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Noosa is famous for its beaches, but there is also an amazing network of trails in the area that cover everything from rainforest and coastal tracks to the wilds of the hinterland.
At Outside Sports Noosa we love trail running and hiking as much as you do, so we thought it might be helpful to put together a short guide to our favourite trails in the area.
In our awesome new Hastings Street store we have what is probably Queensland’s finest range of premium quality trail running and hiking footwear and clothing from the world’s top brands.
We have trail shoes from Salomon, On Running, Asics, La Sportiva, Altra, Hoka, and Adidas. And because Outside Sports is much more than just a shoe shop you get an exciting choice of running and hiking apparel from On Running, Salomon, Patagonia, The North Face, Arc’teryx, Mons Royale, Icebreaker, and more top brands.
Visit Outside Sports trail running, walking and hiking collection online
This undulating 8km return trail heads into the quieter interior of the headland through rainforest and open forest. For an epic circuit, continue towards Hell’s Gates and return via the Coastal Walkgiving you a run of around 7km more over varied terrain with a spectacular coastal finish.
A 10km one-way natural-surface trail through eucalypt forest and grazing country, with good views towards Mt Cooran and Mt Cooroora. It’s a great choice when you want a longer run away from Noosa’s busier coastal tracks. This trail is about 30kms from central Noosa.
Run from Hastings Street along the boardwalk and into the National Park. Turning around at Dolphin Point gives you beautiful ocean scenery without committing to running or hiking around the full headland. Expect some gradients, but the early sections have a well-formed running surface.
At just 2.8km return, this peaceful forest trail very near central Noosa includes enough climbing and uneven terrain to make a short run or walk interesting without turning it into an expedition.
At 25km one way, this is a serious day out, climbing through rolling countryside before entering rainforest and tall eucalypt forest. Sweeping views towards Lake Cootharaba make the effort worthwhile. Check current trail conditions before setting out, as parts of the Biosphere Trail network are undergoing upgrades. This trail is roughly 35–45km from Outside Sports in Hastings Street.
This is Noosa’s classic walk. The full distance from Noosa Main Beach to Sunshine Beach and back is 10.8km, but you can turn around whenever you like. However Boiling Pot, Tea Tree Bay, Dolphin Point, Granite Bay and Hell’s Gates provide a succession of good reasons to keep going. Look out for turtles, dolphins, koalas and, in season, migrating whales.
This compact little 1.1km rainforest trail takes just 15 to 30 minutes and feels wonderfully tropical, with piccabeen palms, strangler figs and towering hoop and kauri pines. It’s an excellent first bushwalk for small children, and is right next to the town centre.
It’s only 1.1km return, but the summit rewards you with expansive views along the Sunshine Coast. The challenging Grade 4 classification means parents consider your children’s abilities, but it makes an exciting little adventure for active youngsters. Peregian is about 18kms south of Noosa.
This gem gives you one of the biggest scenic rewards for the least distance walked. The 1km return track climbs to a fire-tower lookout 265m above sea level, with breathtaking 360-degree views stretching towards the coast and, on clear days, the Glass House Mountains. This trail is around18km south of Noosa.
Few Noosa walks can compete with this amazing combination of rocky headlands, the blue expanses of the Pacific Ocean and pretty, secluded bays. Hell’s Gates is approximately 2.7km one way from the National Park day-use area next to the beach.
Queensland Parks specifically recommends these rainforest routes as cooler alternatives on hot summer days. Tanglewood gives you the longer walk, while Palm Grove is a short, shady escape when temperatures are soaring.
Headland’s Palm Grove, this 1km forest walk follows Wooroi Creek beneath cabbage-tree and piccabeen palms, for an appealing alternative to exposed coastal terrain. This hike is around 15km west of Hastings Street.
Head 25 to 40 km out of Noosa towards Cooroy, Pomona, Cooran or Kin Kin and the vibe changes completely. Predominantly naturalsurface trails cross forests, farmland, and rural landscapes.
For a particularly memorable day out in nature, try the Cooroora Trail between Pomona and Cooran. You get shady eucalypt forest, grazing country and views of the volcanic peaks that give you a peaceful hinterland experience that you’d never guess was so close to the hustle and bustle of Hastings Street.
We’ve found that there’s quite a bit of cross-over between trail running and hiking shoes. It used to be that hikers favoured higher ankle, more boot-like shoes. But that type of footwear is really only necessary for traversing very rough, unstable terrain where you need ankle support to prevent injury.
Today we find that even people walking NZ’s 3000kmTe Araroa Trail, which passes our right beside of store doors in Tekapo, Wanaka, Arrowtown, and Queenstown much prefer a trail shoe with a low ankle for their lightness and all-day comfort, (and cooler feet).
What’s important is that the shoe provides you with enough stability and support for uneven terrain, and an aggressive sole pattern for sure footed grip on loose and slippery surfaces.
Check out our trail shoe collection - these shoes are just as good for hiking and walking as they are for running Noosa's trails.
So come in and try some on. We’re sure you’ll find a great trail running or walking shoe at Outside Sports Noosa, or online from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.
