5. Boreen Point Campground
If you prefer lakeshores to ocean beach, Boreen Point Campground on Lake Cootharaba is a great choice. You’re a little farther from Noosa Heads here (about a 30-minute drive), but you’ll be tucked away in the bush, and spoilt for choice when it comes to water sports.
Sailing, stand up paddleboarding, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing are all top things to do on this shallow lake, the largest in the Noosa River system, and you can rent kayaks and SUPs from the office. You can also paddle the nearby Noosa Everglades, one of the area’s top attractions.
If you prefer land activities, you can bask on the soft, sandy shore, or go bushwalking or birdwatching.
Facilities are excellent at this bush and lake campsite. Restrooms and showers have been recently refurbished, with family rooms now offered.
Dining is also easy. Connect with other travelers at the camp kitchen, which comes with gas barbecues, or if you don’t feel like cooking, the historic Apollonian Hotel serves up delicious meals, including a weekend smokehouse menu, just steps away from the campground. Forget some groceries? A general store is just a short stroll away,
When they’re not out on the water, kids can go wild on the colorful playground, or bike the BMX track around the campground.
Sheltered under large shady trees, sites here are a mix of powered and unpowered. Tent sites front the lake, and other camping spots snuggle in the bushland. The powered sites accommodate tents, caravans, camper vans, and RVs.
Bonus points: dogs are welcome in caravans and RVs.
Address: Boreen Point 1 Esplanade, Boreen Point QLD
6. Upper Noosa River Camping Area
Only accessible via boat, canoe, or kayak, the Upper Noosa River offers the ultimate back-to-nature camping experience. The sites lie in Cooloola Recreation Area in Great Sandy National Park and require a peaceful paddle along the wildlife-rich waterways to access.
Operated by Queensland Parks & Wildlife, these remote sites are the perfect place for a peaceful escape. All you’ll hear is the slosh of your paddle in the water, the calls of whip birds echoing in the stillness, and the nighttime chime of frogs. Once you’re here, you can explore the area by kayak, try your luck at fishing, or hike one of the scenic trails – the Cooloola Sandpatch walk is a favorite.
Nine campsites fringe the Upper Noosa River. Campsites 1 through 3 lie in shady forest and offer non-flush toilets. Campsites 1 and 3 have jetties, perfect for watching the sunset, and campsite 3 is closest to the popular Cooloola Sandpatch walk, which takes you to a towering sandblow and makes a great backdrop for photos. Campsite 3 is also a favorite spot for day-tripping boaters. Campsite 2 comes with a custom-built canoe landing.
