Your Local: March 2023

Spotlight on Tewantin

THERE ARE THOSE WHO CALL TEWANTIN ‘NOOSA’S POORER COUSIN’. BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO LIKE ‘WANNO’ JUST AS IT IS - IN FACT IT’S RICHER FOR IT.

TEWANTIN reflects the laid-back semicountry town that the whole river and beachside community once used to be: it’s a little bit slower, less frenetic, and less pretentious.

Whether it stays that way, or is ultimately consumed by the always-demanding, expanding tourism industry remains to be

seen, but people like Gail McBurney hope it stays as it is.

“Tewantin is the capital of Noosa,” Gail says of the 152-year-old town of about 11,000 residents, the first to be established in the region near the Noosa rivermouth.

“We have a laugh about that, but that’s what we think.”

Gail is president of the Tewantin Heritage and Historical Society which runs the Parkyn’s Hut tourism office on the ‘knee’ of the ‘dogleg’ that makes up Tewantin’s commercial heart, made from Memorial and Poinciana avenues.

She adds there’s no animosity between Tewantin and coastal Noosa – they work together well and while they are different in many ways, they are both part of the overall Noosa tourism experience.

At times Tewantin can be just as busy traffic-wise as its coastal neighbour, but there’s certainly plenty of parking around the centre.

Gail reckons the place to start when visiting Tewantin is at its edge, to get an overview.

“Mount Tinbeerwah overlooks the town –it’s a great view,” she said.

“Then roll down the hill towards town, which is the gateway to the beaches, but which is also a destination in itself.”

In Tewantin, you’ll find a mix of longstanding retail businesses, cafes and

restaurants sitting alongside brand-new enterprises, and it lends itself well to a walking experience of street shopping rather than a shopping centre full of generic brand names.

You’ll find independent fashion stores like DBA Boutique on Poinciana Avenue, a haven for those seeking casual women’s clothing, among other quality offerings.

Parkyn’s Hut tourism information centre’s Gail McBurney, Bruce Cuttle and Keetha McInnerney

Mere doors away, there’s a quality homewares store called River Shack in which you will almost certainly discover an item for your home to remind you of your visit to this vibrant riverside town.

And if you are thinking of taking something home for the evening meal, don’t go past Tewantin Market Garden, where the word ‘local’ takes on new meaning, as it has one of the largest collections of locally made or grown products you will find anywhere.

Tewantin Market Garden is motherand-daughter owned and operated and has a substantial online presence to order fruit and veg, and all the other items on its astonishingly long list of more than 90 local producers, to pick up or have delivered to your door.

The store is full of fresh produce, breads, pasta, condiments, eggs, milk and is a seasonally driven store which means you will only ever find produce that is in season and grown in Australia.

And a brand-new enterprise called Flannery’s – the Natural Grocery Company has recently got locals talking, having only recently opened opposite Parkyn’s Hut.

Right next to Parkyn’s Hut is the entrance to the RSL Memorial Park, which takes you

Acai bowl from Tewantin Market Garden

down to the riverbank, for a tranquil time with only the softly lapping riverbank and occasional watercraft to break the serenity, despite being so close to town.

Continue walking south and safely connect with other parks, passing the Noosa Regional Gallery – drop in and see an abundance of local works or - especially if you have kids with you - continue south pas Noosa Council’s offices to Tewantin’s Water Park, Splash Park and Skate Park, all next to each other, down at the boat ramp.

At that point, you are at the front door to one of Tewantin’s real gems – Noosa Marina.

New business Flannerys - The Natural Grocer company

The Marina is a collection of eclectic retail, classy restaurants, a seafood shop, a popular waterside breakfast spot in Café Vincinoand a wine bar which, for much of the week, is also one of Tewantin’s three main live music venues.

On Sundays, the Marina also becomes the town’s hotspot with its weekly markets offering a huge variety of clothing, food and much more.

During the week, the Marina is also the starting point for various river cruises, including the Noosa Queen, which operates lunch and sunset cruises up Noosa River, also wedding and party cruises. The Noosa Cruiser offers a similar range of cruises, but also operates a corporate cruise option.

There’s a good range of options for accommodation in Tewantin, starting with two caravan parks not far from town – one on Cooroy Noosa Rd opposite Noosa Golf Club (itself a great spot if you want to watch kangaroos while enjoying a quiet drink and

RSL Memorial Park with Noosa River in the background

meal), or on Moorindil St, which is also the main road for accessing the ferry across to Noosa North Shore.

There are also at least three resorts on Hilton Terrace along Noosa River to choose from: Noosa Lakes Resort, Cayman Quays and Ivory Palms, according to Gail, as well as plenty of B&Bs around the area.

And if you really want to spend up big, you can always try Makepeace Island, just upstream on Noosa River, made famous when established as a resort by UK entrepreneur, Virgin’s Richard Branson – but you’ll be looking at around $22,000 a night …

The town has recently attracted a branch of the state’s first not-for-profit real estate agency, Purpose Real Estate, so if you are interested in a longer-term romance with Tewantin, it’s a good place to start.

Meet exhibiting artists within the space Noosa Regional Gallery

Evenings in and around Tewantin are enjoyed by visitors in many ways; restaurants abound, including Asian cuisine options such as Thai, Indian and Vietnamese.

Or you can go a little more traditional with well-portioned meals at Tewantin Noosa RSL, or the Royal Mail pub – both of which join Noosa Marina’s Wine Bar as live entertainment venues.

The RSL features numerous bars along with its bistro and a high-tech kids playground area, while the Royal Mail – the last of five Tewantin pubs that once stood – also features historical photos illustrating the Tewantin of old.

Tewantin is the town where a visitor might want to access the glitz and glamour of the coastal strip and its beaches, but where they also want to get away from all that later on in the evenings; to slow down, hang with perhaps a more down-toearth crowd, yet still have all the conveniences nearby.

It’s a best-of-both-worlds option for enjoying a good time in the metropolitan heart of Noosa Shire.

After all, it is the capital of Noosa!

Harbour Wine Bar, Noosa Marina