Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Sunshine Coast

Beyond the forested river bank a short track winds through a gully to Upper Noosa River camp site 8. Photo credit: © 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 camping area 8

Revel in the isolation of this densely-forested bend in the river in the far upper reaches of the Noosa River.

Accessible by

  • Canoe or kayak

Camping area facilities

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

Always check

Paddle an adventurous 5km upstream from camp site 5 on the Upper Noosa River waterway and pull into the small sandy beach landing. Follow the short track through paperbark- and reed-lined gully to your private camp site nestled in a dense forest of scribbly gum, pink bloodwood, banksias and swamp paperbarks.

Be lulled to sleep by a chorus of frog calls and waken to the delightful sound of birdsong—motorised boats aren’t allowed here. Watch the fog roll along the water's edge in the dawn light and be entertained by brightly-coloured kingfishers perching on branches and peering into the water for their next meal.

Getting there and getting around

Upper Noosa River camp site 8 is in Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach (155–240km north of Brisbane).

Via Kinaba

By canoe

  • Launch your canoe at Elanda Point and paddle 4.5km (1hr) to the Kinaba Visitor Information Centre.
  • Stay close to the shore line while paddling northwards. Plan to cross Lake Cootharaba early in the morning when conditions are likely to be calm and easy to travel.
  • From Kinaba, paddle 1hr 20mins from Kinaba to Harrys camping area, then a further 2hrs 40mins to camp site 8.
  • Read water safety for important information about staying safe in and near water and caring for parks.

By boat

  • You can take your motor boat on the Upper Noosa River waterway as far as camp site 3; to proceed to camp site 8 you need a boat with an electric motor.
  • Launch your boat from the Boreen Point boat ramp and follow the lake navigation markers out into deeper water and then head on a north-east trajectory towards the visible Cooloola Sandpatch 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 Visitor Information Centre. The trip is 7km and 15mins travel time.
  • From Kinaba allow 1.5hrs at 6 knots (and no wash) to travel to camp site 3. From here it is about another 1hr travel time to camp site 8.
  • Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Upper Noosa River camp site 8 is open 24 hours a day. Check-in to your camp after 2pm and check-out by 11am on the day of departure.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

1 site - maximum of 4 people.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

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

View all park alerts