Noosa National Park
PARK INFORMATION
NPRSR 13 7468
SIZE
3000 ha
VISITOR INFORMATION
Noosa (07) 5430 5020 | Tewantin (07) 5449 7353 | www.visitnoosa.com.au
LOCATION AND ACCESS
160 km north of Brisbane via Bruce Hwy and Sunshine Mwy
CAMPING
No camping
The natural delights of Noosa National Park include spectacular coastal scenery, wildlife and wildflowers. Rocky headlands protect quiet sandy coves, backed by pandanus, small pockets of tranquil rainforest, paperbark and coast banksia. Elsewhere there is open forest, wallum heathlands and grasslands. The park is divided into four sections, Headland, Peregian, Emu Mountain and East Weyba. The Headland section is a short drive or walk from Noosa's Hastings Street along a seaside boardwalk. The Peregian section is the best place for wildflowers in spring – look for the rare swamp orchid and Christmas bell.
The diversity of vegetation also provides important habitat for native fauna. Most commonly seen are the ubiquitous brush-turkeys, usually lurking around the edges of the picnic ground, and lace monitors. Harder to spot are koalas and rare and vulnerable species such as the glossy black-cockatoo, the ground parrot, the red goshawk and the extremely small wallum froglet.
The park provides a haven for nature-lovers, bushwalkers and surfers. Keen surfers can walk to Granite Bay and Dolphin Point for good surf. Walking trails are numerous. The Palm Grove Circuit (1 km, 15–30 minutes, easy) leads from the carpark past rainforest species, most with informative signs. The Coastal Track (5.4 km one way, 2–3 hours, medium difficulty), from the carpark to Hells Gate, passes picturesque Tea-Tree Bay; you can return via Alexandria Bay (nudist beach) and the bushrimmed Tanglewood Track (3.8 km one way, 2–3 hours, medium difficulty). The beaches in the park are not patrolled and often have dangerous rips, so swimming is not recommended. Tea-Tree Bay is sheltered and generally safe. Accommodation in the area is plentiful and the town of Noosa has an upmarket beach-and-cafe culture.