Starting from the car park at the end of Coolala Drive, this walk takes you to the Poona Lake via the Carlo Walking Track (a part of Cooloola Great Walk) and back, visiting the Carlo Sandblow along the way. Explore the lively rainforest that is filled with the birdsong of wompoo fruit-doves, noisy pittas and catbirds as you make your way to the tea-coloured lake. The water at the lake is clear despite the tea leaves on it. The pristine white sand around the lake can make for a great picnic spot. In spring, lilly pillies cover the entire area with white berries, creating a lovely sight for you to see. Keep an eye out for impressive strangler figs and piccabeen palms as well. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Turn left onto Brisbane Road, 15, 40 and drive for another 2.2 km
Turn right onto Tin Can Bay Road, 15 and drive for another 42.2 km
Turn right onto Rainbow Beach Road, 43 and drive for another 29 km
Turn right and drive for another 60 m
Turn right and drive for another 6 m
Turn slight left and drive for another 7 m
Turn right and drive for another 85 m
Turn left onto Bomburra Court and drive for another 130 m
Turn right onto Rumbalara Avenue and drive for another 285 m
Turn right onto Double Island Drive and drive for another 35 m
Continue onto Double Island Drive Firebreak and drive for another 9 m
Turn left onto Carlo Walk to Telegraph Track Firebreak and drive for another 205 m
Continue onto Cooloola Great Walk and drive for another 10 m
Continue onto Cooloola Great Walk and drive for another 90 m
Getting started From the end of Cooloola Drive (Carlo Carpark), pass through the wooden bollard and head along the singular dirt track as you pass by a signpost and a bench to your right. Follow the said track until you come to the Carlo Sandblow, then keep right as you make your way over the dune. Join the track on the other side and follow it as you keep the ocean to your left to continue along the Poona Lake via Carlo Sandblow Track.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Find the car park at the start.
After another 130 m pass the "Carlo Sanblow Wolking Track Information" (on your right).
Then pass the "Carlo Sandblow Walking Track Revegetation" (15 m on your left).
After another 7 m (at the intersection of Carlo Walk to Telegraph Track Firebreak & Cooloola Great Walk) continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 235 m pass the "Carlo Sandblow Welcome Plaque" (15 m on your right).
After another 20 m head down the earthen steps (about 40 m long)
Continue straight.
After another 95 m pass the "Carlo" (85 m on your left).
After another 7 m head down the earthen steps (about 55 m long)
Then come to the viewpoint.
After another 20 m continue straight.
After another 265 m find the "Carlo Sandblow" (55 m on your left).
This sand dune is surrounded by rainforest and also has access to the ocean. Walk the pristine wavy sands and soak some sun in as you enjoy the view.
After another 110 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 110 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 760 m (at the intersection of Cooloola Great Walk & Fire Miteigation Zone Break) continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 2.5 km veer right, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 520 m (at the intersection of Freshwater Road & Cooloola Great Walk) continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 3.3 km (at the intersection of Walk 18 - Bymien to Poona Lake & Cooloola Great Walk) continue straight, to head along Cooloola Great Walk.
After another 1.1 km come to "Poona Lake".
Surrounded by paperbark trees, this hidden lake has a remote and relaxing feel to it. Keep an eye out for rare bird species as many of them reside here.
Turn around here and retrace the main route for 9.3 km to get back to the start.
Poona Lake via Carlo Sandblow
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
18.6 km
Time
5 h to 8 h
Quality of track
Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (2/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
Weather Forecast
Friday 13 September
Partly cloudy.
Mostly clear. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h turning southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening.
Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly in the morning then becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
UV Alert: Sun protection 8:30am to 2:40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 7 [High]
The chance of fog inland in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Slight chance of a shower in the late afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
Monday 16 September
13°C → 21°C
Mostly sunny. 20% chance of rain
Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
Tuesday 17 September
13°C → 22°C
Partly cloudy. 20% chance of rain
Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog in the north. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
Zone 8 partial reopening Zone 8 Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Hazardous Tree works Lake Boomanjin (update) Hazardous Tree works - Lake Boomanjin camping area closed, Lake Boomanjin, K’gari (Fraser Island), Great Sandy National Park, 13th September 2024. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Dingo (Wongari) Seasonal Information - Whelping Season (update 30 Aug) Limiting dingo-human interaction, particularly during wongari (dingo) whelping season, is critical to the welfare of pups. This is a particularly important time for pups to learn natural hunting and survival skills and to avoid habituation towards people. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Seasonal Shorebird Closure Area at Moon Point The Seasonal Shorebird Closure Area at Moon Point is in place each year from Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Permanent fire prohibition on Teewah Beach (update 28 Aug) A QPWS imposed fire prohibition is in place in the Cooloola Recreation Area, except at Poverty Point camping area. Campfires must not be lit anywhere else in the recreation area including in the Teewah Beach camping zones 1-7. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Poison canisters washing up on Southeast Queensland beaches Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is warning visitors of the potential dangers posed by toxic canisters washing up on Queensland beaches. Affected parks: Woody Island (Tooliewah) and Little Woody Island (Walangoora), Great Sandy National Park; Teerk Roo Ra National Park; St Helena Island National Park; Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park; South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park; Naree Budjong Djara National Park; Minjerribah Recreation Area; K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area; Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park and Moreton Island Recreation Area; Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park; Bribie Island National Park and Recreation Area Park Alert-Tukkee Wurroo (Indian Head) walking track temporary closure (update 1 Jul) Due to severe erosion, access to Tukkee Wurroo (Indian Head) walking track is closed until further notice. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Unstable sand cliffs and dunes along Rainbow and Teewah beaches (update 28 Jun) Exposed sand cliffs and sand dunes along Rainbow and Teewah beaches are unstable and can collapse without warning. Falling boulders and landslides are common in this dynamic coastal environment and can result in serious injury or death. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Cornwells Road, No Heavy Traffic (update 27 Jun) Cornwells Road, between Wabby Scenic Road and Northern Road/Pile Valley Road will be closed to buses and heavy vehicle traffic from 31 July 2022 until further notice due to maintenance and repairs. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Cooloola Wilderness Trail - No pedestrian access across Kin Kin Creek (update) As a result of flood damage Figtree Point can only be accessed from Harry’s Hut or the Boronia Walk. The Kin Kin Creek pedestrian bridge linking Elanda Point to Figtree Point on the Cooloola Wilderness Trail has been washed away. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park; Cooloola Great Walk Northern Forests scenic drive CLOSED, detour in place The Northern Scenic Drive between the junction of Bullock link Road and Northern Road, and Woralie Road and Northern Road is CLOSED until further notice due to a structural failure identified in the timber bridge. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Northern Forests walking track CLOSED Please be advised that due to fire and weather events the Northern Forests walking track will be CLOSED until further notice. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Temporary closure of beach camping zone 8 for dingo management Beach camping zone 8 (Marloo, Ocean Lake and Duling) located between Orchid Beach and Ngkala Rocks is temporarily closed from 10 June to 13 September due to increased threatening dingo activity in the area. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Threatening dingo activity - Eli Creek, Waddy Point and Wathumba (update 29 Apr) Instances of threatening dingo behaviour have been reported at some locations including Eli Creek, Waddy Point and Wathumba. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Portable toilets mandatory for Teewah Beach camping zones (update 30 Jan) All campers staying within the Teewah Beach camping zones 1 to 7 must bring and use a portable toilet for the duration of their stay. A minimum of one portable toilet per camping permit holder is required. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park
Bushwalk
5 h to 8 h
Map
Notes
Terrain
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Find the car park at the start.
After another 130 m pass the "Carlo Sanblow Wolking Track Information" (on your right).
After another 20 m head down the earthen steps (about 40 m long)
After another 95 m pass the "Carlo" (85 m on your left).
Then come to the viewpoint.
After another 265 m find the "Carlo Sandblow" (55 m on your left).
