Noosa

The Noosa Council is very accessible aware which means most newer premises are accessible etc.  But some things don’t quite ‘right’, like the lack of footpaths, the lack of accessible accommodation. 

The accommodation issue is possibly due to a lot of the apartments and units are privately owned so there is no requirement to have a percentage of accessible rooms.  And like NZ accommodation providers don’t always advertise their accessible rooms.

In 2005 we stayed at Tingirana http://ebility.com/accessnoosa/tingirana.php  or http://www.tingirana.com.au/ .  They are located on Hastings Street, the up-market strip of accommodation, shops and restaurants.   We stayed in a Street frontage Studio which was like a large hotel room fully accessible.  It was very nice and a reasonable price back then AUD $140 per night. To have a beachfront apartment was considerably more, even for a couple.  To have a two bedroom apartment (the Street Front apartments are duel key) is around the $400 plus per night.  It is worthwhile if you want to splurge.

My cousin Meg and husband Paul has a little trouble finding accessible accommodation and have booked at Breakfree South Pacific, where my sister Gillian and husband Brian are staying when they arrive on Wednesday.

Covered carparks

Most shops and restaurants are accessible if they are relatively new.  Some older places do have steps.   Shopping centre’s such as Noosa Civic Centre and the local supermarket have shading over a number of the car parks, which includes the accessible parks.  Great in the rain and sun.  

There are roundabouts at every turn which takes a bit getting use to and the signage is a bit different.    You expect something to be either left, straight through or right, when in reality you need to look for the first, second or third exit.    One observation is that there is much more greenery around the intersections and roundabout which makes getting your bearings a bit more difficult.