Starting from Elanda Point Road, Como, this walk takes you to the Kinaba Information Centre and the foreshore of Lake Cootharaba via the Kinaba Track, visiting several lookouts along the way. Expect to see heaps of bird species as you make your way through the lovely paperbarks and cabbage palms. You’ll get great views of the lake, especially at the mangrove boardwalk at the end. Interpretive signs at the said boardwalk will inform you about the history of the area. You can also take a little detour and visit Mill Point for a panoramic point of view. Try to spot some stingrays whilst taking in the scenery. This shady walk is pretty empty most of the time, including the information centre. Keep in mind that the information centre is also accessible by boat. Take a strong mozzie (Australian term for mosquito) repellent with you to have a better experience. 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.
Start
At the intersection of Elanda Point Road & Cooloola Wilderness Trail (-26.2568315,152.9944747)
At roundabout, take exit 2 and drive for another 280 m
At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Old Bruce Highway and drive for another 1.9 km
Turn right onto Pioneer Road and drive for another 2 km
Turn right onto Reserve Street and drive for another 1 km
At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Reserve Street and drive for another 270 m
Turn left onto Factory Street and drive for another 1.9 km
Turn right onto Louis Bazzo Drive and drive for another 17.2 km
Turn left onto Lake Flat Road and drive for another 2.1 km
Turn right onto Elanda Point Road and drive for another 1.3 km
Continue onto Elanda Point Road and drive for another 65 m
Getting started From Elanda Point Road (480 metres southwest of the Habitat Noosa Hotel), head north along the Cooloola Wilderness Trail as you move away from the road and the lake. Continue straight at the 4-way intersection and cross the wide fire trail. Follow the same trail as you keep the lake to your right to continue along the Kinaba Track.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
At the intersection of Elanda Point Road & Cooloola Wilderness Trail Start heading along Cooloola Wilderness Trail (a footpath).
Find the sign at the start.
Find the car park at the start.
After another 225 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 340 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 75 m turn right, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 500 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 145 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 15 m pass the sign (on your left).
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip taking you to Mill Point lookout where you can get great views of Lake Cootharaba. Expect around a 20-minute addition to your walk time (out & back). To start this optional side trip veer right here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 470 m (at the intersection of Mill Point Trail & Cooloola Wilderness Trail) continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
Then pass the sign (on your right).
After another 430 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 850 m pass the sign (on your left).
At the intersection of Kinaba Track & Cooloola Wilderness Trail turn right, to head along Kinaba Track (a walking track).
After another 3.2 km continue straight.
After another 35 m pass the "Kinaba Information Centre".
After another 20 m come to the "Kinaba Information Centre" (7 m on your right).
Continue straight.
After another 35 m pass the toilet (8 m on your right). This toilet is male and female.
After another 85 m pass the sign (on your right).
Veer left.
After another 25 m come to a viewpoint.
Turn around here and retrace the main route for 6.2 km to get back to the start.
An optional side trip taking you to Mill Point lookout where you can get great views of Lake Cootharaba. Expect around a 20-minute addition to your walk time (out & back).
Turn map
Directions & comments
At the intersection of Mill Point Trail & Cooloola Wilderness Trail Start heading along Mill Point Trail (a walking track).
Find the sign at the start.
After another 320 m continue straight, to head along Mill Point Trail.
After another 400 m come to "Mill Point".
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 720 m to the main route.
Kinaba Track
Grading
Class 2/6
Easy track
Length
12.4 km
Time
3 h 30 min to 5 h
Quality of track
Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient
Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage
Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (2/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)
Cloudy. High chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures in the low to mid 20s.
Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 2:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]
Saturday 26 April
18°C → 27°C
Shower or two. 50% chance of rain 0 → 2mm
Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the south. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 15 and 18 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid 20s.
