Noosa national parks

Noosa National Parks

The Noosa national parks Attract over one million annual visitors. It covers 2280 ha and is composed of three separate holdings of land:

1. Noosa Headland (477 ha) that covers the headland which Noosa is named after located.

2. Peregian section, which includes an almost continuous strip of hinterland extending from Noosaville to the suburb of Coolum Beach, touching the foreshore at Peregian Beach South

3. Weyba section, is further inland which and extends southwards from Weyba Downs, at the south-western end of Lake Weyba.

The park takes in a variety of land forms, habitats and fauna, including koalas. There are walking tracks, picnic and barbecue areas, the obvious aquatic leisure activities, and holiday programs. Spring is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds and enjoy the wildflowers and optimum weather conditions.

The northern headland section is probably the most visited and features a rocky cliff line, stunning oceanic views and hosts a series of sheltered beaches and coves. Inland of the coastline is a diverse environment of grassland, scrubland, heath land, open forest and even rainforest. Bushwalks lead visitors on beautiful excursion that boats wonderful scenery along a string of coastal bays with noted swimming and surfing beaches.

Five walking tracks of varying length start from the park entrance at the end of Park Rd where there is an information centre, toilets, drinking water, a car park and a picnic area with electric barbecues, beach showers and lookouts.

The Coastal Track is 2.7 km one-way and leads past the Boiling Pot to Tea-Tree Bay, Granite Bay and Hells Gates. The Palm Grove Circuit is 1 km long which passes through the rainforest.

Noosa Hill Track is a 3.4-km circuit that climbs through open forest to Noosa Hill giving elevated views over the park. The Tanglewood track is a bit longer at 4.2 km one-way that leads walkers to Hells Gates, passing through rainforest, open forest and heath.

Another trek leads away from Sunshine beach to Alexandria Bay, passing through coastal heath communities. This trek is 2.3 km one way from Parkedge Road or 1 km one way from McAnally Drive.

The Peregian Section of the Park has the Coastal Heath Track which is 1km one way and leads through coastal heath.

For further information ring the Park Information Centre on (07) 5447 3243 which is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Note: There is no camping in Noosa National Park.

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Cooloola National Park - Noosa river to Rainbow Beach

Cooloola National Park (56 600 ha) forms the southern portion of Great Sandy National Park. Stretching north from the Noosa river to Rainbow Beach, it provides a haven for indigenous flora and fauna threatened by urban development and is characterised by open heathland, banksia woodlands, dry sclerophyll forest of scribbly gum and blackbutt, rainforest, coloured sand cliffs, attractive and extensive beaches, a plenitude of birdlife, including sea eagles, and the freshwater lakes, mangrove wetlands and tributaries associated with the Noosa river.

Great Sandy National Park incorporates and preserves the largest tract of natural land on Queensland¹s southern coast and the largest intact sand dune system in the world (around Teewah Beach). Visitors can enjoy bushwalking, picnicking, scenic drives, boating, fishing, lake and surf swimming, although the beaches are un-patrolled, sharks are common and bluebottles are present during northerly winds. Whales can be seen offshore between August and October, while dolphins and manta rays are more regular visitors. Wildflowers bloom on the heathlands in spring, which is the ideal time to visit. The Park is popular in school and public holidays so be prepared to book in advance at these times, tel: (07) 5449 7792 or (07) 5486 3160 .

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Cooloola National Park - Lake Cooloola

Noosa river passes between Lake Como and Lake Cooloola through an area known as the Noosa everglads into Lake Cootharaba (90 square kilometres), which is the largest natural lake in the state.

The Lake is a good place to commence an exploration of the Park's waterways (which include Kin Kin Creek) by canoe or power boat, both of which can be hired on the lake shore (see below). Power boats are banned upstream of bush campsite 3 (see entry below on Upper River Camps) and strict speed restrictions apply. No wash is permitted north of the Kinaba Information Centre(see next entry). Canoes must be tied, not dragged ashore, and cannot land at all between Fig Tree Point and Harry's Camping Area. Boats travelling downstream have the right of way, though canoeists should generally be wary of larger craft. Jumping and diving is highly inadvisable in the lakes or rivers of the park.

