Cooloola Great Walk, Cooloola, Great Sandy National Park

Rainbow Beach, Gympie Area

JOURNEY

Get in touch

The Cooloola Great Walk traverses the Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park, and showcases the very best of areas outstanding natural attractions.

Immerse yourself in nature for five days as you hike this remote grade 4 102-kilometre trail through Cooloola’s rainforest, coastal woodland and heath-clad plains. Linking Noosa North Shore with Rainbow Beach, this Great Walk will take you over the eastern high dunes of the Cooloola sand mass, between the pristine upper Noosa River and the coast.

Climb over vast sand blows, 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 hike. A personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is also recommended.

Journey Details

102 KM Total
40 Hours Total

Full Itinerary

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

Mode of Travel:

Walk

Route Type:

One way

The Cooloola Great Walk traverses the Cooloola section of Great Sandy National Park, and showcases the very best of areas outstanding natural attractions.

Immerse yourself in nature for five days as you hike this remote grade 4 102-kilometre trail through Cooloola’s rainforest, coastal woodland and heath-clad plains. Linking Noosa North Shore with Rainbow Beach, this Great Walk will take you over the eastern high dunes of the Cooloola sand mass, between the pristine upper Noosa River and the coast.

Climb over vast sand blows, 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 hike. A personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is also recommended.

The Cooloola Great Walk is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Please note 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.desi.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.

Two people with backpacks crossing a sandpatch with the ocean in the background.
Walker sitting on Double Island Point, Cooloola Coast

Cooloola Great Walk, Cooloola, Great Sandy National Park

Cooloola, Great Sandy National Park,
Rainbow Beach, Gympie Area
Queensland 4581

Get Directions

Content Provided By Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DESI)

productpixelurl
Bunji
Welcome to Queensland! ☀️ How can I help you?