About Cooloola Recreation Area

Looking after the park

The following guidelines will help to care for Cooloola so it can be enjoyed now and in the future.

Also see:

• Walk softly guidelines

Everything is protected

Leave flowers, ferns and all other plant material undamaged. What is easy to take may take years to replace. The coloured sand cliffs on Cooloola's beaches, which are sculpted by natural erosion, are highly susceptible to damage. Never climb up, slide down or carve into cliff faces. They may collapse without warning. Sand tobogganing is prohibited.

Keep forests free of pests

Clean all camping and personal gear before entering the recreation area. Insects, weed seeds and soil pathogens can stick to boots and camping equipment and can quickly spread through the area, sometimes killing native species.

Also see:

• Weeds, animals and pathogens

Leave your pets at home

Domestic animals are not permitted in the Cooloola Recreation Area, except under permit or authority, including travelling in vehicles, vessels and trailers through the recreation area.

Also see:

• Before you visit for further information on permitted access areas for pets.

Keep our waterways clean

Never use soap or shampoo in creeks or rivers. Soaps, detergents, sunscreens, toothpaste and urine all pollute waterways. They promote algae growth and affect the purity of the water. Scatter washing water 100m from waterways. Bring non-greasy foods, so dishes can be cleaned without detergents.

On the Upper Noosa River, use only defined canoe landing sites or jetties, and observe the no-landing zone. Sedges and reeds on the riverbanks are fragile. In areas without facilities, tie canoes or kayaks rather than dragging them ashore.

Do not release unwanted aquarium fish or plants into creeks or rivers. Introduced pest fish and plants can kill native fish and make the river an unpleasant place to visit. They can reduce water quality and limit recreational opportunities.

Carry it in – carry it out

Take all rubbish out of the recreation area. Bins are not generally provided. For the convenience of visitors and campers, waste transfer stations are available at:

• Beach Road, 2nd cutting, Noosa North Shore
• Freshwater Road, off Rainbow Beach Road

Alternatively, take your rubbish home with you. All waste, including broken camping equipment must be deposited in a bin or removed from the recreation area. Littering and illegal dumping are prohibited, and penalties apply for non-compliance. Report littering and illegal dumping.

Waste management tips when camping:

• Do not hang rubbish bags from trees or tents. Securely store your waste until disposal in sealed containers to prevent negative interactions with wildlife.
• Be part of the solution - reduce, reuse and recycle.
  • Choose a menu with less packaged goods.
  • Choose good quality camping equipment that will withstand the harsh elements of the coastal environment.
  • Take recyclables home for proper disposal.
• Repair broken equipment – do not be a consumer with a throwaway mentality.
• Remove all waste, including broken camping equipment and domestic waste.
• Don't burn or bury anything.
• Carry out sanitary products, disposable nappies and cigarette butts. Do not put these in the toilet facilities.
• Avoid bringing glass as it can’t be crushed. Broken glass can harm other visitors and wildlife.
• Bring small sealable canisters for cigarette butts. Don't discard butts in the park.

Also see:

• Reduce and recycle rubbish
• Keep wildlife wild
• Reduce and recycle rubbish

Let native animals find their own food

• Please do not feed or leave scraps for wildlife.
• Animals that are fed can become aggressive to humans.
• These habituated animals become reliant on the food source, suffer from disease or can over-populate to the extent that they dominate an area and aggressively exclude other wildlife.

Use fuel or gas cooking appliance stoves for cooking and heating

Camp fires are prohibited in all camping areas in Cooloola except for the Poverty Point camping area unless there is a fire prohibition or ban in place. Check the conditions report (PDF, 743.4KB) before going. Penalties apply.

• Extinguish camp fires with water, not sand, when unattended or retiring for the night. Embers under sand stay extremely hot for hours and can cause serious burns.
• Collection of firewood in the recreation area is not permitted, including leaves and twigs for kindling. For camp fires at Poverty Point, bring clean firewood, such as untreated mill off-cuts, not bush wood. It is illegal to collect bush wood from the recreation area and national park.
• Fires are prohibited at all other camp sites, including Freshwater camping area, Teewah Beach camping zones 1–7 and all Upper Noosa River camp sites.
• Do not dispose of non-combustible or toxic material (e.g. glass, cans, plastics) in a camp fire. Penalties apply.

For all other camping areas in Cooloola including Teewah Beach, ensure your cooking and heating appliances meet the below requirements.

• 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 the above list during Queensland Fire Department (QFD) total fire bans. Check park alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details. Test your cooking appliance before leaving home and never use them in confined spaces, such as tents.

Also see:

• Fire prohibitions and bans – cooking appliances (PDF, 763.6KB)
• Camp fire, fuel stoves and barbecues
• Camp fire prohibitions and fuel stoves

Generator use

Generators are prohibited in Cooloola except in the Teewah Beach camping area where only low decibel generators (up to 2.0 Kva) are permitted between 7am and 9pm.

Bring a portable toilet

All campers in the Teewah Beach camping zones are required to bring and use a portable toilet during their stay (penalties apply). Even if you are only camping for one night, you still must bring and use a portable toilet. Portable toilets are recommended when camping away from facilities at Poverty Point, Upper Noosa River camp sites 4–15 and Wandi and Neebs waterholes camping areas. Public toilets are located at Freshwater day-use area (just north of Teewah Beach camping zone) and Double Island Point.

QPWS have implemented a waste management plan to protect the natural environment, your coastal camping experience and visitor health.