Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Sunshine Coast

Set up camp on the sandy banks of Tin Can Inlet at Poverty Point camping area. Photo credit: © Chris Whitelaw

Four-wheel drive past towering coastal sand cliffs and coloured sands in the paradise of Cooloola Recreation Area. Photo credit: © Tomek Z Genek

Poverty Point (Cooloola) camping area

Revel in this ideal escape on the sandy banks of Tin Can Bay, with fishing, boating, birdwatching and yabby pumping.

Accessible by

  • High clearance 4WD
  • Boat
  • Canoe or kayak

Camping area facilities

  • Campfires allowed (conditions apply)
  • Tent camping
  • Camper trailer camping
  • Tent camping beside car
  • Short walk to tent
  • Walking
  • Scenic drive
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Boating
  • Fishing

Queensland National Parks Booking System Update

The new Queensland National Parks Booking Service is live for bookings.

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If you are making your first booking since 1 July 2024, a new customer account will be created automatically as part of your next booking. Please note your previous login credentials will no longer be valid.

Customers who have made a booking after 1 July 2024, please use your email address to reset your password to access your account.

More information about the new booking system

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Venture along Poverty Point Road in your high clearance 4WD to this remote, partly-shaded camping area surrounded by mangroves on the shores of Tin Can Bay. It’s the perfect base for fishing, canoeing, kayaking and even sailing. Make sure you bring plenty of insect repellent!

At low tide, explore the old jetty that dates from the area’s timber-cutting days. Try your hand at yabby pumping on the sand flats and watch pelicans and other shorebirds feeding on the sand banks. When the tide is high, you can fish from the camping area! Explore the inlet further by launching your kayak, canoe or rooftop tinny.

Getting there and getting around

Poverty Point camping area is in Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach (155–240km north of Brisbane).

  • The camping area is in the northern section of Cooloola on the shore of Tin Can Bay, on Poverty Point Road 4WD track.
  • You can access the camping area from Rainbow Beach Road near Rainbow Beach; you need a high clearance 4WD.
  • Vehicle access permits are not required for Poverty Point Road but may be required if traversing beaches and other inland tracks within the Cooloola Recreation Area.
  • Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.

Getting to Rainbow Beach

  • From Brisbane, drive about 160km north on the Bruce Highway towards Gympie. Take the Gympie Connection Road Exit and turn right. Turn left onto Tin Can Bay Road and drive 38km to turn right onto Rainbow Beach Road.
  • From Maryborough, drive 57km south on the Cooloola Coast Road, then turn left onto Tin Can Bay Road and drive 3.5km, then turn right onto Rainbow Beach Road.
  • Drive 16km along Rainbow Beach Road to the Poverty Point Road turn off on your left and drive 6.3km on this rough sandy track to the camping area.

From Rainbow Beach

  • From Rainbow Beach township drive along the Rainbow Beach Road for about 12.5km to the Poverty Point Road turnoff on your right and drive 6.3km on this rough sandy track to the camping area.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Poverty Point camping area is open 24 hours a day. Check in to your camp after 2pm and check out by 11am on the day of departure.

Camping area features

Poverty Point camping area overlooks the tranquil, tidal waters of the Tin Can Inlet.

Poverty Point camping area overlooks the tranquil, tidal waters of the Tin Can Inlet.

Photo credit: René Burgess, Queensland Government

Poverty Point camping area offers small, undeveloped coastal camping overlooking the tranquil, tidal waters of the Tin Can Inlet.

Location: Turn-off to Poverty Point is 13km south of Rainbow Beach off Rainbow Beach Road. The camping area is a further 6.3km from the turn-off on a high clearance 4WD-only track.

Maps:

No. sites: Open area without separately defined sites. Maximum capacity of 24 people.

Access: The camping area can be accessed by high clearance 4WDs only via Poverty Point Road off Rainbow Beach Road. Vehicle permits are not required to access this camping area.

Suitable for: Tent camping beside a car, and off-road camper trailers with high clearance.

Surface: Sand and/or grass

Facilities: No facilities

Waste management

Take all rubbish out of the recreation area. Bins are not provided. Take your rubbish home with you. All waste, including broken camping equipment must be removed from the recreation area. Littering and illegal dumping are prohibited, and penalties apply for non-compliance. Report littering and illegal dumping.

Waste management tips when camping:

  • Do not hang rubbish bags from trees or tents. Securely store your waste until disposal in sealed containers to prevent negative interactions with wildlife.
  • Be part of the solution - reduce, reuse and recycle.
    • Choose a menu with less packaged goods.
    • Choose good quality camping equipment that will withstand the harsh elements of the coastal environment.
    • Take recyclables home for proper disposal.
  • Repair broken equipment – do not be a consumer with a throwaway mentality.
  • Remove all waste, including broken camping equipment and domestic waste.
  • Don't burn or bury anything.
  • Carry out sanitary products, disposable nappies and cigarette butts. Do not put these in the toilet facilities.
  • Avoid bringing glass as it can’t be crushed. Broken glass can harm other visitors and wildlife.
  • Bring small sealable canisters for cigarette butts. Don't discard butts in the park.

Also see:

Portable toilets

Portable toilets are recommended.

  • It is illegal to bury a noxious substance, such as portable toilet waste. Do not empty your portable toilet waste into any toilets in the recreation area as it creates a risk to human health. Penalties apply.
  • Portable toilets must have a sealed waste holding tank and must be transportable and suitable for emptying into a portable toilet waste facility.
  • Bag and bucket style toilets are not permitted.
  • Bag sanitary items, disposable nappies, toilet wipes and cigarette butts and remove from the area.

Portable toilet waste disposal facilities are located at:

  • Beach Road, 2nd cutting, Noosa North Shore
  • Freshwater day-use-area (beach camper service bay)
  • Clarkson Drive, Rainbow Beach

Also see:

Open fires: Permitted (except when fire bans or prohibitions apply). Refer to the Cooloola conditions report (PDF, 1.3MB) and park alerts for updates on fire prohibitions and fire bans. Fuel stoves are preferred.

Only cooking and heating appliances that meet the below requirements are permitted unless a Queensland Fire Department (QFD) total fire ban is in place.

  • The appliance must use gas or manufactured fuel (heat beads, briquettes). Manufactured fuel does not include timber or wood.
  • It must be used only for cooking and/or heating.
  • It must be a minimum of 20cm off the ground and more than 2m from flammable materials, which includes vegetation.
  • It must not have the potential to generate airborne embers, or possibly ignite nearby ground fuels.
  • It must be fully self-contained (heat source enclosed and no exposed flame) and never left unattended when in use.
  • Appliances that are not fully self-contained, such as braziers, are not permitted.
  • All appliances, materials and burnt fuel must be removed from the recreation area on your departure.

Approved cooking and heating appliances may vary from above list during QFD total fire bans. Check park alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details. Test your cooking appliance leaving home and never use them in confined spaces, such as tents.

Also see:

Generators: Prohibited

Essentials: Drinking water, fuel or gas stove, rubbish bags, sealable containers to store waste until disposal to minimise negative interactions with wildlife, first aid, insect repellent, sunscreen and clean firewood, such as untreated mill off-cuts, not bush wood. Collecting and burning wood (including leaves and twigs for kindling) from the recreation area is illegal. Portable toilets are preferred.

Also see:

Mobile phone coverage: Not available.

Bookings

Book online or learn about our camping booking options.

Advance bookings required for holiday periods including long weekends and public holidays.

Book a camping area Book a vehicle access permit

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Cooloola Recreation Area safely and camp with care.

View all park alerts