• Beyond the forested river bank a short track winds through a gully to Upper Noosa River campsite 8. Photo credit: © Queensland Government
• Land your canoe at the small sandy beach and carry it up the bank to your campsite. Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government

Paddle an adventurous 5km upstream from Upper Noosa River campsite 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 campsite 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 campsite 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).

• The campsite is in the southern section of Cooloola, in the Upper Noosa River waterway, 21.7km north of the Kinaba Information Centre.
• Canoeists and boaties (with electric motors) can access the campsite via Kinaba from Boreen Point and Elanda Point on Lake Cootharaba.

Via Kinaba

By canoe

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

By boat

• You can take your motorboat on the Upper Noosa River waterway as far as Campsite 3; to proceed to Upper Noosa River campsite 8 you need a boat with an electric motor.
• Launch your boat from the Boreen Point boat ramp and follow the lake navigational markers out into deeper water and then head on a north-east trajectory towards the visible Cooloola Sand Patch 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 Information Centre. The trip is 7km and 15min travel time.
• From Kinaba allow 1.5hr at 6 knots (and no wash) to travel to Campsite 3. From here it is about another 1hr travel time to Upper Noosa River campsite 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 campsite 8 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

Features: Upper Noosa River campsite 8 is set among fringes of open forest or woodland (melaleuca, allocasuarina, bloodwood and eucalypt species) bordering open heathland plains to the east. The campsite provides part shade.

Location: On the western bank of the Upper Noosa River. Approximately 26.2km paddle from Elanda Point via the Upper Noosa River, or approximately 14.7km paddle from Harrys canoe launch area.

Maps:

• Noosa River map (PDF, 1.6MB)
• Cooloola Recreation Area map (PDF, 1.7MB)

No. sites: 1 site – maximum of 4 people.

Site note: Camping only in designated area. No camping on the riverbank itself.

Access: The camping area can be reached by canoe, kayak or boats with electric motors only; motorised vessels are not permitted past Upper Noosa River campsite 3. Campsites 1–15 permit holders can park in the Harrys canoe launch area.

• Distances and times: canoeing, boating and walking.

Suitable for: River access camping for canoes, kayaks and boats with electric motors only.

Surface: Sand.

Facilities: No facilities. These are remote camping sites.

Toileting: Portable toilets or human waste disposal kits are preferred.

• If bush toileting is unavoidable, bury all faecal matter and toilet paper in a hole at least 50cm deep and at least 100m from waterways. Cover the spot well. Bag and remove all sanitary items, including disposable nappies, from the recreation area.

Watch the video: bush toileting practices

Open fires: Prohibited. Only cooking and heating appliances that meet the below requirements are permitted unless a Queensland Fire Department (QFD) total fire ban is in place.

• 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 above list during QFD total fire bans. Check Park alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details.

Also see: permitted cooking appliances during fire bans (PDF, 763.6KB) .

Generators: Prohibited.

Essentials: Drinking water, fuel or gas stove, human waste disposal kit (preferred), hand trowel if bush toileting, toilet paper, first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, rubbish container/bags; no rubbish facilities are supplied – carry out what you carry in.

Also see: before you visit

Mobile phone coverage: Generally not available.

Bookings

Book online or learn about our camping booking options. Advance bookings are recommended for holiday periods.

Book a camping area Book a vehicle access permit

Visiting safely

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