A blog about our love of Hiking. Gear we like, tips and tricks we've learnt and walks we love

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Beautiful Noosa National Park

Our first ‘hike’ was more of an extended walk as we wanted to test out and wear in our new hiking boots. (see previous blog)
We went up to the beautiful Noosa National Park
To get there drive into the main part of Noosa and turn left at Hastings Street and keep following the road for a couple of klms up the hill into the national park. There are plenty of parks for the car.
There are five tracks that you can walk from a 1klm walk for you and the kids to a longer walk that could take a few hours and is for more experienced walkers that requires a higher level of fitness.
This is from the DERM website[1]
(1) Palm Grove circuit — 1km circuit (Allow 15-30 mins) Class 2
This circuit passes through rainforest with hoop pines and piccabeen palms. The track begins near the picnic area.
(2) Tanglewood track — 6.9km (4.2km to Hell's Gates and return 2.7km on the Coastal track) (Allow 2 - 3 hours) Class 4
One of the park's more isolated inland walks, this track meanders through rainforest, open eucalypt woodlands and closed woodlands to northern Alexandria Bay. Return to the day-use area on the Coastal track. The Tanglewood track begins near the picnic area.
(3) Noosa Hill track — 3.4km circuit (Allow 1-1.5 hours) Class 4
A steady grade leads through open eucalypt woodlands and shrublands to the top of Noosa Hill. Views to the coast are restricted due to thick vegetation. This track begins past the information centre, near the entrance to the Coastal track.
(4) Coastal track — 5.4km one-way (Allow 2 - 3 hours) Class 2, 3 & 4
Class 2 to Dolphin Point (1km); Class 3 from Dolphin Point to Hell's Gates (1.7km); Class 4 from Hell’s Gates to northern Sunshine Beach (2.7km).
Skirting the shoreline from the main park entrance to northern Sunshine Beach, the track passes over several headlands and provides many spectacular coastal views. Take extra care near cliff edges and keep children under close supervision. Walk along the beach at Alexandria Bay and rejoin the formed walking track at the southern end of the beach. There is a very steep set of stairs leading down to Sunshine Beach.
You can walk the Coastal track from Noosa to Sunshine Beach and catch a bus back. You’ll need to walk 1.2km further south along the beach to the bus stop outside the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club. For bus connection details phone 13 12 30.
(5) Alexandria Bay track — 4.6km return from Parkedge Road (Allow 1 hour 15 mins-2 hours) Class 4
From Parkedge Road, a sandy track winds through open woodlands and heathlands to Alexandria Bay. You can also access this track via the Tanglewood or Noosa Hill tracks.

We elected to walk the ‘Tanglewood track’ on the way out and the ‘Coastal walk’ for the walk home.
The walk starts at the information centre and heads slowly uphill into subtropical rainforest with moss covered trees and strangler vines.

After a couple of kilometres the vegetation changes into more open bush and sandy underfoot.

Eventually after walking at a reasonable pace for about 2 hours you come to a fork in the track. Left will lead you to the top of the headland and onto the return coastal track. Right will take you down onto the beach and toward the township of Sunshine beach. Warning – this is not a circuit and you would need to retrace your steps if you need to get back to your car.
So, after turning left, you emerge at the Noosa headland and a beautiful spot called Hells Gates. It has a spectacular view of the ocean and you can watch the wave’s crash in through a natural gap in the cliffs. A great place for lunch (if you get out of the very strong wind)

The track takes you back along the coast and has constant views of the ocean below. Along the way stop and enjoy the beauty of Dolphin Bay and the Boiling Pot.

If you set aside the whole day you will have time to stop on the drive out and enjoy a coffee at many of Noosa’s beautiful coffee shops.


[1] http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/noosa/about.html

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