Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Sunshine Coast

Paddle up to the sandy northern bank of the Upper Noosa River at this campsite. Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government

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

Upper Noosa River campsite 4

Unwind and reconnect with nature in this beautiful and remote campsite on the Upper Noosa River.

Accessible by

  • Canoe or kayak

Camping area facilities

  • Tent camping
  • Short walk to tent
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Fishing

Always check

Paddle a short way upstream from Upper Noosa River campsite 3 to this secluded spot on the river’s eastern bank as you explore the Upper Noosa River waterway. Beach your canoe or kayak on the white sandy bank and follow a short track to this partly-shaded campsite.

Rest in the shade of coast banksias, pink bloodwoods, brush box and white cypress pines. Try your luck fishing, read that long-overdue novel and enjoy the peace and quiet—motorised boats aren’t allowed upstream from Upper Noosa River campsite 3. Listen to the chorus of frog calls in the evening and capture photos of the mist sitting over the river at sunrise.

Getting there and getting around

Upper Noosa River campsite 4 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 campsite is in the southern section of Cooloola, in the Upper Noosa River waterway, 15.7km north of the Kinaba Information Centre.
  • Canoeists and boaties (with electric motors) can access the campsite via Kinaba from Boreen Point and Elanda Point on Lake Cootharaba.

Via Kinaba

By canoe

  • Launch your canoe at Elanda Point and paddle 4.5km (1hr) to the Kinaba Information Centre.
  • Stay close to the shoreline while paddling northwards. Plan to cross Lake Cootharaba early in the morning when conditions are likely to be calm and travel is easiest.
  • From Kinaba, paddle 1hr 20min from Kinaba to Harrys camping area, then a further 1.5hr to Upper Noosa River campsite 4.
  • Read water safety for important information about staying safe in and near water and caring for parks.

By boat

  • You can take your motorboat on the Upper Noosa River waterway as far as Upper Noosa River campsite 3; to proceed to Upper Noosa River campsite 4 you need a boat with an electric motor.
  • Launch your boat from the Boreen Point boat ramp and follow the lake navigational markers out into deeper water and then head on a north-east trajectory towards the visible Cooloola Sand Patch in the distant landscape.
  • When you approach a red navigational marker in the middle of the lake (opposite Elanda Point), turn on a near northerly trajectory to the channel markers, through very shallow shoals, to the Kinaba Information Centre. The trip is 7km and 15min travel time.
  • From Kinaba allow 1.5hr at 6 knots (and no wash) to travel to Upper Noosa River campsite 3. From here it is about another 10min travel time to Upper Noosa River campsite 4.
  • Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.

Getting to Boreen Point and Elanda Point

  • 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.
  • From Tewantin drive 19km west and north via McKinnon Drive and Louis Bazzo Drive to Boreen Point. Turn left onto Lake Flat Road and drive 2km to the Elanda Point access road.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Upper Noosa River campsite 4 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

Features: Upper Noosa River campsite 4 is set among fringes of open forest or woodland (melaleuca, allocasuarina, bloodwood and eucalypt species) bordering open heathland plains to the east. The campsite provides part shade.

Location: On the eastern bank of the Upper Noosa River. Approximately 20.2km paddle from Elanda Point via the Upper Noosa River, or approximately 8.7km paddle from Harrys canoe launch area.

Maps:

No. sites: 1 site - maximum of 4 people.

Site note: Camping only in designated area. No camping on the riverbank itself.

Access: The camping area can be reached by canoe, kayak or boats with electric motors only; motorised vessels are not permitted past Upper Noosa River campsite 3. Campsites 1–15 permit holders can park in the Harrys canoe launch area.

Suitable for: River access camping for canoes, kayaks and boats with electric motors only.

Surface: Sand.

Facilities: No facilities. These are remote camping sites.

Toileting: Portable toilets or human waste disposal kits are preferred.

  • If bush toileting is unavoidable, bury all faecal matter and toilet paper in a hole at least 50cm deep and at least 100m from waterways. Cover the spot well. Bag and remove all sanitary items, including disposable nappies, from the recreation area.

Watch the video: bush toileting practices

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 QFD total fire bans. Check Park alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details.

Also see: permitted cooking appliances during fire bans (PDF, 729.4KB) .

Generators: Prohibited.

Essentials: Drinking water, fuel or gas stove, human waste disposal kit (preferred), hand trowel if bush toileting, toilet paper, first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, rubbish container/bags; no rubbish facilities are supplied – carry out what you carry in.

Also see: before you visit

Mobile phone coverage: Generally not available.

Bookings

Book online or learn about our camping booking options. Advance bookings are recommended for holiday periods.

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