• Use existing camp sites and access tracks to reduce visitor impact. Bring sand pegs and do not tie ropes to trees. Photo credit: Erin Atkinson © Qld Government

Sleep behind the dunes on this scenic sweeping beach, with a backdrop of she-oaks, banksias and pandanus palms and steep, coloured-sand cliffs. After your camp is sorted (bring something for shade), spend long days fishing for bream and flathead, walking the shore at low tide, and watching shorebirds resting along the beach. Keep your eyes on the sky, too, as birds of prey are often soaring overhead. During the winter months, look out to sea for humpback whales migrating along the coastline.

Explore further afield by 4WD and see the striking coloured sands of Rainbow Beach on the Cooloola Beach drive. 4WD adventure to the nearby Freshwater Road or Kings Bore circuit. Take advantage of beach camper service facility near the  Freshwater day-use area.

Getting there and getting around

Teewah Beach 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 14km long camping area extends along Cooloola's eastern beach and can be reached via the Cooloola Beach drive.
• You can access the Cooloola Beach drive from the southern entrance on Noosa North Shore, and the northern beach entrance at Rainbow Beach.
• You need a high-clearance 4WD to drive on Cooloola's beaches.
• The camping area can also be reached via the inland Freshwater Road, from Rainbow Beach.
• Remember all vehicles must be registered, drivers must be licensed and all Queensland road rules apply, even on beaches.
• A vehicle access permit must be purchased. 24hr number plate surveillance cameras in use. Please ensure vehicle registration details are correct on your permit. For more information see:
  • Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras - FAQs (PDF, 178.6KB)
• At the northern beach access, visit the Rainbow Beach Information Centre, Mantaray Barges office, or Shell service station, for vehicle access permits, also camping permits and other information (business hours only).
• At the southern beach access, visit the Great Sandy Information Centre, located near the Noosa North Shore Ferries on Moorindil Street for vehicle access permits, also camping permits and other information (8am to 3pm daily, except Christmas Day).
• Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.

Route to southern entrance

• From Brisbane drive 135km north on the Bruce Highway or the Sunshine Motorway to Tewantin; or from Gympie drive 58km south and east on the Bruce Highway to Tewantin.
• In Tewantin, follow Moorindil Street to Noosa North Shore Ferries, cross the river to Noosa North Shore, and drive 2.2km on Maximillian Road.
• Turn right onto Beach Road and drive 2.1km on the bitumen road.
• Turn sharply to the left (past the 1st beach access cutting) and head north on the Wilderness Track.
• Drive 2.8km to the end of the bitumen road and turn onto the 4WD-accessible 3rd beach cutting sand track. You must enter and exit the beach via this track.
• Drive 33km north from the third beach cutting to the southern end of Camping zone 1.

Route to northern entrance

• 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 29km along Rainbow Beach Road into Rainbow Beach township.
• At the end of Rainbow Beach Road turn left onto Kirchner Avenue, drive 300m, turn right onto Griffin Esplanade and follow this road to the council car park and vehicle access ramp to the beach.
• Drive south along the beach for 10km, drive 1km inland on the Leisha track, then travel a further 8.8km south on the beach to the northern end of Camping zone 1.

Via Freshwater Road

• 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 25km along Rainbow Beach Road towards Rainbow Beach township, then turn right into Freshwater Road.
• Drive 3km to Bymien day-use area and continue 12km on the sand road to Teewah Beach.
• Drive 3km south to the northern end of Camping zone 1.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Teewah Beach 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

Teewah Beach camping zone 1 offers beach camping without formally defined sites. You must camp in the zone you have booked.

Location: Along Teewah Beach between the Sunshine Coast Regional Council boundary and Little Freshwater Creek; 33km north of 3rd cutting on the Noosa North Shore.

Maps:

• Cooloola Recreation Area map (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Teewah Beach camping zones map (PDF, 266.3KB)

No. sites: Open area without separately defined sites. Only use existing access tracks and camp behind vegetated foredunes.

Access: The beach camping zone can be reached by 4WD only. Vehicle access permits are required to access this camping zone. Access camp sites via formed tracks only. Vehicles, tents and camping equipment are not permitted on the foredunes for area protection.

Suitable for: Tent camping beside a vehicle; camper trailers and campervans with high clearance.

Surface: Sand and/or grass.

Facilities: No rubbish bins provided, see Waste management below. Portable toilets are mandatory when camping at Teewah Beach, see Portable toilets below. A QPWS beach camper service facility (located opposite Freshwater day-use area) offers a portable toilet waste disposal facility, untreated tap water and cold outdoor showers.

Waste management

Take all rubbish out of the recreation area. For the convenience of visitors and campers, waste transfer stations are available at:

• Beach Road, 2nd cutting, Noosa North Shore
• Freshwater Road, off Rainbow Beach Road

Alternatively, take your rubbish home with you. All waste, including broken camping equipment must be deposited in a bin or 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:

• Frequently asked questions – Camping at Teewah Beach
• Reduce and recycle rubbish
• Keep wildlife wild
• Reduce and recycle rubbish

Portable toilets:

Public toilets are located at Freshwater day-use area (just north of Teewah Beach camping zone) and Double Island Point.

All campers in the Teewah Beach camping zones are required to bring and use a portable toilet during their stay (penalties apply). Even if you are only camping for one night, you still must bring and use a portable toilet.

QPWS have implemented a waste management plan to protect the natural environment, your coastal camping experience and visitor health.

Open fires: Prohibited. 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 and QFD total fire bans. Check park alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details. Test your cooking appliance before leaving home and never use them in confined spaces, such as tents.

Also see:

• Fire prohibitions and bans - cooking appliances
• Camp fire, fuel stoves and barbecues
• Camp fire prohibitions and fuel stoves

Generators: Only low decibel generators up to 2.0Kva are permitted between 7am and 9pm. Consider neighbours especially at night. Please turn generators off at 9pm.

Essentials: Fuel or gas cooking appliance, portable toilet, drinking water*, rubbish bags, sealable containers to store waste until disposal to minimise negative interactions with wildlife, first aid, insect repellent, sunscreen, sand pegs.

* Fresh water obtained from pools, creeks or from sub-surface supplies on Teewah Beach is not suitable for drinking, cooking, showering or swimming. The use of portable sand spears to collect sub-surface water from the foredune areas is not permitted. Fresh water (untreated) is available at Freshwater day-use area. Treat water before drinking.

Also see:

• Before you visit

Mobile phone coverage: Not available. There is a pay phone at Freshwater camping area, just north of Teewah Beach camping zone.

Bookings

Book online or learn about our camping booking options.

Advance bookings required for holiday periods including long weekends and public holidays. When making your booking, you will need to know the name for the camping zone or area you are booking. You must stipulate the place and dates you intend to camp. You cannot camp elsewhere during that period unless you amend your booking beforehand.

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.