The
Cooloola Coast lies between the coastal towns of Noosa Heads and
Rainbow Beach. The landscape of the
Cooloola Coast is a diverse ecological treasure - sculptured by wind and water, and sand washed from river systems for over several million years.
Cooloola Coast lies within the Great Sandy National Park, which is one of the largest ‘vegetated sand dune systems’ in the world. Along with its unique wilderness of indigenous flora and fauna - and its historical significance, the region has recently been nominated for ‘World
Heritage’ listing.
The coastal strip of Cooloola features high sand dunes, coloured sand cliffs, sand-blows, perched lakes, high dune rainforests, and over 70kms of pristine beaches. Whales can be seen offshore between August and October, while dolphins and manta rays are more regular visitors.
There are plenty of camping spots within the 15km Teewah Beach camping zone, as well as plenty of sites to see such as the spectacular
Coloured Sands. Visitors can enjoy bushwalking, camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, lake and surf swimming (although the beaches are unpatrolled) sharks are common and bluebottles are present during northerly winds. Wildflowers bloom on the heathlands in spring, which is the ideal time to visit.
The
Cooloola Coast is a popular beach run and is one of the 4WD routes from Noosa to
Fraser Island. The
Cooloola Way, another 4WD access road into Cooloola, passes through the western catchment and links the
Kin Kin-Wolvi Road with
Rainbow Beach Road.
Go to top Interactive Route Map
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Cooloola Coast 
From: Tewantin
To: Double Island Point
This trek supports moving map, to take a virtual tour click on the Play button.
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A vehicle access permit must be obtained before driving on the
Cooloola Coast. The permit must be attached to the left side of the vehicle's windscreen. Costs & options are listed on the
Qld Government National Parks website. Please note that dogs are not allowed.
If you intend to camp, you will also need a permit and fees apply. See the
Qld National Parks website for details.
Some campgrounds are heavily booked, especially on public holidays and school holidays. Book early and you can book a site up to 12 months before your planned visit. At least six weeks' advance booking is recommended.
Beach Camping
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. Campfires are allowed at these beach camping locationsGo to top Things to See & Do
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Mount Seawah - QLD
My Seawah is the first of the massive coastal dunes of the Cooloola Sandmass. Because of its position it commands an excellent view of the Noosa North Shore, Noosa Heads and Noosa National park.
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Essential items to take with you include an air compressor and a pressure gauge for deflating and re-inflating tyres for beach driving. Recovery gear such as snatch straps and shovels are also a must. Carry enough fuel and water with you as none are available along the way (nearest outlet to the north would be
Rainbow Beach). Sand driving can be dangerous or cause serious damage to the environment unless great care is taken. The beach has hazards including washouts, particularly after heavy rain and rough seas. Wave action may expose dangerous rocks. Check beach conditions before setting out and know your tide times.
Remember, all road rules apply on the beach - it is a registered road! Indicate early to other cars and to people on the beach your intention. You may pass on-coming traffic on either side - cautiously! People have right of way on the beach. Check the local tide charts and
weather conditions before leaving for beach driving. It is also wise to check on the status of any road or track closures.
Camping
All camping areas within the national park require a camping permit and fees apply. Permits must be obtained prior to arrival. A tag with your booking number must be displayed at your campsite. On-the-
spot fines apply for camping without a permit and for not displaying a valid permit.
Wood must be collected before you enter the Cooloola National Park if you plan to have a fire. Collecting bush wood (even twigs) from the national park is illegal. Only bring milled, untreated timber off-cuts, not bush timber. It helps to reduce risk of introducing
pests and plant diseases.
Take adequate
first aid equipment. Fresh water is available from the
Freshwater campground and day-use area. Treat all water before drinking — use water treatment tablets or boil for at least 5-10 minutes. Bring fuel stoves for cooking. Test them before leaving on your trip and never use them in confined spaces such as tents.
Fuel Supplies & Usage
 | Tewantin |
Diesel | 4cyl 8 litres |
ULP | 4cyl 9 litres |
LPG | 4cyl 11 litres |
|---|
| 6cyl 9 litres | 6cyl 10 litres | 6cyl 10 litres |
| 8cyl 9 litres | 8cyl 9 litres | |
There is also fuel available at
Rainbow Beach (not shown on this trek note), which is to the west of
Double Island Point.
Services & Supplies
The following locations have various services and supplies:
TewantinThere are also supplies and facilities available at
Rainbow Beach (not shown on this trek note), which is to the west of
Double Island Point.
Go to top Camp Sites & Accommodation
After entering the Cooloola Shire, beach camping without facilities is available for 15km until Freshwater Creek. Ensure you have a camping permit.
Cooloola Coast is part of the Great Sandy National Park and is managed by
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The region is a superb part of the Great Sandy National Park and is a refuge for a diverse species of flora and fauna. These include heathland, banksia woodlands, dry sclerophyll forest of scribbly gum and blackbutt. Fauna include Cooloola acid frogs and ground parrots - a rare and threatened species. The region also has one of the few remaining
emu populations in coastal
Queensland.
The coastal route is made up of two parts, one for beach driving, the other an inland track for high tides. This rough, single lane, but 2 way track, passes rainforests, tall blackbutt forests, sand dunes and coloured sand cliffs towering to 200m high.
At the northern end, the beach exit must only be attempted on very low tide otherwise the exit is blocked by some nasty tyre-ripping rocks. Also, the sand in the high section is very boggy, and there has been a number of vehicles that have encountered tyre damage here or become bogged and washed away by rising tide. There are plenty of disaster photos to serve as a reminder in the local service stations, caravan parks and information centres.
For thousands of years, Cooloola has been a special place for Aboriginal people. The Kabi Aborigines were the first known inhabitants of the Cooloola region. This tribe occupied an area from the Mooloolah River to the Burrum River. Evidence from the amount of broken shells found on the beaches suggested the group ate fish and various molluscs.
In 1770, Captain
Cook sailed past and named
Double Island Point at the northern end of Cooloola. It was not until 1842, that Governor Gipps sent Andrew Petrie to explore this area and this paved the way for resource use of a magnificent area known as the
Kin Kin Scrubs - where today, only a small remnant of this vast rainforest is left.
Go to top Driving Directions
| Tewantin to Tewantin Vehicular Ferry |
1.91 km |
N |
11° |
1 min |
| Tewantin Vehicular Ferry to Teewah Village |
14.77 km |
N |
14° |
13 min |
| Teewah Village to Mount Seawah |
2.27 km |
N |
2° |
1 min |
| Mount Seawah to Noosa Cooloola Shire Boundary |
8.72 km |
N |
15° |
5 min |
| Noosa Cooloola Shire Boundary to Firebreaks & Cooloola Beach Camping Zone |
9.06 km |
N |
16° |
6 min |
| Firebreaks & Cooloola Beach Camping Zone to Freshwater Campground |
11.7 km |
N |
19° |
7 min |
| Freshwater Campground to Double Island Point |
8.84 km |
NE |
25° |
6 min |
| Tewantin to Double Island Point |
57.27 km |
|
|
42 min |
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.
