Where else in Southeast Queensland can you wander along sandy trails, through dense rainforests, past sandstone rock formations, and end up with your toes in crystal clear water? Welcome to Noosa National Park.

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Noosa National Park is a protected 3000-hectare area with walks in the Emu Mountain, Peregian Beach, and Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast. The Noosa Headlands section has the most concentrated amount of sights and five tracks. Spending time in the park is among of the best things to do in Noosa.

It’s not hard to convince visitors to put Noosa National Park walks on their itinerary but there can be some challenges with parking or reaching the walks without a car. That’s why we’ve created this easy-to-use itinerary that breaks up the trails across two days and answers the most frequently asked questions. You can also refer to this online map of the Noosa Headland section.

The Gubbi Gubbi people are the Traditional Custodians of the land in South East Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions. You can learn more about the history, culture, and language of the Gubbi Gubbi people at the Noosa Museum.

Planning your visit to Noosa National Park

Getting to Noosa National Park

We recommend splitting your visit over two days so you can explore both the northern and southern sections of the national park without feeling rushed. Arriving by car will make it easier to get to all the trails, but it’s possible to enjoy Noosa National Park without one. Below are the recommended options.

With a car

• Northern end: Find a spot at the main entrance of Noosa National Park (maximum four hours parking)
• Southern end: There’s street parking on Parkedge Road and the northern end of Sunshine Beach. All of these have limited spaces, so arrive early or try later in the day after the surfers have gone home.

Without a car

• Northern end: If you’re staying in Noosa Heads or able to get there by public transport, you can walk from Hastings Street to Noosa National Park’s main entrance (1 km one way) on Park Road.
• For the return journey, either walk back through the national park or catch the 627 bus from the Sunshine Beach Beach entrance. The bus stop is at Ed Webb Park on Duke Street and will take you to Noosa Heads Station.
• South end: Catch the 627 bus to Solway Drive for the entrance to the Alexandria Bay Walk or to Duke Street for the Sunshine Beach entrance. Check the bus timetable on Translink.

Noosa National Park Accessibility

The most accessible track for wheelchairs in Noosa National Park is the Coastal Walk section from the main entrance to Boiling Pot (300 metres one way). Starting the Coastal Walk from this entrance is also the top option if you don’t have a car or cannot find a car park. If that’s the case, we recommend starting from the main entrance on Park Road. See above for how to get there without a car.

Track grades and difficulty

All walks in the Noosa Headlands section of Noosa National Park are grade 4 except Palm Grove Walk which is grade 3 and sections of the Coastal Walk which include grades 1 and 3. Beyond the grade 1 section of the Coastal Walk, some walking experience and general fitness is recommended. Read more about QLD parks track grades.

Best time to walk in Noosa National Park

Noosa’s temperatures can peak at around 29C in summer and 21C in winter. To avoid walking in the sizzling heat, plan your trip during the cooler months or start your walks early in the morning. The Queensland school holidays always draw big crowds to the Sunshine Coast, so you may wish to steer clear of these dates.

What to pack for Noosa National Park

• Plenty of drinking water
• Suitable walking shoes
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Swimwear
• Towel
• Lunch (if you plan to spend the day).

Day 1: Noosa National Park (Northern End)

Begin day one of your Noosa coastal walk at the main entrance and day-use area of the national park. Pop into the Visitor’s Information Centre for a chat and a map before embarking on these grade three and four trails.

Total distance: 10.9 km return
Total recommended time: 3 hours of walking and a few hours to enjoy the beaches. If you’re short on time, skip the Palm Grove Walk (1.1 km return).

Palm Grove Walk (optional)

Surround yourself with dense rainforest on this walk. A short, individual circuit will bring you back to the main entrance. This is the first of four inland tracks and the only one that doesn’t connect to the others.

Distance: 1.1 km return
Recommended time: 20 minutes of walking

Noosa Hill Walk

The Noosa Hill Walk takes you up through towering trees to a small summit with coastal views peeking through the leaves. At the end of the trail, take the link track to the Tanglewood Walk to connect to a bigger circuit. Alternatively, you can return on the same path to the main entrance.

