Noosa National Park Coastal Walk
If ever there was a place you would call paradise, this is it…
Kick off a stunning walk with a stroll along the boardwalk from the end of Noosa Main Beach.
This coastal track will take you past a couple of secluded beaches in the national park such as Tea Tree Bay, Winch Cove and Granite Bay that are ideal swimming spots.
We made our way towards the poorly named Hells Gate and clambered over the rocks to the Intsa-popular Fairy Pools which my nephew couldn’t get enough of!
The Fairy Pools are two natural tidal pools lying low between the basalt rocks just west of the tip of the headland and are best accessed at lower tides for safety reasons!
There is no signage for this special spot but the Fairy Pools are just below Dolphin Point – where we were lucky enough to spy a few actual dolphins playing out in the water.
The total distance (one way) along the coastal track is just over 5 kilometres but you can get away with a partial walk – especially if you have younger kids trailing along with you!
If you want to walk the whole way, you will have a beach walk section along Alexandria Bay – the coast’s unofficial nudie beach - before you reach the northern end of Sunshine Beach.
We didn’t make it this far on my first visit but apparently just before you get to Sunshine Beach there are A LOT of stairs to negotiate down (and presumably back up!)
You don’t have to backtrack all the way back, as there the inland Tanglewood Path near Hells Gate that takes you back through eucalypt and rainforest woodlands. At the halfway mark, take the elevated Noosa Hill track (which has some filtered views from its peak) back to the car park and start of the coastal path.
For what it is worth, the best views are at the beginning and Tee Tree Bay looks so inviting that I believe this is a spot I will return to again and again – even if only to search for the koalas that live in the trees around here.
The walk itself isn’t too difficult and doesn’t have a lot of hills or climbing – much of the path up to Dolphin Point from Noosa would even be pram friendly!
We managed to have a picture-perfect June day where it was still warm enough to swim and there were still plenty of people about. I can imagine that this path – and the Fairy Pools – get super busy in Summer and school holidays.
You will even spy keen surfers carrying their boards along the track searching for great waves away from the crowds.
It is easy to see why Noosa is popular with locals and tourists alike! Why not come see for yourself and book a Noosa getaway here.
Grapest 5km, Ocean View Estates
There is something about a fun run and a couple of drinks that just go together for me. It must be that wine is the perfect reward for vigorous exercise!
Enter the Grapest 5km - only the best idea ever.
The Grapest 5K Run is an event combining a jog through a picturesque vineyard setting, followed by wine tasting – and this year it took place between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast at Ocean View Estates.
The drive took me just over an hour and the second half was actually a scenic Saturday trip through winding country roads before arriving at the vineyard – complete with a dozen horses out front.
I was pretty early so I had time to stroll around and take in the beautiful views and snap a few pics at the photo booth the event organisers had set up.
Around 3pm (start times seemed pretty flexible…) everyone bunched up at the start line for what turned out to actually be a pretty challenging 5km. Vineyards are FULL of hills and uneven ground, especially when you are literally running in between the vines.
Luckily, this was most definitely a fun run and people weren’t taking it too seriously and happy to walk whenever it suited.
Once the running part was over, you collected your medal – complete with a wine stopper – and wine cup with a lanyard before strolling to the first of four wine tasting stations on the 1km walk back to the start.
Each tasting station had two wines to sample so you won’t go thirsty but they were also handing out bottles of water at the finish line, so that helped.
Okay, so you don’t actually have to do the first 5km run at all; you can be a total slacker and simply stroll through the stunning vineyard and sample wines as you go – but then, would you have earned it?
Once the tastings were done, you could buy more wine or grab something to eat from the special event menu running out of the vineyard kitchen before settling in to watch the live music, making this much more than just a running event.
Given this run took place in June, packing a warm change of clothes for when the sun goes down is essential – that mountain chill was definitely in the air!
The event organisers realise that after all that wine, driving isn’t really a safe option, so if you planned ahead, you could glamp within the vineyard grounds for the night and make a weekend of it.
Mount Coolum
Be warned, you will not be alone on this hike but that doesn't mean the experience isn't worth it!
If you are looking for a quick and easy (ish) way to get some of the best views on the Sunshine Coast, then a visit to the summit of Mount Coolum is a must.
Located 6km south of Coolum Beach, there is a convenient car park at the bottom of this 197m rock.