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Cooloola National Park - Boreen Point

Cootharaba is frequently utilised as a sailing and boating venue by casual visitors and by local boat clubs. It also hosts state and national sailing championships. Its waters are shallow but can be rough, being at their calmest in the morning. The principal access point to the lake is the township at Boreen Point where there is also an 'organic' golf farm with a chemical-free course and organic meals, tel: (07) 5485 3494 .

Boreen Point is readily accessible by a sealed road from Tewantin. Its facilities include motels, a caravan park, camping areas, power boat and canoe-hire services from Everglades Camping and Boat Hire (tel: 07 5485 3164), picnic tables, sheltered picnic settings, a public telephone, toilets, a boat ramp, petrol, food supplies and a restaurant.

It is possible to continue north with a 2WD from Boreen Point, along the lake shore, past the National Park carpark and canoe launch and a ranger station, to Elanda Point, where there is a privately owned camping area (tel:07 5485 3165) which has a kiosk and which hires out canoes and small power boats. Here the road ends.

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Cooloola National Park - Fig Tree Point Camping Area

6 km north of Elanda Point, along the lake shore, is Kinaba Information Centre and, 2 km further north again, Fig Tree Point Camping Area. Both can be reached by walking track or by canoe or boat (including tour boats from Noosa/Tewantin). Kinaba has information, toilets, a ranger station, a self-guided walk (see section below on bushwalks), toilets, tables, bush camping, disabled access and rainwater which must be treated before drinking. To make bookings for Fig Tree Point, tel: (07) 5449 7364.

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Cooloola National Park - Lake Cooroibah

To access the western shore of Lake Cooroibah take Lake Cooroibah Rd (north of Tewantin), which heads north off McKinnon Drive (the Tewantin-Boreen Point Road).

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Cooloola National Park - Teewah Beach and the Coloured Sands

It is possible to access Teewah Beach by taking the ferry at Tewantin across the Noosa river and following Maximillian Road. It is sealed for about 3 km then it becomes a dirt track which is navigable in a 2WD, so long as it has not been raining.

However, to explore most other areas of the park, visitors need a 4WD. For example, it is permissible to traverse Teewah Beach in a 4WD at low tide, although conditions apply, such as speed limits and on the proviso that drivers stick to the beach and designated tracks. About 16 km north of Maximillian Road's terminus are some of the Park's famous coloured sands. Erosion has exposed a palette of as many as 72 different coloured sands which have been produced by combinations of iron oxide and leached vegetable dyes. It is likely that the sands have been forming since the last ice age. More poetically, an Aboriginal legend tellsof a spirit which took the form of a rainbow. Entering into a fight over a young woman the spirit fell onto the cliffs infusing the sands with its polychromatic splendour.

Beach camping is limited to a 15-km area along Teewah Beach between the boundary of the Noosa shire in the south and Freshwater Creek. Self-registration stations exist at both ends of this zone. Permits for camping at Teewah Beach can be obtained by contacting the Rainbow Beach office on (07) 5486 3160 between 7.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.

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Cooloola National Park - Cooloola Way

It is possible, in a 4WD (weather permitting), to proceed from Tewantin to Rainbow Beach via Cooloola Way, a 32-km dirt road which passes through the Park's western catchment, offering scenic views, a profusion of wildflowers in spring, tall forests and banksia wallum. From Cooloola Way it is possible to turn off into Harry's Hut Road, following it to Harry's Camp and Day Use Area on the Upper Noosa river, where there are campsites, toilets, sheltered picnic areas, and rainwater which, to reiterate, must be treated before drinking. To make bookings for Harry's, ring (07) 5449 7364'

Note: This area is flooded and closed after heavy rains, so check conditions with a ranger before proceeding (tel: 07 5449 7364 ).

There are also 15 designated bush camping sites along the Upper Noosa river, to the north of Harry's. Fires are not permitted at these sites and there are no facilities, other than pit toilets at camps one, two and three which are also located along walking tracks.

These 15 camps are generally used by those travelling by canoe or boat, although power boats are not allowed beyond camp no. 3.

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Cooloola National Park - Northern Cooloola National Park

For information on the Park's northern attractions (including more coloured sands, Bymien Picnic Area, the Freshwater and Poverty Point campsites, the northern end of Teewah Beach, Double Island Point, the Cherry Venture Shipwreck, Murrawar Lookout, Carlo Sandblow, 4WD tracks and many more walking tracks.