Cooloola Wilderness Trail (47.9km), Great Sandy National Park, Queensland

Cooloola Wilderness Trail is a 47.9km, grade 4 hike located in the Great Sandy National Park, Queensland. The hike should take around 3 days to complete.

Length: 47.9km

Duration: 3 days

Grade: 4

Style: One Way

Start: 280 Lake Flat Rd

End: 280 Lake Flat Rd

Location: Great Sandy National Park

Closest town: Boreen Point

Queensland

From state capital: 158km

Longitude: 152.9867649

Latitude: -26.26671014

Hike summary

This park has been impacted by recent severe weather events in Queensland. Please check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

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Location

Getting there

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Let someone know before you go

It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. If you believe your life is at risk, activate your personal locator beacon (PLB), then make your position visible to rescue teams and keep warm and dry.

Weather

About the region

Great Sandy National Park is a coastal national park in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.

The park features untouched beaches, large sand dunes, heathlands, rainforests, swamps, creeks, freshwater lakes and mangrove forests.

Great Sandy National Park is divided into two sections. The Cooloola section is situated on the coast between Noosa Heads in the south and Rainbow Beach in the north and covers 18,400 hectares (45,000 acres). The K'gari (Fraser Island) section encompasses almost all of the world's largest sand island, Fraser Island, situated north of Rainbow Beach, covering 56,000 hectares (140,000 acres).

The Cooloola section contains the Cooloola Great Walk, a five-day hiking trail. Boat tours and canoeing along the Noosa River are popular visitor activities. On Fraser Island is the 90 km long Fraser Island Great Walk. Lake Cootharaba offers fishing, sailing and canoeing opportunities.

Whale watching, fishing, four-wheel driving and bushwalking are also popular. The park also features two shipwrecks; the SS Maheno and the Cherry Venture.

The only place in the world where tall rainforest grows in sand is on Fraser Island. Fraser Island has coloured sand cliffs on its eastern beach as well as numerous walking tracks from short boardwalks to longer walks which cross sand blows.

Lake Wabby is a popular swimming and fishing spot.

Access to both sections of the park requires a four-wheel drive vehicle. Four-wheel drive vehicles on Fraser Island need to obtain a vehicle permit. Both sections have numerous camping areas.

For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Queensland.com

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Acknowledgement of Country

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

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