Noosa’s only five-star hotel, the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, has begun its first major renovation in more than a decade as fresh competition prepares to enter the local luxury market.
The resort, which opened as a Sheraton in 1989 and rebranded to Sofitel in 2013, has long held its position as Noosa’s sole five-star accommodation.
Strict development controls and strong community resistance have kept other operators out for more than 35 years, with only a handful of four-star hotels, such as Peppers Noosa and Essence Peregian Beach, making their mark.
Owned by The Pacific Collection — a joint venture between the Laundy and Karedis families — the 175-room Sofitel is undergoing a “transformation” while remaining open to guests.
Accor, which has managed the property since 2012, says the redesign will embrace “natural textures, custom detailing, and a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors” to reflect Noosa’s relaxed coastal spirit.
Renovated rooms are set to roll out this month, while the high-profile Noosa Beach House Restaurant and Bar, a Hastings Street landmark, has closed temporarily and will reopen ahead of the summer season.
The refurbishment comes as Noosa prepares for two significant new developments. In late 2024, Noosa Shire Council approved the Calile Noosa, a $200 million project designed by Richards & Spence, the architects behind Brisbane’s award-winning Calile Fortitude Valley.
Set on a 2.4-hectare site at Serenity Close, the resort will feature 153 rooms, 29 suites, and four villas overlooking Weyba Creek, with completion expected in 2028.
Eight months later, a $50 million expansion of Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort was also approved after years of planning disputes and environmental concerns, including the site’s proximity to koala habitat near Lake Weyba.
The boutique wellness-focused resort will add 69 rooms across four low-rise buildings and is also due for completion in 2028.
For now, Sofitel Noosa remains the sole five-star in town, but with new players on the horizon, its makeover marks a strategic move to maintain its crown as Noosa’s premier luxury address.
