. By now, we’ve fully accepted that Australia’s seasons are the opposite of Europe’s, so while everyone back home is enjoying spring, we’re cruising through Aussie autumn. But turns out, Aussie autumn has its own agenda: Storms blew in and our plans blew up. Noosa greeted us with surprise beach showers, laundry disasters, and scary night adventures.

After all the travel drama we shared in the last post around Emerald Beach, we’re happy to report: no more technical issues with the campervan. Everything’s been running smoothly for once. Also, according to the poll, most of you have faced delayed flights or lost luggage during your travels – so we’re all in good chaotic company.

April 22, 15:00 | Eumundi Market 🧋

Before heading to Noosa, we visited the iconic Eumundi Market, which is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The market was bustling – a true explosion of smells, colours, and sounds. Stalls stretched out endlessly with local crafts, art, food, and souvenirs accompanied by various life music bands. Sabrina and I proudly bought a towel, only to find out later that Simona already had the exact same one from Italy. Turns out we wouldn’t even have needed to go all the way to Australia to find a nice towel.

✨ Hidden Gem: Artisan stands in Eumundi – perfect for unique Aussie souvenirs.

April 22, 19:00 | Dinner at the Boathouse & Food Coma 🌅🛥️

We arrived in Noosa at the Ingenia Holidays campground, which welcomed us with beautiful palm trees swaying in the breeze. We took our time getting ready and somehow we managed to coordinate our outfits without even trying. Then we headed to the Boathouse for sunset and dinner. The place was buzzing, and the sunset over the water made the sky blush in oranges and pinks. We were starving and everything on the menu sounded amazing. The portions were massive and while everything tasted incredible, we left the restaurant completely stuffed and mildly uncomfortable.

✨ Hidden Gem: Sunset at the Boathouse.
💡Insider Tip: Portion sizes are massive in Australia: Sharing is caring. 

April 23, 10:00 | Campground Drama 🏕️

The atmosphere was peaceful on the first campground, but it was a bit too far from the buzzing town centre. So we switched campgrounds today, as our preferred one hadn’t had availability when we first booked. We packed up and drove to our next campground, Noosa River Holiday Park. Luckily, they allowed us to check in three hours early! However, this campground gave us a few headaches. We had already tried to reserve by calling them multiple times (we counted over 30 attempts!), but they never picked up the phone. The reception staff wasn’t exactly the friendliest either, and their long list of bizarre rules made us feel more like we were at bootcamp than on vacation. Stay tuned for more annoying happenings. And the dryer? That one really finished us off, but more on that below.

💡Insider Tip: We used the app WikiCamps to find and book the campgrounds. Book some days ahead campgrounds are busy, especially during weekends.

April 23, 14:00 | Rainy Beach 🌧️

Due to the bad weather, we spent the afternoon shopping. Unfortunately, Hastings Street turned out to be more of a luxury shopping mile, so we didn’t really find anything. When the sun finally made an appearance, we rushed to the beach and jumped into our swimsuits. After meticulously applying sunscreen to every centimeter of skin (we’ve heard enough about the brutal Aussie sun), we lay down… and heavy rain hit. Dozens, maybe even hundreds of people ran for cover. Pure chaos – but honestly, kind of hilarious.

✨ Hidden Gem: Window shopping on Hastings Street.

April 23, 17:30 | Laundry Disaster and Cash Hunt 🧺

As if the vibe at Noosa River Holiday Park wasn’t weird enough already, the laundry situation really sealed the deal. The washing machine worked fine, but the dryer was useless. Even after four cycles, everything was still wet. Between cycles, we wandered the campground like beggars, asking neighbors to swap our AUD 2 coins for AUD 1s (the only thing the dryer accepted). When we asked reception for help, the grumpy lady just shrugged. At first, we hung everything outside (where we met the laundry possum), hoping it will get dry over night. But just as the laundry started to sway gently in the breeze… it began to pour again, of course. So we frantically grabbed everything and relocated the entire soggy mess into the campervan. Suddenly, we were living in a huge mess inside an already tiny space, ducking under hanging towels and doing limbo under swaying shirts.

💡 Insider Tip: Always keep a stash of AUD 1 or AUD 2 coins, they’re laundry gold.
💡 Insider Tip: Bring a clothesline.
💡 Insider Tip: Bring a laundry bag per person, it’ll make sorting your socks so much easier afterwards.

