Spend a full day exploring the Glass House Mountains and hinterland areas, starting around Landsborough or Beerwah.

Follow the 28km Maleny-Blackall Range Tourist Drive from Landsborough to Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton. Maleny is the best place to stop for lunch — choose from a range of groovy cafes on the main street or drop in to Colin James Fine Foods to pick up some delectable cheeses and goodies for a picnic along the way. You can also pick up excellent cheeses or do a cheese tasting (bookings required) at Maleny Cheese, just off the Maleny-Montville Road.

The tourist drive officially ends in Nambour, but continue north to Eumundi. Time permitting, browse a couple of the galleries in this arty hinterland village, or pick up something to read in the huge second-hand bookshop on the main street.

You might also want to go and try some of the divine chocolates made by Cocoa Chocolat on Etheridge Street — but only buy what you can eat straight away, because even in winter they will probably melt in the car. And you can always pick up more at their outlet underneath the Sheraton Noosa in Hastings Street.

From Eumundi, head towards Doonan and follow the road into Noosaville, where you can drive along the Noosa River and watch all the dog walkers, cyclists and coffee drinkers doing their thing.

Noosaville has a good range of accommodation and restaurants, including the groovy new Thomas Corner Eatery, run by one of Noosa's favourite chefs, David Rayner (formerly of the River House Restaurant in Weyba Road, but it is best to stay in Noosa Heads if you want the typical Noosa experience.

Choose from one of the multitude of hotel and apartment complexes on or around Hastings Street, which is also the place to dine. Have pre-dinner drinks in one of the bars looking out onto the street then move onto a restaurant for dinner and perhaps another venue for dessert and a nightcap. Eating times are usually flexible and there are lots of different styles of dining to choose from.

Spend the rest of your visit swimming at Main Beach, taking a walk around the headland of the Noosa National Park, meandering around the shops on Hastings Street or just sitting by the pool — even a short stay deserves some true relaxation time.