Cooloola National Park
Vehicle permits are required to drive along the beach from north of the north head of the Noosa River to Middle Rocks south-east of Rainbow Beach, inland along the Freshwater track between Bymien and the beach, the Kings Bore Circuit track (locally known as Pettigrew Road and the eastern and western firebreaks) and the Leisha track.
Permits are NOT required to access Inskip Point or for the beach from Rainbow Beach township to Middle Rock, the Cooloola Way, the 4WD track to Poverty Point, and the 3km unsealed Freshwater track from Rainbow Beach road turnoff to Bymien picnic area.
About 2.5 km of beach between the First Cutting and Third Cutting on southern Teewah Beach will be a vehicle-free area.
Domestic animals are excluded from the national park and most beaches within the Cooloola Recreation Area.
Vehicle Permits Fees: one-day pass for $15.50 (or $10.35 online); 7 day pass $25.90; monthly pass $40.75; yearly pass $204.20.
Vehicle access permits are available 24 hours a day seven days a week online or by phoning 13 74 68, or during business hours at DERM's head office at 400 George St Brisbane, Great Sandy Information Centre at Tewantin, QPWS Rainbow Beach office, the Shell Garage Rainbow Beach, Manta-Ray Barge Rainbow Beach, and Rainbow Beach IGA. Please check the DERM website for updates on outlets.
More information about the Cooloola Recreation Area is available at www.derm.qld.gov.au
Map and Fact sheet can be downloaded here.
About Cooloola National Park
The Great Sandy National Park now consists of 56,000 hectares and was originally gazetted the Cooloola National Park in December 1975 which originally covered 40,000 ha.
The aboriginal name "Cooloola" - means coastal cypress pine. The park was extended in 1983 with an additional 16,370 hectares of the western Noosa River catchment. It has been enlisted in the Great Sandy Region for World Heritage Listing.
The Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park offers a diversity of natural landscapes. This section stretches from the north shore of the Noosa River, through vast areas of open wallum heathland, and touches the mangrove lined fish habitats of the Tin Can Bay inlet. The Park also features towering coloured sand dunes, tropical rainforests and crystal clear lakes.
Cooloola's facinating landscape on sand includes long beaches backed by high dunes, open heath splashed with colourful wildflowers, mangroves, woodlands of banksia and scribbly gum, shady blackbutt forests, rainforests with towering trees, and tranquil lakes and waterways.
