Noosa in world top ten family beaches

Coast people like longboarding dad Josh Constable and Noosa tourism CEO Steve Cooper knew it all along now Lonely Planet has made it gospel for married-with-children globe-trotters like the Murrays of Southampton.

Noosa's sandy stretch is a haven for families – voted number seven in the Lonely Planet's Travel With Children world top 10 of kid-friendly beaches. The verdict from the publication was: "Recommended by lots of parents at Lonely Planet's head office as a wonderful place to take the kids. Great beaches, beautiful natural environment (Noosa National Park) and very child-friendly."

And that bouquet will not only be a boost for local tourism but, according to Mr Cooper, justifies all the fuss over restoring Main Beach to its natural glory after months of erosion."It comes as no surprise, but it is important to be recognised by an organisation like Lonely Planet," Mr Cooper said.

"It validates all the work that (Sunshine Coast) council has been doing and proves how important the beach is to the local economy."This is a north-facing beach that is sub-tropical, that offers year-round swimming with no (deadly) stingers – iconic beaches like Noosa and Byron Bay speak for themselves."

Byron did not get a look in the travel guide, but Cottesloe outside Perth was voted as number two in the world for child friendliness, behind Costa del Sud on Sardinia in Italy. Constable, a former world longboarding champ and father of two young boys, said he loved taking his oldest boy, Jet, to Noosa and will soon be introducing six-month-old Jive to the more placid waters there.

"Sometimes there is too much sand for good surf at First Point, but we love it there as a family," Constable said. Southampton oncologist Nick Murray could not wait to bring his growing young family to Noosa from a rainy United Kingdom.

He is spending five days here with wife, Theresa, and children Millie, 6, Patrick, 4, Joshua, 19 months and Daisy, who is eight weeks."Noosa is the sort of place that makes you want to travel halfway around the world to come back to," he said.

"The sand and water are beautiful, we love Hastings Street and the national park is right beside it."Last visit, the Murrays were excited to see some koalas in the national park. Lonely Planet Top 10 family beaches

1. Costa del Sud, Italy

2. Cottesloe, Australia

3. Durban, South Africa

4. Karon Beach, Thailand

5. Kauai, Hawaii

6. Aitutaki, Cook Islands

7. Noosa, Australia

8. Tavira, Portugal

9. Sayulita, Mexico

10 Sanur, Bali