📍4 Best Noosa Lookouts Including Laguna Lookout in Noosa National Park. (2024.)
WANT TO DISCOVER THE BEST NOOSA LOOKOUTS?
For the idyllic seaside getaway, no place epitomizes that more perfectly than the gorgeous town of Noosa. Located at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, it has beautiful sandy beaches, warm temperatures, a relaxing atmosphere, and, most uniquely, a magnificent national park right on its doorstep.
This unforgettable place of outstanding ecological beauty is home to some of the region’s most unforgettable viewpoints, showcasing what I think are some of the most breathtaking coastlines in Queensland, they aren’t the only vantage points within striking distance of this dream destination. From the rugged headlands of Noosa National Park to the peaks and summits of nearby mountains, these are the best Noosa lookouts you won’t want to miss.
👉 My top 2 picks for the best lookouts in Noosa:
- Hell’s Gate, Noosa National Park.
- Mt Coolum, Mt Coolum National Park.
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favourite Resources!
Tours/Experiences: I recommend Viator.
Accommodation: I recommend Booking.com.
Renting Vehicles: I recommend RentalCars.com.
Best Noosa Lookouts.
Noosa National Park.
Noosa.
Noosa National Park is a significant part of Noosa’s appeal. The incredible lookouts within this extraordinarily coastal landscape showcase some of the most unrelentingly gorgeous scenery, between the revered sea cliffs of Rainbow Beach and the exquisite headland of Cape Byron, mainland Australia’s most easterly point.
1. Hell’s Gate.
No other lookout in Noosa National Park is nearly as magnetically beautiful as Hells Gate. Situated at the park’s northeasternmost tip, this breathtaking scenic spot overlooks a sheer, rugged V-shaped cliff face and the churning seawater that becomes trapped in the treacherous area.
Reach this unrelentingly beautiful place by walking along the incredible scenic Coastal Walk. While you can start at the day-use area and pass other picturesque spots such as Boiling Pot, Tea Tree Lookout, Dolphin Point & Granite Cove, but if you aren’t walking the entire 10.8km return trail, I highly recommend starting from Sunshine Beach as even more incredible natural landmarks, such as the Fairy Pools, the isolated shores of Alexandria Beach, one of the most stunning beaches on the Sunshine Coast and Hell’s Kitchen/Lions Rock, the next lookout on this list, await.
- Access: Conventional vehicle access to the day-use area at the end of Park Road (northeastern end.)/ Car park on Seaview Avenue. (southern end.)
- Walking Trail: Starts at the day-use area (northwestern end.) or the end of McAnally Drive (southern end.)
- Views: Hell’s Gate.
- Facilities: Picnic Tables, Toilets.
- Recommended Nearby Accommodation: Seahaven Noosa Beachfront Resort
1. Devil’s Kitchen/Lion’s Rock.
Sharing an equally ominous name, the Devil’s Kitchen is another gorgeous place in Noosa’s neighbourly national park with unforgettable views. Viewable from along the Coastal Track, this rocky and turbulent stretch of shoreline beauty is compounded by the presence of Lions Rock, which closes off its northern end.
These coastal, side-by-side features are beautiful all day. However, sunrise is a particularly special time to see these formations, thanks to the soft golden backlit light of the rising sun creating a magical atmosphere that is perfect for landscape photography, while the explorable Lions Rocks is the ideal location for romantic photoshoots.
- Access: Sunshine Beach.
- Walking Trail: Coastal Walk.
- Views: Devil’s Kitchen & Lion’s Rock.
- Facilities: –
- Recommended Nearby Accommodation: Seahaven Noosa Beachfront Resort
3. Laguna Lookout.
Across the other side of the national park is the Noosa’s most easily accessible viewpoint: Laguna Lookout. This picturesque spot at the end of Viewland Drive offers breathtaking northwest views overlooking the town, the peaceful Noosa River, across to Noosa North Shore and the southernmost end of Great Sandy National Park, with the gentle peaks of the hinterland making up the background scenery.
- Access: Conventional vehicle access to the car park at the end of Viewland Dr.
- Distance: A few metres.
- Views: Noosa River.
- Facilities: None.
- Recommended Nearby Accommodation: Seahaven Noosa Beachfront Resort
4. Mt Coolum.
Mt Coolum National Park, Coolum.
Just south of Noosa lies the equally gorgeous seaside town of Coolum, and it harbours even more fantastic viewpoints that are well worth visiting. The most notable is the summit of its friendly neighbourhood mountain: Mt Coolum.
What many people don’t know about this solitary coastal peak is that it’s one of the 13 individual mountains that comprise the Sunshine Coast’s most revered natural landmarks: the Glass House Mountains. However, because it’s much further away from the rest along the Bruce Highway west of Caloundra and harbours a more gentle dome-shaped by comparison, it’s not as iconic as the likes of Mt Tibrogragran, Mt Beerwah, and Mt Coorowin, which are clustered together and have steep sheer cliff faces and protruding volcanic plugs.
But, just as those are home to some of the Sunshine Coast’s most magnificent views, so is Mt Coolum. While it’s only a 1.6km journey to the top and back, it is a challenging slog, with a significant portion going up exposed stairs. That does, however, mean that the walk is remarkably scenic, with magnificent views overlooking the coastline south, including the picturesque local headland, Point Arkwright and Maroochydore, the region’s only city.
And that’s before reaching the top. The 206m summit has even more views. Most notably, the winding Maroochy River, the local airport and the elegant side-way teardrop-shaped slope of Mt Ninderry, yet another Glass House Mountain.
- Access: Conventional vehicle access to the car park on Jarnahill Drive.
- Walking Trail: 1.6km return, Grade 4.
- Views: Panoramic views of the region. Most notably, the southern coastline & Mt Ninderry to the east.
- Facilities: Picnic Tables
- Recommended Nearby Accommodation: Coolum Beach Getaway Resort.
Noosa Lookouts Map.
Conclusion: Best Noosa Lookouts.
Along with its beautiful beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and lovely climate, the Noosa’s magnificent lookouts do an excellent job showcasing its spectacular scenery, elevating this town from being just another overlooked place by the ocean and making it one of Queensland’s premiere destinations for idyllic seaside getaways.
If you plan to visit Noosa, consider looking at these other posts.
