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Cooloola Way 4WD track
Tackle a challenging 4WD track through the western catchment of the Upper Noosa River.
- Journey type
- 4WD, trail bike
- Distance
- 30km one way A path where the start point is different to the finish point
- Time suggested
- Allow 1hr driving time.
- Grade
- Unrated
Accessible by
- High clearance 4WD
- Trail bike
Journey facilities
- Scenic drive
- Trail bike riding
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Use the Cooloola Way 4WD track to travel to Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area with your dog. Photo credit: © Chris Whitelaw
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Get adventurous on the Cooloola Way 4WD track—a rough track through pine plantations. Photo credit: © Chris Whitelaw
Explore this rough high-clearance 4WD track along Cooloola’s western boundary, linking the area’s southern access with Rainbow Beach road in the north. Discover tall pine plantations, scribbly gum woodlands and low heathlands dotted in spring wildflowers. Along the way enjoy glimpses of the scenic Cooloola sandmass to the east.
If you’re travelling to Inskip with a dog, you can use this track as a thoroughfare through Cooloola (just make sure pooch stays inside your vehicle). This track is frequently wet and boggy, and sometimes flooded—when conditions are poor, you’re best to take the safer route along inland roads farther west.
Getting there and getting around
Cooloola Way is in Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach (155–240km north of Brisbane).
- Cooloola Way connects connects the Kin Kin-Wolvi Road in the south of Cooloola with Rainbow Beach Road in the north.
- You need a high clearance 4WD to access Cooloola Way.
- Vehicle access permits are not required for Cooloola Way but may be required if you plan to travers beaches and other inland tracks within the Cooloola Recreation Area.
- Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.
From the south
- From Brisbane, drive 135km north on the Bruce Highway or the Sunshine Motorway to Tewantin. Follow McKinnon Drive, Louis Bazzo Drive and Junction Road for about 18km north-west to Cootharaba Road. Turn right and travel about 10km along Cootharaba, Kimmond Creek and Dr Pages roads to the Gympie Kin Kin Road. Turn right and drive 6km, then turn right onto Cooloola Way.
- From Gympie, drive 10km east on Tin Can Bay Road, turn right onto to the Gympie Kin Kin Road and drive about 31km, then turn left onto Cooloola Way.
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 another 13km to the Cooloola Way turnoff on your right.
Wheelchair access
There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.
Before you visit
Opening hours
Cooloola Way 4WD track is open 24 hours a day.
Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.
Visiting safely
For more safety information see:
- Cooloola Great Walk and Cooloola Wilderness Trail temporary closure 7 December 2020 to 28 February 2021
- High risk rock falls areas along Teewah Beach closed to camping 23 November 2020 to 30 June 2021
- 24hr number plate cameras are now operating in Cooloola Recreation Area 15 December 2020 to 28 February 2021
- Total Fire Prohibition 7 December 2020 to 28 February 2021
- Camping changes to Teewah Beach camping area in 2021 4 December 2020 to 28 February 2021
Conditions report
Cooloola conditions report Updated 7 Jan 2021
Critical information for your safety is included in the conditions report—always check it before you visit.