April 24, 10:00 | Shopping Wisdoms 🛒

The day started off… wet again. It rained so hard in the morning that even the ducks were happily swimming in the puddles outside our campervan. No joke – they were living their best lives while we stared out the window, wondering if we’d ever see sunlight in the Sunshine State again. So we decided to go grocery shopping, where a kind employee gave us some survival tips for Aussie camping life. First, Yes, the tap water in Australia is drinkable – no need to hoard bottled water (she told us this while tipping another giant water bottle across the scanner at the checkout). Second, always wear thongs (flip-flops) in campground showers because of hygiene and any possible animal. And third, download the BOM weather app for a more reliable forecast.

💡 Insider Tip: Tap water is Australia is drinkable.
💡 Insider Tip: Wear thongs (flip-flops) in campground showers.
💡 Insider Tip: Download and check the weather app BOM. 

April 24, 13:00 | Noosa National Park Coastal Walk 🌊

The sun finally came out in the afternoon, so we made our way to Noosa National Park for the famous Coastal Walk. The trail was absolutely stunning – wild cliffs, endless ocean views, surfers riding waves, and dramatic lookout points. We stopped at the “Boiling Pot Lookout” (thankfully, no one boiled) continued past “Dolphin Point” (no dolphins, sadly), peeked down at the “Fairy Pools” (way too stormy for a swim), and made it all the way to “Hell’s Gates” (yes, it’s hell-deep) just as the sun dipped behind the hills. And then… darkness. The trail got pitch-black fast, and we had no clue where we were or how to get back to civilization. We rushed toward Sunshine Beach, hoping that would lead us out. But once we got there, we couldn’t even find the path up to the village. In our slightly panicked state, we ended up tailing a lone jogger who clearly thought we were chasing him. It was not our proudest moment, but it worked.

✨ Hidden Gem: Noosa National Coastal Walk with Boiling Pot Lookout, Tea Tree Bay, Dolphin Point, Fairy Pools (swim in it if the waves are calm), and Hell’s Gate 
💡 Insider Tip: Start the trail early, it gets dark quickly during autumn in Eastern Australia.

April 25, 10:00 | Cozy Aussie Brekkie 🧇

The newly downloaded BOM weather app predicted rain and grey skies for today. So we decided to take the day slow and treat ourselves to a proper brekkie at Depot. While walking there we found our dream houses. The restaurant was packed, but luckily, Vanessa had made a reservation. Like most spots in Australia, ordering happened online via QR code, and the food took its sweet time. But when it finally arrived we were in absolute brunch heaven: avocado toast, eggs, and more (and very pricy though). Just as we were finishing up, the clouds parted and sunshine took over. Perfect timing for a spontaneous beach session and a dip in the ocean. From gloomy to golden in one morning – welcome to Aussie autumn.

💡 Insider Tip: Aussie brekkie culture is a whole thing, lean in and book ahead.

April 25, 10:00 | Anzac Day & A Not-So-Party Vibe 🍹

Later that night, we decided to head out for some drinks. But most restaurants were closed, and the few that were open felt more like ghost bars. Turns out it was Anzac Day, a national holiday honoring veterans – definitely not meant for partying. So we ended up sipping mocktails in a nearly empty bar until it closed right after we left it. The drinks were good, the mood… not so much.

💡 Insider Tip: Check local holidays before planning your nightlife, Anzac Day is for remembrance, not drinks. 

Favorite Season Poll

Although we knew that Australia’s seasons are the opposite of Europe’s, switching from spring vibes to sudden autumn weather still takes some getting used to. One moment you’re dreaming of beach days and unforgettable travel tours (we had to cancel the dolphin tour), next you’re escaping surprise showers and unpacking your (one and only) sweater. So before we head off to our next stops, Carlo Sandblow and Fraser Island, we want to know: What’s your favorite travel season? Let’s see which season wins!

Missed a Blog Post?

No worries! Catch up on all the adventures here:

• 🌴 #1: The Ultimate Australia’s East Coast Road Trip 
• 🏄🏼‍♂️ #2: Sydney – Jetlag, Giant Spiders, and the Great Easter Brekkie Fail 
• 🦘 #3: Emerald Beach – Kangaroos, Campervan Issues, and a Surprise Visit on the Dunny 
• 🌊 #4: Noosa – Laundry Disaster, Desperate Cash Hunt, and a Coastal Walk with(out) View (this blog article)

Your Turn!

I’d love to hear from you! Share your stories in the comments at the very bottom of the page (after the “You might also like”) in English or German. 

What’s your favorite season to travel in and why? 💭

Has the weather ever totally messed up your (travel) plans? What happened? 💭