Noosa National Park is right on the coast, so it includes coastline and beaches as well as 4 sections covering 4,000 hectares. This is Australia’s most popular national park receiving over 1 million visitors each year. The four sections of the park are the Headland Section, Peregian Section, Emu Mountain Section, and the East Weyba Section. The park is known for its beaches which mean great swimming locations; however, the beaches are not patrolled. Families should beware that the beach at the southern end of Alexandria Bay is clothing optional. All swimmers should be aware of the strong currents at Alexandria Bay. In addition to beach fun and surfing other activities inside Noosa National Park include rock climbing, hiking, snorkeling, and SCUBA diving. Remember that this is a fragile environment and in order to preserve it with the amount of people coming through each year, they ask that you respect the environment; take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Granite Bay Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Hell’s Gates Photo Credit: NoosaNationalPark.com
Getting to Noosa National Park
Noosa National Park Photo Credit: Google Maps
Noosa Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
Noosa National Park is located in the Noosa area of Noosa Heads. Noosa is just 35 km north of Sunshine Coast or a little less than a two hour drive north of Brisbane. When you are travelling around the Sunshine Coast area, you can hire a car in Noosa or rent a vehicle in Sunshine Coast Budget locations. When you have your own car to get around it means that you can see all the sights on your own schedule. Coming and going when you please can make for the best holiday. Click on the links to get a quick and easy rate quote for the best car hire rates in Queensland.
Things to Do in Noosa National Park
Surfers at Alexandria Bay Photo Credit: NoosaNationalPark.com
Although swimming and beach fun might be the most popular in Noosa National Park that is not all this park has to offer. There are 4 separate an unique sections of the park to explore. The National Park status protects some of Australia’s endangered and vulnerable wildlife and flora. There are many walking tracks throughout the park that can accommodate all fitness levels. Camping is not available in the park but camping and accommodations are available nearby. You can picnic in the park, picnic tables, electric barbecues, drinking water, and public toilets are available.
Headland Section
Educational Outdoor Display all about Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
The Beach on the Headlands Coastal Trail in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Headland Section of Noosa National Park Map Photo Credit: nprr.qld.gov.au
Located at the end of Park Road, the Headland Section of Noosa National Park is accessible by the seaside boardwalk along Hastings Street or from Parkedge Road on the northern end of Sunshine Beach. Parking is limited especially during peak holiday times, so walking is recommended. The Laguna Lookout is one of the highlights of the Headland Section. There are 4 walking tracks in this section alone. The Australian rating system is as follows:
Class 2: easy level, well-graded track, suitable for all fitness levels.
Class 3: gently sloping, well-defined track with slight inclines or few steps. Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces and exposed natural lookouts. Reasonable level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.
Class 4: Track may be narrow, with steep exposed inclines or many steps. Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces and exposed natural lookouts. Moderate level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.
The Palm Grove Circuit
The Palm Grove circuit is a class 3 rated track that is just 1 km long. Allow 15 to 30 minutes to complete this circuit that takes you through the rainforest with hoop pines and piccabeen palms.
The Tanglewood Track
The second track is the Tanglewood track which is a class 4 rated track. It takes about 2 or 3 hours to complete this walk that is 3.8 km one way. This track meanders through the rainforest, open eucalypt woodlands, and is inland within the park, so it is perfect for a quiet walk among the nature elements here. You can continue to Hell’s Gates and return via the Coastal track for a 6.9 km circuit.
Noosa Hill Track
Noosa Hill Track in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
The Noosa Hill Track has a steady grade that leads walkers through open eucalypt woodlands and shrublands up to the top of Noosa Hill. The entrance from this track begins past the information display just before the entrance to the Coastal track. The Noosa Hill Track is a class 4 rated track that is 2.4 km one way.
