Cooloola Recreation Area visitor guide - Department of National ...

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Cooloola—a coastal wonderland with long sweeping landscapes. Photo: Robert Ashdown, Qld Govt. Welcome to Cooloola and Inskip Peninsula 2 Traditional Owners have a long and ongoing relationship with the area that falls under Queensland’s national parks and forests. In order to acknowledge the important connection with Aboriginal people, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) urges visitors to treat the country through which they walk with respect and care. Cooloola is a refuge for plants and animals whose habitats have been reduced by rural, urban and coastal development. The area showcases spectacular sand dunes and the tranquil headwaters of the upper Noosa River with one of the most protected catchments left in Queensland. Cooloola’s fascinating sandmass, built up over the past 500 000 years, includes long beaches backed by high dunes. Its open heath plains are splashed with colourful wildflowers. Cooloola features mangroves, woodlands of banksias and scribbly gum, shady blackbutt forests, rainforests with towering trees, and tranquil lakes and waterways. A haven for birds, both sea and land, Cooloola is a photographer’s delight offering long landscapes and stunning sunsets— a perfect holiday destination for walking, camping, canoeing and four-wheel driving. The Cooloola Recreation Area, totalling 61 750 ha, covers the existing 56 600 ha of the Great Sandy National Park, as well as various state and local governmentmanaged areas, such as roads, beaches, esplanades and other lands to the low water mark. More than a third of the Noosa River’s catchment area is national park. The Noosa River’s excellent water quality is largely due to this protected upper catchment. The Noosa River is around 60km long and flows into the South Pacific Ocean at Laguna Bay, Noosa Heads. Shallow lakes in the river system are tidal and contain brackish and fresh water. The surrounding wetlands are a nursery for juvenile fish. Enjoying Cooloola means seeing some of the best preserved coastal landscapes in Queensland. It’s a place worth visiting and looking after. Fire management is just one of the many major tasks of QPWS in Cooloola. Photo: Qld Govt. Management Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing’s (NPRSR), Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages Cooloola as a protected area to conserve its natural, cultural and recreational values and resources for all to enjoy, now and in the future. Most of the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park is included in the Cooloola Recreation Area. The area is protected under the Recreation Areas Management Act 2006 and the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The recreation area provides for the protection of the area and the management of activities right down to the low water mark. To the north of Cooloola lies the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area, popular for camping and fishing and as a gateway to access the Fraser Island World Heritage Area, which is also a recreation area and is the other significant section of the Great Sandy National Park. The coastal waters of Cooloola north of Double Island Point, including the Tin Can Inlet and the Great Sandy Strait, are protected under the Great Sandy Marine Park. Marine park zones and designated areas have been identified and implemented within the Great Sandy Marine Park specifically to protect the area’s features, wildlife and habitat. All of these areas are managed by QPWS. More information is available online at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.
Access Cooloola lies between the coastal towns of Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach. It is about 240 km or a 2–3 hour drive north from Brisbane. Conventional vehicle access is very limited within the recreation area. See map for more details. Beach and track conditions Always carry a recent version of the Cooloola Conditions Report, which shows track and beach conditions and any park alerts, closures or weather warnings. Pick one up from a QPWS information centre with a permit pack or download a copy online at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au before leaving home. Beach access Vehicle access to the beach is possible from Rainbow Beach or Tewantin (near Noosa). From Rainbow Beach, access the beach vehicle ramp at the end of Griffin Esplanade. Alternative beach access points are from Freshwater Road or the Kings Bore circuit track (off Rainbow Beach Road). From Tewantin, catch the ferry at the end of Moorindil Street, across the Noosa River and drive to the beach access points at Noosa North Shore. Cooloola Way (high clearance 4WDs only) This council-maintained track is suitable for high clearance 4WDs only—it is often very rough and slippery when wet. It passes through the western catchment of the upper Noosa River. The track links Rainbow Beach Road with the Kin Kin– Wolvi Road. The Noosa River bridge may be impassable after wet weather. Seek local advice before travelling. For 2WD vehicles Conventional 2WD vehicles can reach Bymien picnic area from the Rainbow Beach Road. Turn off 4 km south of Rainbow Beach onto 3 km of unsealed road. Do not travel further as 2WDs or allwheel-drive vehicles are likely to get stuck. Only 4WD vehicles with high clearance can travel beyond Bymien to Teewah Beach. The road turns into a rough sandy track with some long stretches of deep loose sand. Inland tracks are not suitable for caravans. Camper trailers must have good clearance. Two-wheel-drive vehicles can reach Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area via Rainbow Beach along Clarkson Drive. The S.S. Dorrigo and M.V. Sarawak camping areas have 2WD access under normal conditions. At all other times and at all other camping areas, 4WD vehicles are needed. In the south, 2WD vehicles can reach Boreen Point and Elanda Point. Once over the Noosa River via ferry at Tewantin, there is sealed road access around the Noosa North Shore. Stay clear of beach access cuttings as these sand tracks are only suitable for 4WD vehicles. Please use the car parks provided nearby, if spending time on the beach. Boating Tour boats operate daily from Noosa and Tewantin. Canoes, kayaks and small power boats can be hired from private operators at Boreen Point and Elanda Point. Power boats can be launched from the boat ramp at Boreen Point. Canoes or kayaks can only be launched at Elanda Point (100 m south of the private camping area) and Harrys camping and day-use area. Lake Cootharaba forms the southern entrance to the upper Noosa River. It is a large, shallow lake, and can be rough to cross in strong winds. Plan to cross in the morning when conditions are likely to be calm. Stop for a break and short boardwalk at Kinaba, a small information centre on the edge of the lake. From Kinaba, explore the calm, more protected waters of Kin Kin Creek and the upper Noosa River. Photo: Qld Govt. Don’t let a trip turn into tragedy. Mudlo Rocks are just south of the beach access ramp at Rainbow Beach. When exposed, these rocks are generally impassable at high tide, and often at low tide as well, depending on conditions. Only experienced drivers should attempt to cross. Use extreme caution at all times. Conditions change daily—always check first. Due to continual beach erosion of the sand cliffs between Rainbow Beach and the Leisha Track, and the exposure of Mudlo Rocks in front of Rainbow Beach, this section of beach may be impassable at low tide. Use Freshwater Road as an alternative route. Photo: Kerry Schultz 3
Page 1: Department of National Parks, Recre
Page 5 and 6: Drives around Cooloola Roads throug
Page 7 and 8: Long-distance walking tracks Long d
Page 9 and 10: Cooloola camping at a glance Locati
Page 11 and 12: Junction Road Moorindil Street 12 1
Page 13 and 14: Points of interest along the upper
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Page 17 and 18: Stay on the tracks Walk on designat
Page 19 and 20: Extreme weather events Take heed of

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