Distance: Approximately 2.8 km return or to continue onto the link track
Recommended time: 45 minutes of walking

Tanglewood Walk (from the day-use area to Alexandria Bay)

The Tanglewood Walk is the longest of the inland tracks and connects with the Coastal Walk to make a fun circuit. You can join this trail from the Noosa Hill Walk or from the main entrance. Look out for the local natives such as koalas and echidnas.

Distance: 4 km one way
Recommended time: 1 hour of walking

Coastal Walk (from Alexandra Bay to the day-use area)

After coming to the end of the Tanglewood track, turn left onto the Coastal Walk to go south to north from the bay. This coastal track is one of the best walks at Noosa National Park due to its iconic scenery. Keep your eyes peeled for these photogenic points along the way:

• Hell’s Gates – A sandstone cave carved out by the thrashing ocean. Gaze down from above the cliff edges for amazing views.
• Fairy Pools – A rocky tidal pool only reached by scrambling over rocks. This area is off the official trail and can be dangerous on stormy days, so take care. Close supervision is required for non swimmers or children.
• Granite Bay – Picnic Cove and Winch Cove are both frequented by swimmers and sunbathers. On a clear day, you can see all the way out to Double Island Point.
• Dolphin Point Lookout – If you’re lucky, you may spot dolphins, turtles, and whales (in season from June to November)
• Tea Tree Bay – You’ll find lots of surfers, who have walked indirectly from the Noosa National Park entrance. It’s a popular spot to swim and was a place we could have spent many hours.
• Boiling Pot – A rock formation named after its likeness to a cauldron with frothing water.

Distance: Approximately 3 km one way from Alexandra Bay to the day-use area
Recommended time: 45-60 minutes of walking.

Day 2: Noosa National Park (Southern End)

The recommended starting point for day two is on Park Edge Road for the Alexandria Bay Walk. If you aren’t driving, you can catch the bus to Sunshine Beach. The below totals are based on our itinerary with a car.

Total distance: 6.2 km return.
Total recommended time: Allow for 2-3 hours of walking and a few hours to enjoy the beach.

Alexandria Bay Walk (Park Edge Road to Alexandria Bay)

The first few kilometres of the walk are the most challenging. With a sandy track – you’ll really get a good leg workout. The trail will then dip into the cool forest where we spotted a few yellow-tailed black cockatoos. Ending at a T-section with the Coastal Walk with Hell’s Gates on the left and Alexandria Bay on the right. As Alexandria Bay can only be reached by trails, it helps preserve its natural beauty and secluded serenity. The soft sandy beach and dazzling blue waves will invite you in. Don’t be surprised to see a few skinny dippers, as this is also an unofficial nudist beach.

Distance: 2.1 km one way
Recommended time: 40-60 minutes of walking

Coastal Walk (Alexandria Bay to Sunshine Beach)

The section of coastal track that runs from Alexandria Bay to Sunshine Beach is simply stunning. You’ll want to stop and take photos at Devil’s Kitchen and Paradise Caves, which are both off the designated track like Fairy Pools. Devil’s Kitchen is another lookout point similar to Hell’s Gates and has a small path leading to it. Paradise Caves is are only safe to visit at low tide and require scrambling down rocks. Follow with your GPS until you are close and then go around the decked lookout until you can see a small path. Follow it down the hill and around to the left.Once you reach the Sunshine Beach end of Noosa National Park, you can walk back through the park or take the 627 bus.

Distance: Approximately 2 km return
Recommended time: 40-60 minutes of walking

Alexandria Bay Walk (Alexandria Bay to Park Edge Road)

At Sunshine Beach, we decided to walk back and accidentally ended up on a maintenance road that connected with the Alexandria Bay Walk. This was a bit shorter than if we had gone back along the Coastal Walk. Either way you choose, you’ll be thoroughly tired and happy to finish your second day of walking in Noosa.

Distance: 2.1 km one way
Recommended time: 40-60 minutes of walking

More Noosa National Park Walks

Explore more Noosa National Park walks in the Emu Mountain and Peregian sections.

• Emu Mountain Summit Walk: 1.1 km return, grade 4 walking track accessible from Havana Road East, in Coolum Beach
• Hakea Walk: 2.4 km return, grade 4 walking track accessible from Havana Road East, in Coolum Beach
• Ocean Beach Walk: 1 km return, grade 3 walking track accessible from David Low Way in Peregian Beach

Once you walk Noosa National Park you will understand just why this picturesque coastline is so popular with locals and visitors.

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