Hells Gates, Noosa National Park: Walk, Whales and Views

Hells Gates is a headland at the far end of the Coastal Walk in Noosa National Park, on the Sunshine Coast, with wide ocean views and a good lookout for migrating humpback whales. It sits further along the track than most visitors walk, so it is quieter than the coves near Noosa Heads.

The track carries on from Hells Gates to Sunshine Beach, so you can walk in from either end of the Coastal Walk. Start from Noosa Heads (main entrance) or Sunshine Beach.

The walk to Hells Gates

The Coastal Walk runs between the Noosa Headland day-use area and Sunshine Beach. Many walkers start at Noosa Main Beach, where a timber boardwalk winds around the coves to the National Park headquarters.

Dolphin Point is 1.2 km along the track, with steeper gradients in places. Beyond Dolphin Point, the track to Hells Gates is an uneven gravel and sand path, so wear sturdy shoes and take your time.

Whale watching at Hells Gates

Humpback whales pass the coast between about June and November on their way to and from northern breeding grounds, and the Noosa headlands are a popular place to watch them.

Give yourself time to stand and watch the water rather than rushing back.

The view from the headland

From the top of Hells Gates you look south over Alexandria Bay. The park’s headlands have open eucalypt forest and wallum heath.

Make a day of the Coastal Walk

Hells Gates works best as part of a longer walk. The Noosa Main Beach boardwalk takes you around the coves to the National Park headquarters, and Visit Noosa says the coves are home to turtles and dolphins as well as the whales that pass in season.

From the headquarters you can pick your own route: the Noosa Hill track, Palm Grove Circuit and Tanglewood Track all connect through to Alexandria Bay and Sunshine Beach. That lets you build a longer day, or finish at Sunshine Beach instead of walking back the way you came, though you will need a plan for getting back to your car. Visit Noosa does not give distances for these links, so check the park map before you pick one. Read our Alexandria Bay guide for the beach just along the track.

Afterwards, Hastings Street and Noosa Main Beach are a short way back, and Noosa Main Beach is a patrolled beach if the walk leaves you wanting a swim.

Can you swim at Hells Gates?

There is no swimming beach at Hells Gates. The beaches in Noosa National Park are not patrolled, and Alexandria Bay in particular has strong currents. Noosa Main Beach and Sunshine Beach are patrolled, so swim there and check the Beachsafe app first.

Planning your visit

• Best time: June to November for whales. Go early, because parking at Noosa Heads fills up.
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and binoculars.
• Conditions: check the Queensland Parks Noosa National Park page for closures and park rules before you go. Phone 13 74 68 for park information.

Getting there and parking

Noosa Heads is about 2 hours by car from the Brisbane CBD. The closest car park to the Coastal Walk start is the National Park (Park Road) car park, with a 4 hour limit from 8 am to 5 pm. Park Road itself has a 2 hour limit. See Noosa Council’s car parks page.

A return walk to Hells Gates can run past a 4 hour limit if you stop to watch whales, so keep an eye on the time. You can also walk in from the Sunshine Beach end. Sunshine Beach has three untimed car parks: Webb Road, the Sunshine Beach Surf Club and Bicentennial Drive, which suit a long walk better than a 4 hour limit. Translink buses serve Noosa, so plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner.

Nearby

• Noosa National Park – the whole park, its walks, and where to park.
• Alexandria Bay – the long surf beach just along the track.
• Noosa Main Beach – the patrolled beach at the start of the walk.
• Hastings Street, Noosa – cafes and shops for after the walk.
• Noosa Heads – the town beside the park.
• Sunrise Beach – another surf beach on the Noosa coast.

Browse more lookouts or everything to do in Noosa.

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• Beechmont (Gold Coast Hinterland)
• Point Cartwright (Sunshine Coast)
• Wilson Outlook Reserve (New Farm)

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