Eumarella Shores Noosa Lake Retreat is only a 10 minute drive from the heart of Noosa but its untouched location on the shores of Lake Weyba is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hastings Street. The retreat’s eight cottages and lakehouses are surrounded by 100 acres of native flora and accessed via a quiet suburban street ending at the edge of the lake. However, guests certainly don’t come to Eumarella Shores Noosa Lake Retreat to rough it, despite the retreat’s bush location.

My husband and I stayed in Gooloowaa, a luxe 3 bedroom lakehouse that had me wishing aloud that we were travelling with friends. Little did I know my husband had organised for four of our closest friends to join us on the second night to celebrate my 50th birthday as a surprise. The expansive deck had a row of bar stools overlooking the lake that alluded to the promise of good times shared, inside there were two huge dining tables, a gourmet kitchen and three bedrooms with the largest having a spa bath that practically screamed ‘romance’. There was also a romantic fireplace, although it was too warm when we visited to us it.

A breakfast basket containing punnets of fresh berries, organic yoghurt and milk, and muesli was included in our stay. Most of the breakfast produce comes from the surrounding area, and we picked up some more on the second day to share with our friends. We went for a stroll on the clearly signed trail which starts near reception and showcases the area’s endemic flora while the air rings with the sound of birdsong. We spotted plenty of kookaburras and were intrigued by a spiky white mushroom we found beside the path.

There are no shops within walking distance so it’s a good idea to bring everything you need with you. Combining your stay with a trip to stock up on fresh produce makes for a fun morning out on either Wednesday or Saturday when the Eumundi Markets are on. Strolling down to our private jetty to watch the sunrise and sunset was one of the highlights of our stay. I’m not a morning person but my husband was brave enough to wake me on the first morning to see the sunrise. It was definitely worth getting up early for.

In the evening we sat side-by-side on the wooden deckchairs with a glass of champagne and watched the light change over the lake. The deck was so private that we could relax in our fluffy bathrobes with no fear of being spotted by anyone except an inquisitive wallaby. Native wildlife is everywhere at Eumarella Shores. If you are from overseas and want to see Australian native animals without having to pay admission to a nature park this is the place to do it. We spotted a huge monitor lizard basking in the sun, kangaroos hopped past our lakehouse during breakfast, fish jumped in the lake and a flock of pelicans flew in low over the water as the sun went down.

The next morning we paddled Gooloowaa’s kayak over to their favourite roosting spot, a patch of rocks about 80 metres from our private jetty. It felt like such a privilege being able to travel such a short distance to see something so amazing. We’ve seen plenty of pelicans over the years but never a flock this big.

We spent each afternoon at Eumarella Shores Noosa Lake Retreat curled up on the couch with a good book, pausing every now and then to look outside and enjoy the view. There was always something to see but nothing disturbed the serene surroundings during our entire stay. The noisiest thing was the swoosh of some kayakers paddling across the lake one morning. Much to our delight it seems Lake Weyba holds little appeal for jetskis or powerboats.

We stayed at Gooloowaa for two nights but felt so relaxed by the end of our stay that it seemed like we had been away much longer. However, our greatest joy was sharing this special spot with our friends.

Disclosure: The writer paid a media rate for her stay at Eumarella Shores Noosa Lake Retreat.

If you’re after some things to see and do in Noosa, you could go dolphin spotting, cruise the Noosa Everglades in a vintage wooden speedboat or on a kayaking trip, get fit with some healthy Noosa activities, go on a Kanu Kapers Everglades Tour, a Noosa helicopter tour, or a dolphin spotting adventure with Noosa Oceanrider. Find out all you need to know with The Ultimate Guide to Noosa.