Day 5 of our trip took us into Noosa for a week of 5 star luxury at Alkira.  Perched high on the hill, Alkira is a 3 level architect designed apartment that sleeps 6 adults. With views over Noosa, the ocean and Noosa River, Alkira has it all. This millionaire's retreat boasts a mosaic pool, spa and sauna.  Open plan living spaces, Hollywood kitchen, designer furniture, gadgets galore and an internal elevator. For a day or so we chilled out - living in Alkira is a dream and all part of the holiday experience.

We also hit the restaurants - at last, edible food and fine service!
While in Noosa we had 2 outstanding dining experiences, one at Ricky's River Bar and Restaurant - brilliant location, top service and most importantly, an innovative and absolutely delicious menu.
The other at Season right on the sand at Hastings Street - a casual delight, good food and wine but location, location, location.

Gondolas of Noosa
For something entirely different we took a Gondola ride on the Noosa waterways. We joined our Gondola at the Sheraton Pier early evening for a wonderful hour and a half cruise past luxury waterside homes, mangrove forests and the Noosa river whilst enjoying a fabulously fresh seafood platter and French champagne. Owner Ricardo has been providing these wonderful tours for over 10 years and it is such a relaxing way to see the sights and tuck into some fresh local delicacies like Noosa spanner crabs.  Yum - the most difficult thing on this trip is to look down and peel your prawns whilst trying to take a look at some of the huge waterside properties that lie on the canals.

Noosa Thriller
For thrill seekers this is definitely the ride for you - $70 pp for 1 hour of sheer adrenaline and entertainment.  You pick up your 500hp Noosa Thriller Jet Boat from the Sheraton Pier and get kitted out in serious life jackets and slip into the 12 seater boat with padded roll cages and grips, not unlike a serious rollercoaster at Dream World. You then head off up the river to leap out over the bar into the ocean for your hour of thrills. Noosa Thriller rides are not just for leaping over the waves but you actually get a good cruise up the coast past Little Cove Beach and the rainforest with some well informed information from your skipper about the whole area. In season you can see whales and dolphins will leap in your wake keeping company with the jet boat. Obviously the adrenaline rush comes from powering over the surf which these boats do effortlessly and safely giving punters the thrills they seek.