Coastal Track
The Coastal Track to Dolphin Point in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Uphill section of The Coastal Track to Dolphin Point in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
The Coastal Track features areas that are class 2, class 3, and class 4. The time frame is 2 to 3 hours following the shoreline from the main entrance of Noosa National Park to northern Sunshine Beach. Along this track enjoy some astonishing coastal views and you will pass over several headlands. You can walk along the beach at Alexandria Bay and then pick up the trail again at the southern end of the beach. Precautions on this track include the steep stairs leading down to Sunshine Beach and coastal cliffs. For those who do not want to walk round trip, you can take the Coastal track from Noosa to Sunshine Beach and then catch a bus back. The bus connection is outside the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club about 1.2 km further south along the beach. Here are the class ratings for each part of the Coastal Track walk:
1 km to Dolphin Point (Class 2)
7 km from Dolphin Point to Hell’s Gates (Class 3)
7 km from Hell’s Gates to northern Sunshine Beach (Class 4)
Alexandria Bay Track
Alexandria Bay Photo Credit: NoosaNationalPark.com
This is a class 4 sandy track that winds through open woodlands and heathlands to Alexandria Bay. The total walk with return is 4.6 km. Allow 1 to 2 hours to complete the walk.
Peregian Section
Melaleuca woodland, sedgeland and low heath feature in Peregian section of Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Peregian and Emu Mountain Sections of Noosa National Park Map Photo Credit: nprr.qld.gov.au
The Peregian section can be accessed form David Low Way. It is 3 km north of Coolum Beach and 4 km south of Peregian Beach. The Ocean Track is a short walking trail in this section. It is rated a class 3 trail and is a 1 km return. Allow about 30 minutes to complete the trail. The trail takes you across a boardwalk and through a paperbark swamp and sedgelands. The sandy track then heads down to heathland and she-oak forests. Along the way look for the colourful wildflowers and unique dune plants.
Emu Mountain Section
Emu Mountain in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
The Emu Mountain Section is home to the class 4 Emu Mountain summit walk. It is a short but challenging walk to the summit. Allow about an hour for the 850 metre return distance. The grade is steep in some places, but the view from the top is well worth the hike. The coastal views are magnificent and then there are the colours of the wildflowers. Be on the lookout for threatened plants like the Emu Mountain she-oak. The other track in this section is the Hakea Track lined with Hakea shrubs and distinctive woody seed pods. It is a class 4 walk that takes about an hour for the 1.8 km return.
East Weyba Section
Lake Weyba in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The East Weyba Section of the park is also accessed from David Low Way but at Marcus Beach, which is 2.5 km north of Peregian Beach. Lake Weyba is a shallow salt water lake in the Noosa River system that is surrounded by heath plains and high dunes. This section touts some of Queensland’s most picturesque coastline. There are no formal walking tracks in this section, but there are several fire management tracks that you can use for bird watching and exploring this area. However, you are advised to stay on the tracks and not to wander off as this area was used as military training grounds during World War II and it is possible that there is unexploded ammunition in this area.
Flora and Fauna in Noosa National Park
Rainbow Lorikeet in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Koalas can often be spotted along the walking tracks in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au
Banksia Photo Credit: NoosaNationalPark.com
Endangered and protected plants and animals are located within the park. Be sure to take care not to disrupt their environment. Even though this is a coastal park, there are so many plants and flowers here, which make it so unique. Pockets of rainforest are left in the Headlands Section. The dominant trees there are hoop and kauri pines. Then there are open eucalypt forest, wallum heaths, pandanus palms, and grasslands. The Peregian Section is famous for its beautiful wildflowers which blossom each spring and includes rate swamp orchids and Christmas bells. Koalas are found throughout the park and you can often see them from the walking trails. Other mammals in the park include the short-nosed bandicoot, common ringtail possum, and brushtail possum. Early mornings and dusk are good times to see different animals when they come out during these times. The park’s forests are home to a significant population of birds including the eastern ground parrot, glossy black cockatoo, eastern yellow robin, rufous fantail, satin bowerbird, and crimson rosella. One of the most exciting times in the park is during whale migration season from June to November; humpback whales can be seen swimming just off the coast from the headlands. The rest of the year, you can spot turtles and dolphins too.