Ginger Flower and Food Festival: Australia’s largest showcase of ornamental gingers and heliconias, with celebrity chefs, expert gardeners, living bouquets, food and live entertainment, takes place 23-25 January from 10am at The Ginger Factory. Free admission. Ph: 1800 067 686 or see gingerfactory.com.au
Outdoor Flicks: Head down to Tickle Park Coolum, grab a blanket, treat the family to a delicious dinner and settle in for a great night of FREE entertainment under the stars. Red Dog (PG) screens this Sat 24 Jan from 6.30pm-ish (after dark). Ph: 0417 756 076 or see starrynights.com.au
Australia Day Celebrations: There’s plenty of Australia Day celebrations happening this week including festivities at the Noosa Lions Park from 7am, with bush poets, a Rotary Club breakfast, citizenship ceremony, live music, and a lunch feast of Aussie favourites presented by the Lions Club. There’s also a beach party at Noosa Heads Surf Club and Sunshine Beach Surf Club; river racing at the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club; and an Australia Day Party at Imperial Lionheart Hotel, Eumundi.
ENTERTAINMENT
Live music: Check out great live music in Noosa from 23-29 Jan
• Lots of great live music with CKNU, Brothers, Benjamin James and David Flower at Cooroy Originals, in Apex Park, Cooroy, this Sun 25 Jan from 1-5pm
• Humidors is at Sunshine Beach Surf Club this Sun 25 Jan, 3pm
• At the Imperial Lionheart Hotel, Eumundi, see Dear Willow on Fri 23 Jan and Ricky the Rockstar on Sat 24 Jan
• Coolum Surf Club has a soloist this Fri 23 Jan from 6.30pm and Test for Echo from 9pm
• Live music at Shades Wine Bar, Noosa Junction on Wednesday and Saturday evenings
• Ayla is at Bohemian Bungalow, Eumundi on Sat 24 Jan, noon-2pm and see Mo’ Swagger on Sun 25 Jan, 12.30-2.30pm
• Luiz Carlos is at the Harbour Wine Bar, Noosa Marina, Tewantin Fri 23 Jan, 5.30pm
• At Noosa Beach House Bar, Hastings St this Fri 23 Jan see DJ Nato, 8.30-11.30pm; The Vibe on Sun 25 Jan 2.30-5.30pm; and Flamarique on Wed 28 Jan, 6.30-8.30pm
• At Cafe Le Monde, Hastings St, DJ Wintex, Fri 23 Jan 8pm; DJ Jasti on Sat 24 Jan 8.30pm; The Cheapfakes and Future Music Party on Sun 25 Jan 3pm; and music from Noosa Songwriters Guild on Thurs 29 Jan from 6.30pm
• Late are at Tewantin-Noosa RSL Fri 23 Jan, 8pm, $10; Simply Ozzie is free on Sat 24 Jan 8pm; and Fiddle Me Please is free on Thurs 29 Jan at 7pm
WHY NOT?…
Ferry cruise: See Noosa from the river on board the Noosa Ferry every day between Noosa Marina and Hastings St, with stops along the river at Noosaville. And find out about Noosa’s beautiful birds, river life and flora on the Noosa Biosphere Cruise – book on 5449 7513
Noosa Fishing tours: Explore the calm, pristine waters of Noosa River while fishing, crabbing and sight-seeing with #NoosaFishingandCrab Adventures. Pull up a few crab pots and taste the yummy #thisisqueensland mud crab or blue swimmer, cooked on-board. Half-day tours for up to 10 people include gourmet crab tasting and lunch, with rods, reels, bait and ice provided, all with an experienced skipper. Private fishing charters are also available. Phone 5449 7984 or 0407 206 062 www.noosafishingandcrabadventures.com.au
Boating: Lots of options to cruise and explore the #NoosaRiver, from the river mouth near Hastings Street to the upper lakes past Tewantin. Noosa River and Canal Cruises, Cruising Restaurant, gondola, Noosa Dreamboats, Sunset Cruise or drive yourself on a party pontoon or hire boat. #OBoathire has the biggest and best range of party BBQ pontoons, frontrunners, runabout, jet skis and kayaks at 222 Gympie Tce, Noosaville. 54497513 www.oboathire.com
Noosa Farmers Market: Sunday from 7am to 11am Weyba Road, Noosaville Also each Wednesday and Saturday the Eumundi Markets, Noosa Marina Markets on Sunday morning, Peregian Beach Markets on every second Sunday morning, and the Cooroy Markets on Thursday morning
