Forget the resort pool, this Noosa hotel has something much better right outside

Belmo Hotels, one of Queensland's fastest-growing accommodation management companies, operates several properties on Noosa's most coveted strip, Hastings Street. Tingirana is known for its infinity pool overlooking Laguna Bay, while No. 1 Hastings Street is carved into the hillside, with an inclinator carrying guests between levels. But a recent multi-million-dollar revamp makes On the Beach an appealing choice for the upcoming summer holidays - and beyond.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better location in Noosa than On the Beach. It sits smack bang in the middle of Hastings Street's cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques, while enjoying something many other properties can't claim: an absolute beachfront position. For context, some of Noosa's best-known hotels, including The Sebel and Elysium, sit on the other side of the street, with water views available only from select areas.

I can't comment on the hotel's common areas, most of which were undergoing renovation during my visit, including the Hastings Street facade, which was shrouded in scaffolding. The rooms, however, are contemporary, with a palette of neutrals, crisp-white linen and light timber that lets the sea and sky views take centre stage.

There are 21 apartments at On the Beach - from beachfront studios and one-bedroom apartments with partial water views to a two-bedroom apartment overlooking Hastings Street. I'm staying in a beautiful Beachfront Studio on the first floor, with a spacious living room, a fully kitted-out kitchen and a large private terrace with sweeping waterviews and a jacuzzi. But my favourite part of the room is the shower: oversized, watertight and cleverly designed, so you can turn it on without standing underneath and getting drenched in cold water.

There are no eateries on site, but Boardwalk Bistro, just beneath the hotel on the beach side, offers room service from an extensive all-day menu. I ordered a burger during my stay, which arrived in under 40 minutes with piping-hot chips. But it would be a crime not to venture out and experience Hastings Street's exceptional dining scene. Make a beeline for Cibaria, a relatively new Italian hotspot inside Elysium Noosa Resort. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, it draws a crowd even on weeknights (we dropped in on a Monday evening and it was packed). Credit goes to Lucas Bach's inventive menu, which ranges from buttery scallops with finger lime and trout roe to Moreton Bay bug pasta in a spicy vodka sauce. You don't need an occasion to dine at Cibaria. It is the occasion.

There's a compact gym on the property's ground floor as well as a small beach-facing pool, which no doubt is the envy of many passers-by. But - once again - it would be a shame to not indulge in everything Noosa offers, particularly when you're in such a great location. A swim on Main Beach, just out the door, is a no-brainer, but head to Little Cove for an even more picturesque setting - a small sandy beach and clear waters, fringed with greenery.

There's a small gate, right next to the pool, that gives On the Beach guests direct access to Main Beach. Even after several trips through that gate, stepping straight onto the boardwalk and the sand never lost its appeal.

The writer was a guest of On the beach