Cooloola Great Walk Sunshine Coast

Camp under the slender piccabeen palms at Kauri walkers' camp. Photo credit: Briony Masters © Queensland Government

Enjoy long landscape views from the Cooloola Great Walk, Cooloola Recreation Area. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown, Queensland Government

Kauri walkers' camp

After a long hot day’s walk, settle in for the night amongst cool towering rainforest that, remarkably, grows on sand.

Accessible by

  • Walk-in

Camping area facilities

  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets (non-flush)
  • Tent camping
  • Long walk to tent
  • Walking

Always check

End your long day's walk at this walkers’ camp in cool, sheltered rainforest , one of several along the Cooloola Great Walk. Sleep surrounded by slender piccabeen palms and towering blue quandong, lilly pilly and strangler figs. Look for fungi of all shapes, sizes and colours that grow in this moist environment. Listen for the ‘Cooloola chorus’ of rainforest birds, and the piercing whip-crack call of eastern whipbirds.

If you’re lucky you may spot a carpet python sporting its beautiful colour patterns in the rainforest. Notice the imposing kauri pine growing nearby—lie one of the picnic platforms and gaze up at its ‘gun barrel’ trunks.

Getting there and getting around

Kauri walkers' camp is in Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach (155km–240km north of Brisbane).

  • This walkers' camp is on the Cooloola Great Walk, 20.5km north of Litoria walkers' camp and 15.2km south of the Carlo sandblow car park trail head (or 29km if you take the coastal route past Double Island Point); and can only be accessed on foot.
  • You can access Cooloola Great Walk from the south (Noosa North Shore) and from the north (near Rainbow Beach).
  • At Rainbow Beach visit the Manta Ray barge office or Shell service station for camping permits and other information (business hours only).
  • At Tewantin (southern access), visit the Great Sandy Information Centre, located near the Noosa River ferry on Moorindil Street for camping permits and other information (business hours only).
  • Taxi services are available in both Tewantin and Rainbow Beach.
  • Read walk with care for tips on walking safely and walking lightly.

From the south

  • 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 the Noosa River ferry, cross the river to Noosa North Shore, and drive 2.2km on Maximillian Road.
  • Continue along Maximillian Drive past Beach Road and follow the signs 250m to the southern entrance of the Cooloola Great Walk.

From the north

  • From Brisbane, drive about 160km north on the Bruce Highway towards Gympie. At the southern edge of Gympie, turn onto Tin Can Bay Road and drive 42km, then 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 into Rainbow Beach township, turn right off Rainbow Beach Road onto Double Island Drive then turn left onto Cooloola Drive and follow the signs for 850m to the Carlo Sandblow car park and the northern entrance of the Cooloola Great Walk.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Kauri walkers' camp 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

Photo of towering trees in teh rainforest.

Kauri walkers' camp sits in sheltered rainforest. Many birds of the rainforest make up the Cooloola chorus, but their songs are pierced by the 'whip crack' call of eastern whipbirds.

Photo credit: Robert Ashdown, Queensland Government

Why Kauri? In Cooloola, kauri pine Agathis robusta occur naturally at the southern limit of their range. The excellent specimen growing nearby shows this species distinctive 'gun barrel' trunk.

Walkers’ camp features: The camping area sits on a ridge of rainforest.

Location: Kauri walkers’ camp is 73.5km from the Cooloola Great Walk 's southern entrance and 20km from Litoria walkers’ camp.

Access: Walk-in only.

Number of sites:

  • 7 camp sites
  • maximum group size: 6 people
  • Kauri camping area total capacity: 14 people
  • maximum stay at Kauri walker’s camp: 1 night.

Camp sites are suitable for: Walk-in camping only.

Camp site surface: Cleared rainforest floor—leaf litter likely.

Facilities: Untreated drinking water, composting hybrid toilet system, platform tables in most camp sites.

Open fires: Prohibited—fuel or gas stoves only.

Generators: Prohibited.

Essentials to bring: Fuel or gas stove, insect repellent, washing up basin, ground sheet to place under your tent to prevent wear, warm clothes and wet weather gear.

Also see: Planning your walk.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options. Book in advance for all weekends, public holidays and school holidays. Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance.

Mobile phone coverage: Nil. For emergency communication advice, see walk safely.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Cooloola Great Walk safely and camp with care.

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