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Cooloola Coast - QLD
Extending from Noosa to Rainbow Beach in Queensland's southeast, the Cooloola Coast is a pristine coastal wilderness made for hikers and four-wheel drivers.
What to expect
The Cooloola Coast is wrapped by the Pacific Ocean on its eastern borders and includes some extremely popular off road destinations, including Double Island Point and Wolf Rock. This coastal locality is situated within the borders of the Great Sandy National Park and offers visitors a real break from city life with its lack of infrastructure, barring camping and bushwalking facilities.
The drive
The Cooloola Great Walk
This route extends to about 102 km’s of bushwalking territory within the Great Sandy National Park. The route starts from the Noosa North Short and runs right through to Rainbow Beach, making it no less than a five-day journey.
On the trek, travellers will find themselves passing through a diverse range of habitats, including a rainforest, dry woodland, a eucalypt forest and heath plains. This route is not limited to experienced walkers since the gradient is not too steep. Recently, extentions have been made to the walk to allow visitors to pass by Double Island Point Lighthouse, which is a main attraction to the area, as well as Noosa River and Teewa Beach.
Visitors can choose from four camping sites when traversing the Cooloola Great Walk, where water and toilets will be available. It should be noted that fires will not be permitted in these areas.
Double Island Point
Double Island Point is the headland of Queensland and stretches from Noosa right down to Wide Bay. Captain James Cook himself named the area back in 1770 because of its shape. The area is perhaps best known for its sandspit, which gives it the look of two islands. 4WD enthusiasts will be able to reach the point along the beach by opting for the Rainbow Beach route or via Noosa Heads. The latter will require a trip via ferry.
The lighthouse on Double Island Point is worth a visit. It was built in 1884 and it has been powered using solar power since 1992. The lighthouse is currently unmanned.
Wolf Rock
Wolf Rock is not one but four volcanic pinnacles that are situated just beyond Double Island Point. This area is very popular with divers and is best known as a mating habitat for the grey nurse shark. Due to the endangered status of the shark, no fishing is permitted in this area.
Teewah Beach
Teewah Beach begins from Double Point Island and reaches down through to the Noosa North Shore. This beach is a part of the Great Sandy National Park and it is a great access point for Fraser Island and Rainbow Beach for 4WDs. Those visiting the area can also enjoy a bush camping experience, although camping fees do apply.
The Cherry Venture
The Cherry Venture is a cargo ship originally registered in Singapore that ran aground in the area in 1973. Previously, visitors could view the wreck from the beach, but due to tourists climbing the wreck and the dangers that this posed, the hulk was taken away and the steel propeller was left on the beach as a monument.
Teewah Coloured Sands
The sandy cliffs known as Teewah Coloured Sands extend all the way along Teewah Beach. These cliffs extend upwards to 20 meters and they are a very popular site due to the varying colours of the sand. These colours are due to the mixing of vegetable dyes and iron oxide.
With so much to see, 4WDers can enjoy traversing all types of terrain, including sandy beaches, dunes and bush, as well as visit some remarkable local sites. The Cooloola Coast offers a mixture of historical, ecological and natural sites, allowing visitors a rich experience with every visit to this area.
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