Elegant Family Retreat: Little Cove

When it comes to ticking off a holiday bucket list, there are plenty of wonderful experiences available only on a getaway to the coast. Think the squelch of golden sands under your toes, the whites of cresting waves, the joys of building a sandcastle and the primal pleasure of ducking your head under the ocean surface. It’s all about those simple things that are so often the very best. And at this chic Little Cove getaway, they’re yours to tick off one by one. Tucked away in a part of Noosa that blends proximity with a sense of peace, the three-bedroom apartment is a study in bold colours and rich timbers that plays out across a spacious layout that won’t break the bank.

The bedrooms continue the neutral coastal colour scheme. Large windows flood the spaces in warming sunlight, with angled ceilings a point of design difference. Across the bottom level of the apartment, the comfiest of furnishings have been chosen to encourage a sense of conviviality and charm. In the fully equipped kitchen, home chefs have everything they need to bring back a fresh harvest from the markets and make a meal that finds its heart in bountiful local produce. Their efforts can be stylishly presented in the nearby dining zone or served more casually at benchside stools. With generous space to draw on, the lifestyle hub also includes a TV zone and quiet corner set up for intimate conversations. Lashings of rustic tones create an earthy and inviting feel.

Moving out through expansive glass doors, which can be curtained off for privacy, the alfresco balcony serves as a seamless link to the spectacular natural surrounds of the apartment complex. With verdant bushland on all sides, and a sneak peak of the dazzling ocean beyond, it’s a showcase that blue and green should absolutely be seen. And with beautiful birdsong adding a hypnotic soundtrack, the multipurpose space comes fully primed for dining and enjoyment, with a barbecue, sunlounger, table and chairs and more besides.

After drinking in the view from on high, it’s an easy wander down to some of the coast’s most alluring amenities and drawcards, starting with the delights of Little Cove beach, and its enticing mix of sand and saltwater. Surfers should be sure to pack a board as the coast has numerous popular breaks.

To the east of Bayona lies the native flora and fauna of Noosa National Park, while a boardwalk heading west finds its destination in the retail and restaurant precinct of Hastings St, where a must-do for foodie enthusiasts is a booking – or two – to enjoy world-class menus that illustrate the creativity of the local chefs who have become household names.

Running parallel are the showstopping natural splendours of Main Beach, which fills your nose with the tang of salt air, your phone with photos galore and your soul with a sense of relaxation. Take a minute just to drink it in. And as you absorb the golden sands stretching away in the distance and the water lapping at the junction of sand and surf, you’ll soon understand that this is one experience that doesn’t just feature on a holiday bucket list – it tops it. So embrace the moment and enjoy the experience. This is one tick you’ll want to mark over and over again.