Whether you are looking for beachfront brunches, dinners with celebrity chefs, live cooking demonstrations, or a party under the stars, the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival program has it all. Are you thinking of going to the festival this year? After previously attending the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival, we have some Noosa Eat & Drink Festival tips to help you make the most of this delicious Queensland event.

Purchase tickets early

Seats at popular events like the long lunches book out way in advance. If you’ve got your heart set on going to something particular, book early or you could miss out on attending the event.

Book accommodation wisely

Noosa has loads of gorgeous beach front accommodation options but you probably won’t be around to enjoy your room that much if you’re attending festival events. Now is the time to perhaps skip your favourite beach front hotel in favour of more affordable accommodation. If you have your heart set on staying in Noosa, book somewhere like Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas or Seahaven Noosa which is within walking distance of the Festival Village.

There is also the option to stay somewhere just outside Noosa like Sunshine Beach or Coolum (although this is further away). There is a regular Council bus service which goes to the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival from these destinations and many others.

Go to the Festival Village in the morning

The Festival Village is the heart of the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival and the place to be during the festival. Located in centre of Noosa, there are live cooking demonstrations, masterclasses, great food and drinks, live music and so much more held here across the weekend. While you probably don’t want to get into the wine tasting too early (or, hey, maybe you do), arriving when the Noosa Eat and Drink Village opens means you can sample some of the delicious food on offer without the crowds. Then you can go back again later to listen to the live music and enjoy a vino or two. Bring a picnic rug or a few fold up chairs as Village seating is limited and fills up quickly.

Include Festival Village spending money in your budget

Entry to The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival Village does not include wine tastes so budget accordingly. While the wine tasting is well priced and you get the chance to sample lots of top drops, your budget will take a hit if you’re expecting it to be like other food and wines shows where tasting is included.

Pace yourself when booking events

When we attended Lunch on the Beach last year, there were some people at our table who had attended a Noosa Eat and Drink dinner the night before, and something else that morning. If you book too many ‘signature’ events back-to-back, it can be a case of too much of a good thing. Leave time in your schedule to chill out so you can enjoy each special event to the full.

Bring a hat and wear sunscreen

The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival takes place in late autumn, so the weather is unlikely to be hot, but you’ll be spending quite a bit of time outdoors. Even if you’re booked at a seated lunch event in a marquee, your allocated table could be in the sun. It was lucky we arrived early and got seats in the shade at our Lunch on the Beach which took place on a gorgeous and unseasonably warm day. If you aren’t sure where you’ll be sitting, bring a shady hat just in case.

Don’t feel you have to go with a group

One of the things we enjoyed most about our Lunch on the Beach was talking to other people we met at our table. If you go with your own posse of mates, and get caught up talking about “Have you seen so-and-so lately?” If you go with friends, you could miss out on the conversation at the table. This would be a real shame as the conversation is lively and loads of fun when you’re surrounded by fellow food and wine lovers.

Disclosure: The writers paid for their event tickets and received entry to The Festival Village courtesy of Tourism Noosa.

Looking for some more things to do while you’re at Noosa? Go dolphin spotting with Oceanrider Noosa, cook up a storm at The Cooking School Noosa, go on a kayak tour of the Noosa Everglades with Kanu Kapers, or take a romantic ride in a classic wooden speedboat with Noosa Dreamboats.