Little Cove Noosa is a small, sheltered beach just around the corner from Noosa Main Beach, tucked against the slopes of Noosa National Park. The water is calm and clear, and you reach it on foot from the Park Road boardwalk.
It is a good swim stop when you want something quieter than the main beach, with one big catch: there are no lifeguards.
Swimming at Little Cove
The cove is sheltered, and waves rarely get above about half a metre. That makes it a popular spot for swimming, snorkelling and playing in the sand, and for learning to surf.
The beach is not patrolled, so take extra care. If you want lifeguards, Noosa Main Beach is the patrolled beach a short way along the coast, and the Beachsafe app shows current conditions for both.
How to get to Little Cove from Hastings Street
The beach is reached from the Park Road boardwalk, at Noosa Heads. Visit Noosa calls it a five-minute stroll from Hastings Street.
Because it is a walk-in beach, wear shoes you can walk in and take only what you can carry. Check the cove’s rocky edges before you set up for the day.
What to do at Little Cove
- Swim: calm, clear water close to the shore.
- Snorkel: the sheltered cove suits it, according to Time Out.
- Learn to surf: the small waves make it a gentle place to start.
- Walk on: carry on into Noosa National Park, where the coastal walks start.
Making a day of it around Hastings Street
Little Cove works best as one stop in a longer Noosa Heads day. Noosa Main Beach is a sheltered, north-facing beach beside Hastings Street, and its lifeguards patrol on weekends and public holidays from the September school holidays to the May Day long weekend. If you want a swim with lifeguards, that is the beach to choose.
Hastings Street has waterfront restaurants, cafes and bars reached by the boardwalk, which makes it the easy place for lunch before or after the beach.
For more walking, Noosa National Park has five marked walks, lookouts and surf bays, and koalas are sometimes seen there. The wider Noosa Heads guide pulls the whole town together.
Because Little Cove has no lifeguards, a sensible plan is a swim at the cove while conditions are calm, then lunch on Hastings Street, rather than a whole day on the sand with young children.
Planning your visit
- How long: It is about a five-minute stroll from Hastings Street, plus your beach time.
- Best time: Go early when Noosa is busy, because parking in the area is limited.
- What to bring: Water, sun protection, a hat and shoes for the walk. Nothing in the sources says there are shops or facilities at the cove itself, so plan to bring what you need.
- Cost: Free.
- Toilets and showers: Surf Life Saving Queensland lists toilets, showers, barbecues and drinking water at Noosa Main Beach, so use those before the walk to the cove.
- Before you swim: Check conditions in the Beachsafe app, and let someone on the beach know you are heading into the water.
- Dogs: Dogs must be on a lead in Noosa public areas unless a sign says off-leash, and they are not allowed on Noosa Main Beach. Check Noosa Council’s dogs page before bringing one.
Getting there and parking
Little Cove is at Noosa Heads, about 2 hours by car from Brisbane CBD without traffic. Most people park in Noosa Heads and walk in via Hastings Street and the boardwalk.
Translink bus route 627 runs through Noosa Junction to Noosa Heads, and the Noosa Heads bus station is near Hastings Street. Noosa Council also runs a free Go Noosa loop bus over the summer holidays and suggests parking at the Noosa Junction car park and catching a bus to Noosa Heads. Check the Go Noosa page for the current arrangements and the Translink journey planner for times.
Nearby
- Noosa Main Beach – the patrolled beach beside Hastings Street.
- Hastings Street – cafes, restaurants and shops before or after your swim.
- Noosa National Park – five marked walks, lookouts and surf bays.
- Noosa Heads – the wider day-out guide to the town.
- Alexandria Bay – another beach further along the national park coast.
More ideas: browse all beaches or everything in Noosa.
You might also like
- Sunrise Beach (Noosa)
- Castaways Beach (Noosa)
- Noosa North Shore
Quick answers
Is Little Cove Noosa patrolled?
No. Little Cove is not patrolled by lifeguards, so swim with extra care. Noosa Main Beach, a short way along, is the patrolled beach.
Can you swim at Little Cove in Noosa?
Yes. The cove is sheltered, with calm, clear water and waves that rarely exceed about half a metre.
How do you get to Little Cove from Hastings Street?
Walk to the Park Road boardwalk and follow it to the cove. Visit Noosa calls it a five-minute stroll from Hastings Street.
Is there parking at Little Cove?
Plan to park in Noosa Heads and walk in. Parking close to the cove is limited, so go early in busy periods.
Can you take dogs to Little Cove?
Dogs must be on a lead in Noosa public areas unless a sign says otherwise, and they are not allowed on Noosa Main Beach. Check Noosa Council before you bring one.
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