Sunday 27 April
18°C → 29°C
Partly cloudy. 20% chance of rain
Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm about the southern border ranges in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 14 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
Monday 28 April
17°C → 28°C
Sunny. 5% chance of rain
Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
Pest control program at Teewah Beach camping area, Freshwater camping area, and Kings Bore Loop (update) QPWS rangers and contractors will be conducting a feral animal control program from 28 April through to 01 May 2025 within the Teewah Beach and Freshwater camping areas. Firearms, poisons or traps may be in use. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park; Cooloola Great Walk Severe weather damage affecting access at Yidney Rocks Large tides combined with large ocean swells have caused significant beach erosion resulting in exposed rock impeding beach access around Yidney Rocks, K’gari (Fraser Island) Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park K'gari Great Walk Partial Closures Due to damage from Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the following areas on K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk are temporarily CLOSED until further notice Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Very large high tides and severe weather erosion Visitors to Cooloola and Inskip Recreation Areas over the upcoming Easter holiday and ANZAC long weekend period, be aware of the following safety hazards: Affected parks: Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area; Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Heightened dingo activity Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora) (update 17 Apr) QPWS Rangers on K'gari (Fraser Island) are urging visitors to be dingo safe at all times after recent high-risk dingo incidents at Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora). Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park K'gari (Fraser Island Recreation Area) Road CLOSURES (update 17 Apr) Due to damage from Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the following roads on K’gari (Fraser Island Recreation Area) are temporarily CLOSED until further notice: Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Beach camping zone 9 and access to Ngkala Rocks to Sandy Cape CLOSED (update 17 Apr) Large high tides combined with large ocean swells have caused significant sand erosion and fallen trees at Beach camping zone 9 - Carree & Diray and access from Ngkala Rocks to Sandy Cape, resulting in sections of beach and rocks becoming impassable. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Eli Creek Exposed Sand Dunes Exposed sand dunes and sand cliffs at Eli creek are unstable and collapse without warning, causing serious injury or death. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Giant Satinay Walk Closure Please be advised that Giant Satinay Walk will be closed due to track damage from 14 April 2025 until further notice. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Jabiru Great Walk Access Track and Jabiru Hikers Camp Closure Please be advised that Jabiru Great Walk access track and Jabiru hikers camp will be closed due to track damage and water inundation from 31 March 2025 until further notice. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Exposed sand cliff and dune landslide danger Exposed sand cliffs and dunes along Teewah Beach, Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point are unstable and can collapse without warning. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Prescribed Burn - K'gari (Fraser Island) Dundubara Campground Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will conduct a planned burn (weather permitting) between 27 March 2025 and 30 June 2025 as part of the QPWS and Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation annual fire management program for the K’gari Section of Great Sandy National Park. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Dingo (Wongari) Seasonal Information - Mating Season (update 28 Feb) The likelihood of negative dingo-human interactions is greatest during dingo mating season, particularly during the Easter school holiday period when there are a high number of visitors on K’gari (Fraser Island). Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Woralie Road Dump Ezy Temporary Closure The Woralie Road Dump Ezy will be closed until further notice. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Park Alert - K’gari Planned Burn Season 2025 The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) rangers will be conducting planned burns within the K’gari (Fraser Island) section from 26th February 2024 – August 31st 2025, weather permitting, as part of the annual hazard reduction/conservation management program for parks and forests. Affected parks: K'gari, Great Sandy National Park; K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) Great Walk Cooloola Wilderness Trail - No pedestrian access across Kin Kin Creek (update 14 Jan) 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 Park Alert-Tukkee Wurroo (Indian Head) walking track temporary closure (update 19 Dec) 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 Poison canisters washing up on Southeast Queensland beaches (update 12 Dec) 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 Portable toilets mandatory for Teewah Beach camping zones (update 28 Nov) 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 Speed limit reduction - Teewah Beach camping area The speed limit on the 14km section of beach adjacent to Teewah Beach camping area has been reduced to 40km/h. Affected parks: Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Drive with care during marine turtle nesting season From November to April, you may see turtles crossing the beach to lay their eggs or hatchlings making their way from nest to ocean for the first time. Motorists and visitors to Cooloola Recreation Area and Inskip Peninsula are asked to minimise disturbance and human impacts to nesting marine turtles. Affected parks: Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area; Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park Permanent fire prohibition on Teewah Beach (update 9 Oct) 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 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
Bushwalk
3 h 30 min to 5 h
Toilet: There is one 6.1 km from the start.
Map
Notes
Terrain
Reviews
Conditions
More
Find the sign at the start.
Find the car park at the start.
After another 225 m continue straight, to head along Cooloola Wilderness Trail.
After another 20 m come to the "Kinaba Information Centre" (7 m on your right).
Turn around here and retrace the main route for 6.2 km to get back to the start.
The end.