I thought as much. Let me explain.
I’m lounging on the balcony of my studio apartment on dusk with a sundowner in hand and I’m immersed in nature. From where I’m sitting all I can see is bush, undeveloped, pristine bush with not a man-made construction in sight. It strikes me as strange, considering as the crow flies Noosa’s famous restaurant-lined beach is three minutes up the road.
I can’t hear traffic, only the hypnotic coo-coo-coo of doves and the occasional splash of sparrows nose-diving for insects in the lagoon below. As the sun sets behind Mount Cooroy it leaves a halo of golden light in its wake.
From my viewpoint there are glimpses of Noosa River that weaves like a serpent through the grass flowing gently towards the sea. Two sea eagles take look out on a paper bark tree metres away from my five-star room, which is starting to resemble a deluxe bird hide.
I am sure that next an elephant will come tumbling out of the bushes with baby in tow.
I feel a million miles away on the eve of this long weekend.
Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa opened the doors to its 78 deluxe studio rooms over a month ago along with its day spa, restaurant and bar. After being checked in by cheery Mike at front desk we were given a mud map to our one-bedroom studio apartment at the tail end of the resort.
An aerial view of the resort shows its clever design where it exploits the jewel in the resort’s crown: the tranquil Noosa sound and its inhabitants. The development’s urban footprint is a light tread on the land and is enveloped by nine hectares of national park.
Our one-bedroom studio apartment consists of the main bedroom and ensuite, a kitchenette and a separate living area complete with desk, plasma TV and couch. The fully self-contained apartment feels fresh, chic and natural with its contemporary, up-market décor and sophisticated fabrics. It blends seamlessly with its native surrounds.
I am told that there are two and three bedroom studio apartments positioned throughout the resort with the same spacious sophistication.
We linger on our tranquil balcony enjoying chilled champagne until the stars start to twinkle overhead.
The moonlit stroll to our dinner reservations at the resort’s Restaurant Aroona is a snappy thirty seconds. We have a pre-dinner drink at the groovy, contemporary designed Shades Bar and are entertained by a witty barman.
Our dining experience at Restaurant Aroona is beyond perfect. The softly lit restaurant with its low hung lights and contemporary decor mirrors the same chic sophistication as our room. Our waitress is professional and approachable and answers our food questions with ease.
We share a starter of spiced calamari served with pickled pineapple chilli, with a coriander, lime and mint dressing. Who would have thought pineapple complements calamari? For our main meals I have the roast rump of lamb served with a butter bean and chilli mash, red pepper pesto and blistered cherry tomatoes with white anchovy tempura.
My husband has the roast Queensland sea farmed barramundi, sun-blushed tomato, black olive, roast eggplant and zucchini, topped with sweet saffron onions.
Both meals are savoured and appreciated for their perfect marriage of flavours and expert cooking.
We are quick to pass on our compliments to the Executive chef Lee Jeynes for his master creations. With covered dessert plates in hand, we toddle back to our room to share a sticky date cheesecake with cinnamon mascarpone and warm caramel fudge sauce and summer fruit pavlova on the floor of our studio apartment watching a late night movie.
The next day an early morning surf and run through Noosa’s national park erases the food guilt from the night before and provides room for the buffet breakfast.
For guests the resort runs five complimentary bus services a day to Hastings Street.
We sit outside on the timber deck at Restaurant Aroona overlooking the lagoon pool bathed in sunshine, reading weekend newspapers, munching on Bircher muesli while listening to the chatter of birds. I feel relaxed and sublimely happy my only appointment is an 11am meeting with a massage therapist at the resort’s Mii Spa.
Spa manager Jennifer Crowcombe welcomes me and shows me to the change room where I exchange my clothing for a crisp, white robe and flip-flops.
Once in my spa attire I lounge in a beautifully appointment relaxation room sipping on herbal tea alongside other blissed-out souls. Mii Spa has six treatment rooms including a deluxe couple’s suite and offers facials, body and water therapies and massages.
On my information form, I specify a firm massage, a happy medium between relaxation and deep tissue and my therapist Stacey Holt executes this perfectly. She instinctively concentrates on muscle areas that are crying out for attention.
So when it comes time to peel myself off the table it feels like my body has turned to jelly. Slicked in oil I’m shown back to the Zen-styled relaxation room where I’m handed a ball of icy sorbet and a cup of herbal tea which kick starts me from my relaxed stupor.
After checking out, we’re forced to bid farewell to the tranquil, nature cocoon of Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa. We drive past the main entrance and instantly hit traffic, pedestrians and suburbia and with it we’re jolted back into life.
words kate johns