Sunshine Beach: Beaches and Trails in Noosa National Park

Sunshine Beach is on the southern side of the Noosa National Park headland. Its open coastal landscape and trails in Noosa National Park offer different points of interest to consider when planning your trip. If you’re deciding between a beach visit and a hike, you can start by comparing the specific trail features and access points. This will help you decide whether to focus on the beach landscape, the coastline, or the vegetation along a trail.

Beach, Coast and Views

Sunshine Beach is the starting point of a 15 km stretch of open beaches with surf breaks and plenty of white sand. At the northern end of the beach, visitors can walk or jog up the Sunshine Beach stairs. The steps offer cliff-top views of the Noosa National Park headland and the Coral Sea. If you’re planning to take in a view during your beach visit, the steps are a specific point of reference. The beach and the steps therefore offer different points of reference for finding your way along the coast.

Walking Trails in Noosa National Park

The Coastal Walk follows the coast through Noosa National Park between the Noosa Headland day-use area and Sunshine Beach. The Alexandria Bay Walk leads to Alexandria Bay and runs mostly over sand through open eucalypt forest and heathland. When choosing a trail, you can compare the coastal route of the Coastal Walk with the sandy surface, vegetation and Alexandria Bay destination of the other walk. This brings two distinct features into focus: the coastline between the endpoints and the trail character on the way to the bay.

Signposted trails in Noosa National Park, including coastal and hilly inland trails, lead to Sunshine Beach. In the area around the destination, the national park offers rocky coastal tracks and walking trails, along with a diverse range of native flora and fauna. Coastal trails and hilly inland trails offer different landscape perspectives; the native flora and fauna broaden your view of the natural environment around the park.

Access and Practical Information

The headland section of Noosa National Park is accessible via Parkedge Road and the northern end of Sunshine Beach. The Alexandria Bay Walk is also accessible via Parkedge Road in Sunshine Beach. The trailhead is 150 m from the bus stop on Solway Drive near Surf Street. Check parking and transit conditions before you travel. This lets you tailor your plans to the relevant access point and the trail you have in mind.

Dogs on the Beach

Dogs are allowed off leash at North Sunshine Beach. This rule applies to this specific stretch of beach and is relevant if you’re planning a beach visit with your dog. Before visiting, check the current beach-use rules set by Noosa Shire Council and any local restrictions.

Sunshine Beach as a Destination

If you’re considering Sunshine Beach for a hotel stay, the landscape and your planned activities can help guide your choice of location. Think about whether you’d like to include open beaches, the views from the steps, or a specific trail in the national park in your travel plans. Differences in route, surface and vegetation offer concrete points of comparison to help you match Sunshine Beach to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Woombye, Curramore, Caloundra, Marcoola, Buddina, Pacific Paradise, Buderim, Coolum Beach

Back to the main travel overview: Sunshine Coast.