The scenery, the Mt Coolum walking track and the views from the top are beautiful but don't be deceived, the trip up is still pretty steep and there are some narrow ledges to be wary of if you are bringing the kids out for a walk.
The entire walk shouldn't take you much more than an hour and a half return, even if you are pacing yourself on the many stairs you have to trek up.
Don't be intimidated by the people you will see jogging up and down - they probably do this every week!
The trek begins with lots of rock steps surrounded by trees, and then moves to a rougher stony track with small, hardy shrubs.
There isn't much shade on the top half, so wear a hat and maybe avoid the middle of the day for this one. I would also not try this one in wet weather as it looks like those rocky steps would be super slippery.
I have summited this rock twice - once in the peak of Summer and once more recently in Autumn - and in both instances, don't leave home without some water.
Once at the top, you will be rewarded with 360-degree views of the Sunny Coast. One side offers views over the coastline and beaches as far as the eye can see towards Noosa and Mooloolaba, the cane fields and wetland areas of the Maroochy River Valley, as well as the main areas of the Coast. The other provides you with a hinterland view over the hills and valleys - all the way down the Glasshouse Mountains.
It is believed that Mount Coolum is one of the Sunshine Coast’s ancient volcanic domes, created around 26 million years ago!
Rainbow Beach & Double Island Point
Rainbow Beach is probably best known as a stop off point before accessing Fraser Island but the beach-side town is a spot worth visiting in its own right.
Rainbow Beach can be accessed one of two ways from the Sunny Coast – along the beach by 4WD or via Gympie if you have to take the sealed roads.
If you choose the beach driving option, you will need a pass to cruise through Cooloola National Park.
Once you get there, you will find so much so do – it is an idyllic getaway for beach-goers, surfers, fishermen and campers alike.
Take the kids up (and down) the Carlo Sand Blow for an adventure and an amazing view over Double Island Point and the Coloured Sands.
Beyond the Carlo Sand Blow, and offering a superb view over the ocean with the likelihood of seeing dolphins, turtles, dugongs and even sharks is Double Island Point and the Double Island Point Lighthouse.
For keen surfers it is claimed that Double Island Point has the longest wave break in Australia. Double Island Point was named by Captain Cook on 18 May, 1770. He noted in his journal: "I have named ... Double Island Point from its figure ... the point itself is of such unequal height that it looks like two small islands laying under the land."
Double Island Point can only be accessed by 4WD – and generally only at low tide - either by driving south along the beach from Rainbow Beach, or by heading north along the beach from Noosa.
The secluded spot is good only for day visits though with a no camping rule in place. If you simply must stay close by, there there is a camping zone between the Noosa Shire boundary and Little Freshwater Creek.
If you can tear yourself away from time in the ocean, a walk up to the lighthouse is well worth it.
You can’t go inside the actual lighthouse but the views both north and south from the point are spectacular – you might even be able to spot some of the wildlife enjoying the water in the area.
To get up close and personal with the marine creatures, why not sort a scuba trip and see why some people say this is one of Australia’s top 10 dive spots.
Find somewhere to stay in Rainbow Beach.
Kondalilla Falls
It is so wonderful when the mountains and the sea are so close that you can explore both easily from home.
Just half an hour drive from the coast, near Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, you can explore Kondalilla Falls - and it is well worth the effort to get there.
This spot is clearly not as 'hidden' as I thought it was as the carpark was pretty full when we arrived but it wasn't too much of an issue.
The picturesque walking trail takes you first down to the top of the falls where there is a rock pool made for swimming - we saved our refreshing dip until after we had been to the bottom of the waterfall and back up in the 30-degree heat.
If you decide to do the full falls loop - and it is definitely worth it - it will take you about one to two hours to go the 5km, including stops to take in the scenery. You might want to take some time to catch your breath from all the stairs too.
Along the way you will see spectacular views of the 90m falls, lush rainforest surroundings and, if you are lucky, some local wildlife.
We made some time to stop for a dip in the rock pool on our way back to the car but we warned, the water is very fresh (read: chilly!)
Given there had been a week of heavy rain before our trip out to Kondalilla, there was plenty of water in the pool but it was a bit stirred up and brown but don't let that stop you!
The extra rain meant that the falls were in full flow for us - a truly spectacular sight.
If you want to make a day of your trip to the hinterland, there are picnic facilities located just 50m from the carpark which include a large grassy area with picnic tables, BBQ’s, toilets and shelter.