Summary

Including Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, along with Cooloola on the mainland, Great Sandy National Park is a focal point for canoeing, fishing and some excellent bushwalking.

The highlight is the Fraser Island Great Walk and the Cooloola Wilderness Trail.

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

How do you get there? Include all access points if there are many?

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Where can I stay there? or near there?

Camping

Other

Contact details

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/cooloola/about.html

Walks in Great Sandy National Park

Medium

12 km return

4 hrs

Camp site 3 to Cooloola sandpatch

12 km return/4 hours

Easy

3.2 km return

90 mins

Carlo Sandblow

Named after one of Captain Cook's crew (Carlo), Carlos Sandblow provides magnificent 360° views. To the north is Fraser Island and Inskip Point and to the south the length of Rainbow Beach all the way to Double Island Point. Informative signs on the Sandblow are provided.

Hard

14 km one-way

5 hrs

Central Station to Lake Mckenzie via Pile Valley

A walk from Central Station to Lake McKenzie via the rain forest at Pile Valley

Easy

1.6 km return

1 hr

Champagne Pools Boardwalk

An nice boardwalk that leads from the car park to the Champagne Pools with a a viewing platform along the way. Located at the Northern tip of Fraser Island along 75 mile beach north of Indian Head. needless to say 4wd access only !

Medium

88.1 km one-way

5 days

Cooloola Great Walk (original inland route)

This is a 5 day hike starting at Noosa North Shore and ending at Rainbow Beach (or vice versa). The inland route is shorter, at 88.1km. This route includes Poona Lake on Day 5 (or Day 1 if you are walking North to South). The 4 campsites each have toilets (bring toilet paper) and water tanks. Do your homework, get the topo map, do the prep and you will have an awesome time. The Cooloola Sandpatch, Carlo Sandblow and Poona Lake are highlights, but the scenery is breathtaking at many points along the way. I have downgraded the difficulty to medium as while at times the going is hard because of the distance, overall the hiking isn't that hard and if you're doing a multi-day you've probably done some training, yes?

Medium

52 km

2 days

Cooloola Widerness Trail

An interesting longer walk that can be done in two full on days or easy three days.

Easy

1.2 km return

Doggrell Forest

This is a short relaxing walk through the Dogrell Forrest.
Worth it if you are traveling along the Pomona Kin Kin road and need to stretch your legs.

Easy

2.1 km return

1 hr

Double Island Point Light House

Enjoyable walk to the light house and back. Great views of the coast all the way north to the southern tip of Fraser Island. This walk is possible from The eastern end of Teerwah beach or the far northern end of Noosa north shore beach.

Easy

5.3 km return

90 mins

Elanda Circuit via Mill Point

Walk through allocasuarina and paperbark forests. Take a 400m side track to Mill Point and follow the self-guided historical walk to the site of a timber mill township that flourished from 1872 to 1892.

Medium

17.2 km one-way

6 hrs

Elanda Point to Harry's Hut

Great day out, however you need to keep moving to get around. Easy walking but a little tricky as the bridge is out, you can either swim (as I did) or cross country around kin Kin creek and cross over the concrete bridge 1km west of the old bridge.