Sunshine Coast National Parks

Australian National Parks

Australia's Sunshine Coast (population 247,618 with up to an additional 50,000 in visitors and seasonal workers) is the coastal region north of the Queensland capital of Brisbane. The Sunshine Coast includes three local government areas, the Noosa Shire in the north, the Maroochy Shire in the middle, and the City of Caloundra in the south.

The Sunshine Coast is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east, and extends to the local government boundaries beyond the Blackall Range to the west. Occasionally, the towns of Gympie, which is 30 minutes' drive north of Noosa Heads, and Caboolture, 30 mins drive south of Caloundra, have been included in a broader definition of the Sunshine Coast region.

Click here to see a list of parks in Sunshine Coast region

The region is characterized by beautiful beaches, expansive coastal views and rich fertile soils in the hinterland. The Sunshine Coast produces many varieties of tropical fruit and nuts and, until recently, sugar cane.

The Sunshine Coast is a centre for tourism, containing attractions such as Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, UnderWater World marine park, Aussie World with the Ettamogah Pub, The Buderim Ginger Factory, Big Pineapple and the Majestic Theatre.

The Sunshine Coast region is home to more individual national parks than any other region in Queensland[1]. The natural biodiversity of the area has been protected by five seperate parks in both coastal and inland regions, including Mapleton Falls National Park, Kondalilla National Park, The Glasshouse Mountains National Park, Noosa National Park, and the Great Sandy National Park, which includes sections on Fraser Island and in Cooloola near Rainbow Beach.

Auburn River National Park - Jumbled pink granite boulders, water-sculptured rock pools and cascades along the scenic Auburn River. Ironbark open forest and bottle-tree scrub. Relics of past gold mining.

Burrum Coast National Park - Flowering heaths, quiet beaches and abundant wildlife make this park a place to retreat and relax. Several walking tracks provide excellent opportunities to explore diverse coastal habitats.

Cania Gorge National Park - Cania Gorge National Park conserves a spectacular landscape of prominent sandstone cliffs, caves, eucalypt forest and dry rainforest on sheltered slopes.

Castle Towers National Park - Towering granite cliffs flank two large granite outcrops, Mts Castle Tower and Stanley in rugged Castle Tower National Park.

Conondale National Park - At the heart of the Upper Mary Valley forests and parks, this park protects magnificent forests, deep gorges and creek catchments, and is an important refuge for many rare and threatened animals.

Cooloola National Park - The park protects the largest intact sand dune system in the world, and also includes rainforest, open forest and heathlands.

Glass House Mountains National Park - The Glass House Mountains, a group of 13 volcanic peaks, are a prominent feature of the Sunshine Coast landscape.

Good Night Scrub National Park - In hilly country in the Burnett Valley, Good Night Scrub National Park protects an intact remnant of once extensive hoop pine rainforest.

Mooloolah River National Park - Mooloolah River National Park is a quiet retreat for nature lovers.

Mount Coolum National Park - Dome-shaped Mount Coolum rises 208m above the sugar cane fields and coastal resorts to dominate the skyline in the Sunshine Coast lowlands.

Mount Walsh National Park - Steep forested slopes, sheltered gullies, rugged ridge lines and mountain areas with spectacular exposed granite outcrops and cliffs support an amazing diversity of vegetation.

Noosa National Park - Noosa National Park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast provides an important refuge for native plants, animals and people from the urban development of the surrounding area.

Poona National Park - Low-lying coastal plains and two small islands in the Great Sandy Strait are protected in this park between the Mary River estuary and Great Sandy Strait.

The Palms National Park - In the Brisbane River headwaters, The Palms National Park protects a small remnant of mixed palm vine forest and subtropical rainforest.

Woowoonga National Park - Hilly country clothed in dry rainforest with towering hoop pines and open eucalypt forest is protected in Woowoonga Forest Reserve along the Woowoonga Range.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service