Gympie to Cooloola

Feed the dolphins at Tin Can Bay, cruise along Rainbow Beach in a 4WD or explore the rolling hills and villages of the Mary Valley. Whether you’re after a camping holiday with the kids or a natural escape for two, you will find it in the Gympie to Cooloola region.

Adventure and history - The Gympie to Cooloola region stretches north of Noosa to Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and the World Heritage listed Fraser Island. One of the best ways to explore the coloured sands and towering coastal cliffs is in a 4WD.

Head inland to the Mary Valley where you will find fertile farmland alongside the rising hills of the Conondale and Blackall ranges. The Mary River and Borumba Dam are great spots for picnics, fishing and kayaking.

Tin Can Bay is one of the few places in Australia where wild dolphins can be hand fed. It is also home to an annual seafood festival where you can devour fresh prawns and lobster to your heart’s content. To understand the rich history of the area, pop into the Gympie Gold Mining and Historic Museum that houses a vast collection of artefacts and old photos dating back to 1867.

Natural wonders - The moon-like landscape of Carlo Sand Blow was created by strong onshore winds breaking through vegetation and carrying sand across the land from eroding dunes. Here you can enjoy breathtaking views of Double Island Point and Tin Can Bay.

The Cooloola to Gympie region is located in the Great Sandy Biosphere, a nature-lovers paradise that houses more marine diversity than the entire Great Barrier Reef, almost half of Australia’s bird species, and the world’s tallest sand-based rainforests.

Rainbow Beach is the most southerly access point to Fraser Island; one of the most popular tourist destinations on the east coast of Australia, renowned for its aqua-coloured freshwater lakes, white sandy beaches and diversity of wildlife. It also happens to be the largest sand island on the planet.