SYDNEYSIDERS and Melburnians are deserting the chic holiday enclave of Noosa, sending property prices, retail trade and tourism sliding. Already hit by the global financial crisis, the idyllic Sunshine Coast getaway has been further buffeted by a summer of natural disasters and the strong Australian dollar, which has compelled people to opt for cheaper tropical holidays overseas - if they travel at all.

Property experts said Noosa's reliance on Sydney and Melbourne spending made it particularly vulnerable to the GFC-induced economic malaise in the southern capitals.

''When Sydney or Melbourne sneezes, Noosa catches a cold,'' the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's Sunshine Coast zone chairman, Lloyd Edwards, said.

Locals are hopeful the worst is almost over. Trading was strong over Easter, and events such as the Noosa Longweekend Festival, which began on Friday, are expected to boost business during the quiet winter months - especially if the sunshine continues.