You don’t have to go far to find marvellous nature on the Sunshine Coast. Just a short walk from the heart of Noosa Heads, the vibe quickly shifts from busy tourist hub to untamed headlands, hidden beaches and forested trails, with the ocean never far from view.
Noosa National Park at a glance
Noosa National Park protects about 3,000 hectares of the Sunshine Coast’s most dramatic coastal scenery. While the park also includes separate areas around Lake Weyba, Peregian Beach and Coolum Beach, most visitors head straight for Noosa’s Headland Section. Here, the beautiful coastline, accessible network of trails and abundant wildlife make it stand out, all of which are showcased on the Coastal Walk.
The Coastal Walk
The most iconic experience in Noosa National Park is the Coastal Walk. It’s a 10.8-km out-and-back stretch that superbly follows the Headland Section’s coastline, connecting Noosa Heads to Sunshine Beach.
In order from Noosa Heads, these are the highlights along the way.
Tip: If you’re not up for the whole walk, Hell’s Gates (2.7 km one way) is a good turnaround point.
Boiling Pot (300 m one way)
- Surf churns through the rocks, creating a boiling-pot effect.
- Easy, sealed access.
Tea Tree Bay (700 m one way)
- A gorgeous bay popular with surfers and photographers.
- Named after the coastal tea trees that thrive here.
Dolphin Point (1.2 km one way)
- Dolphins are frequently seen, at times in pods of up to 30.
- End of the accessible paved section.
Granite Bay (1.4 km one way)
- Rugged coastal scenery.
- Granite pebbles and boulders scattered along the shore.
Hell’s Gates (2.7 km one way)
- Clifftop views extending from Double Island Point to Alexandria Bay.
- The dramatic turnaround point for many visitors.
Alexandria Bay (3.3 km one way)
- Secluded 1.2-km sand strip.
- The trail opens directly onto the beach.
More walks in Noosa National Park
Craving more? In addition to the Coastal Walk, there are four other tracks in the Headland Section of Noosa National Park.
Palm Grove Walk (1.1 km return)
A short, shaded loop through lush rainforest, Palm Grove lies handily at the park entrance. It’s a favourite for families who want to avoid steep drops, with palms and towering pines creating a cool canopy overhead.
Tanglewood Walk (8 km return)
Winding through inland eucalypt forest, the Tanglewood Walk offers a quieter, more secluded side of the park. For a change of scenery, you can continue to Hell’s Gates and return via the Coastal Walk, or vice versa, making it a loop.
Noosa Hill Walk (2.8 km return)
The Noosa Hill Track is a steady climb through forest that rewards effort with elevated views over Laguna Bay through the tree line.
Alexandria Bay Walk (4.2 km return)
Over the sandhills in the less-trodden south, the Alexandria Bay Walk stands out for its heathland, dotted with seasonal wildflowers. It can be accessed via the Coastal Walk or the Tanglewood Walk.
Flora and fauna along the way
Windswept pandanus palms and eucalypt trees are common sights along the walking trails, with wallum heathland adding bursts of colour. Away from the sea breeze, pockets of rainforest feature tall hoop and kauri pines.
Marine species present are dolphins, turtles and migrating humpback whales (from June to November). The combo of elevated lookouts and clear water makes marine wildlife surprisingly easy to spot, especially from Dolphin Point and Hell’s Gates.
Land-based animals include lace monitors (large lizards), goannas, echidnas and, often high up in the eucalypt trees, koalas. Birdlife ranges from honeyeaters, eastern whipbirds and wattlebirds to red-backed fairy wrens and glossy black cockatoos.
Tip: Prime times to watch all these creatures are around sunrise and early evening.
Getting to Noosa National Park
Limited parking is available at the day-use area on the Noosa Heads side of the national park. Visitors can also access via the 1-km seaside promenade that leads from Noosa Main Beach to the park entrance. From there, the Coastal Walk continues all the way to Sunshine Beach.
Tips for visiting Noosa National Park
- Bring binoculars for whale watching between June and November.
- If doing the full Coastal Walk, consider taking the bus back from Sunshine Beach to Noosa.
- Know that mosquitos are present, especially early or late during the warmer months.
- Save swimming for safer beaches in the area, as the park beaches are unpatrolled.
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