Move over, Noosa: inside the glam new rooftop hotel changing the face of Mooloolaba

Facing the ocean, the 12-storey Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel feels like an island of modern sophistication among a sea of ageing serviced apartments. As the first internationally branded hotel to be built on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in almost 40 years, it's the talk of this beachside town, and I'm here to stay on its opening night (May 11). While Noosa has long been the glamorous enclave of the Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba is now starting to strut its style along the Esplanade, with a multi-million dollar foreshore redevelopment underway. Recent restaurants and bar renovations have added more flair, but nothing symbolises this evolution more than the opening of the Avani and its rooftop bar and restaurant, Sully's, which is already getting booked out by locals.

The hotel is located on a side street, so there's less noise than on the foreshore, although you still get beautiful views of the water just 100 metres away and can be on the sand within minutes. Mooloolaba's top restaurants and bars are all walkable and it would be easy do without a car for a few days (although there is parking for $30 a night). The hotel is just 15 minutes' drive from Sunshine Coast Airport (currently being expanded), which has direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne.

Since the Avani brand launched internationally about 15 years ago, it's gained a reputation for design-led luxury ... or, as it describes it, "a balance between coolness and kindness". I see that straight away as I check in, with most of the reception area filled by a well-stocked bar along with couches and tables where guests or the public can order a meal. Curves abound in the lobby design, with paper pendant lights and vertical fluting around columns. The earthy colours like terracotta, teal and cream that spread through the building don't seem out of place by the beach, yet immediately feel more chic and refined.

The 180 rooms range from deluxe twins and kings up to ocean-view junior suites and suites. (Some interconnected rooms also cater to families.) I'm staying in an Ocean Suite, with a delightfully comfortable king bed and coastal-facing balcony. Natural-coloured floorboards, a mottled red-stone vanity and surf-inspired artworks give an elevated beach vibe. Yet the cool design has meant some compromises. The bed faces the balcony doors, making the television difficult to watch except from an awkwardly close couch. And although a freestanding circular bathtub next to the bed feels luxurious, it takes up a lot of space.

I melt into my massage at the AvaniSpa, opting for the Surfers Release, which includes hot stones and gentle stretching, finishing with a vitality tonic. Other treatments including facials are available, along with use of a sauna. The hotel has a friendly Experience Host, who can arrange activities on site (she even leads a yoga session for us one morning) or in the region. Many of the local boat tours leave from The Wharf, which is just a five-minute walk away, or it's only a 30-minute drive to Noosa.

The rooftop pool on level 13 is perfect for views over the beach. There are tables, lounges and cabanas where guests can relax, but I have the whole area to myself just after sunrise as I manage to get in some laps before a breakfast acai bowl one floor down.

The writer was a guest of the hotel and Visit Sunshine Coast