Mode of Travel

Single Day

Walk
Journey Duration Single Day
Level of Difficulty Grade 4
Activities

Journey Description

***NOTE: as a response to COVID-19, all camping areas in Queensland's national parks are closed to the public until further notice. Check park alerts for updates.

The Cooloola Great Walk traverses the Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, and showcases the very best of Cooloola's outstanding natural attractions.

Immerse yourself in nature for five days as you hike this remote 102 kilometre trail through Cooloola’s rainforest, coastal woodland and heath-clad plains. Linking Noosa North Shore with Rainbow Beach, the Great Walk will take you over the eastern high dunes of the Cooloola sandmass, between the pristine upper Noosa River and the coast.

Climb over vast sandblows, discover perched lakes and long sandy beaches and be rewarded with sweeping views of the Cooloola coastline. Along the way, glimpse snakes, skinks, lizards, emus and echidnas, and admire the views from many natural lookouts. Relax at night in the four walkers’ camps—Brahminy, Dutgee, Litoria and Kauri—where it’s only you and the wildlife. Camping permits are required in advance.

Ensure you carry a topographic map and have experience in navigation and remote bushwalking before you attempt this challenging walk.

Image credits: Walker (Robert Ashdown, Qld Govt); Sandblow (TEQ)

Day By Day Itinerary

Cooloola Great Walk, Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park

The Cooloola Great Walk traverses the Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, and showcases the very best of Cooloola's outstanding natural attractions.

Immerse yourself in nature for five days as you hike this remote 102 kilometre trail through Cooloola’s rainforest, coastal woodland and heath-clad plains. Linking Noosa North Shore with Rainbow Beach, the Great Walk will take you over the eastern high dunes of the Cooloola sandmass, between the pristine upper Noosa River and the coast.

Climb over vast sandblows, discover perched lakes and long sandy beaches and be rewarded with sweeping views of the Cooloola coastline. Along the way, glimpse snakes, skinks, lizards, emus and echidnas, and admire the views from many natural lookouts. Relax at night in the four walkers’ camps—Brahminy, Dutgee, Litoria and Kauri—where it’s only you and the wildlife. Camping permits are required in advance.

Ensure you carry a topographic map and have experience in navigation and remote bushwalking before you attempt this challenging walk.

The Cooloola Great Walk track is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Please The map only shows an indicative start point for the southern entrance to the walk near Noosa North Shore. There is also another entrance near Rainbow Beach. The track route and end point are not shown and this map cannot be used for navigation purposes. See www.des.qld.gov.au for detailed maps and the latest park information, including opening hours and safety messages. When you are in the park, read the signs at and near the start of the track.

Mode of Travel Walk
Distance 102km
Starts Teewah Beach Road, Noosa North Shore
Ends Carlo Sandblow walking track, Cooloola
Route Type One way
Level of Difficulty Grade 4
Facilities pubtoilatt

Map