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There are several bushwalking tracks throughout the Great Sandy National Park, Cooloola Section. Bymien picnic area can be accessed on foot. The telegraph track (7km to Bymien) begins at the end of Double Island Drive and heads towards the Bymien picnic area, from here the track continues towards Lake Poona and Lake Freshwater. Contact the Queensland Parks and Wildlife for maps and information. The Cooloola Wilderness Trail is another walk for the more experienced bushwalker, (approx 46.2km one way). It begins at Mullens car park, off Rainbow Beach Road and ends near Lake Como and Lake Cooloola. Please read advice on walking safely and long distance walking before setting out Summary of walking tracks in northern Cooloola
Walk | From | To | Distance | Walk time | Comments | 1 | Rainbow Beach | Carlo Sandblow | 1.2km return | 25 minutes | Leave from the top of Cooloola Drive and follow this track through woodlands to a natural sandblow with extensive views east and west. | 2 | Rainbow Beach | Coloured sands | 6km return | 2 hours | Walk east along the beach from Rainbow Beach township to where spectacular eroded cliff lines expose coloured sands. | 3 | Seary's carpark | Seary's Creek | 200m return | 5 minutes | Start at the roadside carpark (off Rainbow Beach Road) 7.5km south of Rainbow Beach and follow the boardwalk to reach a stream that flows through heath and low woodland. | 4 | Dandathu circuit at Bymien | Circuit | 250m return | 5 minutes | Enjoy an easy walk through a representative selection of Cooloola's rainforest species. | 5 | Bymien | Poona Lake | 4km return | 1 hour
20 minutes | From Dandathu track, climb a rainforested high dune before descending through carrol (grey myrtle) scrub to the white sandy beach and tea-coloured waters of this perched lake. | 6 | Freshwater campground | Freshwater Lake | 2.6km return | 50 minutes | Take this short walk through scribbly gum woodland and open forest to Freshwater Lake, flanked with reeds and twisted paperbarks. | 7 | Freshwater Lake circuit | Circuit | 2.7km return | 55 minutes | Enjoy an easy walk around the lake, through woodland, open forest and rainforest. | 8 | Freshwater Lake | Bymien | 14.6km return | 4 hours
50 minutes | Walk among scribbly gums, blackbutt and rainforest. If you have time, take a short sidetrack to Poona Lake (2km return to main track) through carrol (grey myrtle) scrub understorey. | 9 | Rainbow Beach (Telegraph Track) | Bymien | 14km return | 4 hours
40 minutes | From Rainbow Beach, follow the old telegraph line down to Bymien. Take a side track to Murrawar Lookout (60m return to main track) for views to Double Island Point, Wide Bay Bar and Fraser Island. | 10 | Teewah Beach | Double Island Point lighthouse | 2.2km return | 45 minutes | Starting from the southern side of the headland, the track to the lighthouse is steep, but has fantastic views. See marine life from the headland or sit and ponder how life was for early lighthouse keepers and their families. Please do not enter the mowed grass area at the houses. | 11 | Mullens car park (Cooloola Wilderness Trail) | Harrys Hut (or other way) | 47.9km one way | 3 days | Enjoy this long walk, which will take you from heathland to rainforest. The trail connects East Mullen carpark in the north, Elanda Point in the south, with camping available at Neebs and Wandi waterholes, Fig Tree Point and Harry's campgrounds. Bookings are required for these camping areas. For more information see the Noosa River visitor guide. |
For a long, overnight walk between Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point, combine: Rainbow Beach — Bymien — Poona Lake — Freshwater Lake — Freshwater campground — Teewah Beach — Leisha Track — Rainbow Beach
This walk totals 35.1km return. Add an extra 6.5km (return) from the Leisha Track to visit Double Island Point. |
