26 Jul Short walks from Hastings Street

Whether for a leisurely stroll or a pumped up power walk, there a few ideal short walks that you can start directly from Hastings Street.

Noosa National Park – Coastal Track

Hell’s Gate, Noosa National Park

Most visitors to Noosa would be familiar with the headlands section of Noosa National Park, only a short walk from Hastings Street.

Heading east from Hastings Street along the coastal boardwalk, past Little Cove Beach, you’ll soon arrive at the park entrance. It’s worth taking the time to check out the information centre and signage before you start.

This section of Noosa National park is a natural wonderland and a variety of walking tracks can be explored. For a short walk of a couple of kilometres, the coastal headland walk is ideal.

Tea Tree Bay, Noosa National Park

You’ll often see groups of people straining their necks gazing at koalas in the trees along the boardwalks. Dolphin and turtle sightings are also common and the sweeping coastal views are great for spotting whales in the season. The forest is a bird-watchers’ paradise with a plethora of birdlife calling the park home.

You’ll pass beautiful beaches at Tea Tree Bay and Granite Bay ideal for a cool dip. There are numerous lookouts including the ‘Boiling Pot’ and spectacular ‘Hell’s Gate’ headland. From Hell’s Gate you can return via the coastal track or continue on to Alexandria Bay and Sunshine Beach or the Tanglewood forest Track (which also returns to the park entrance).

National Park signage

Noosa National Park was under threat from development, however due to the tenacity of the local community to see it protected, it became protected as a national park. We are very grateful to all the people and the sacrifices made to help protect this fragile part of the coast.

For an even shorter walk (only one hour) try the Palm Grove Circuit through beautiful coastal rainforest. This is also accessible from the park entrance.

Pandanus palm, Noosa National Park

Keep an eye on our upcoming editions for a story on the history of Noosa National Park and the people who helped protect it.

Noosa Coastal Track
Grade: easy
Time: 2hours
Map: Click here
Distance: 7km return

Sunset over Mount Cooroy

Laguna Lookout sits above the eastern end of Hastings Street and is a steep climb up steps for the first 500 metres to the lookout, sited on a former banana farm.

While you might raise a sweat getting there, the spectacular views across Noosa, to the Hinterland and over Laguna Bay to North Shore, make the effort well worth-while. Sunset is the most popular time to visit the lookout and to catch the sun setting behind Mt Cooroy.

To access the walk to Laguna Lookout, go through the round-about-at the eastern end of Hastings Street turning right and it is the second set of stairs on the left off Morwong Drive (just past the Viridian Resort).

You can follow the forested track which is signposted, all the way up to the lookout. From here you can return the same way, or via the leafy residential street down to Little Cove Beach and back to Hastings Street. If you chose this option, you’ll need to go back down the walking track until you see the sign for Bayview Road, then turn left onto Bayview Road.

View of Noosa River from Laguna Lookout

For those unable to make the walk, Laguna Lookout is also accessible via car.

Laguna Lookout
Grade: Moderate
Time: 1.5hours
Distance: 3.5km return (from information centre)

Noosa Woods

Noosa woods walking tracks and picnic areas

Noosa Woods is forested natural oasis in the centre of Noosa that juxtaposes the glamour of Hastings Street. To get there is easy as the park is situated an easy walk at the western end of Hastings Street.

Flanked on three sides by the Noosa River, the river mouth and Laguna Bay, the walk encompasses a circular path that lets you take in all the sites at any time of the day.

The path and waterways are popular for jogging, surfing, fishing, kayaking and surfing. The riverside section allows a glimpse into the front yards of the waterfront homes of Noosa’s rich and famous.

The park has many shady picnic areas and BBQ facilities and is an ideal spot to pack a picnic lunch or dinner watching the sunset over the water.

Before circling back, the walk will take you to the end of the spit with great views north to Fraser Island and south to Noosa Heads. The Noosa River mouth is a vital habitat for 20 species of migratory birds that visit Noosa between August and April each year.

Noosa Woods
Grade: easy
Time: 1.5hours
Distance: 3.5km return (from information centre)