Sunrise Beach, Noosa: Surf, Parks, Whale Watching and Dog Rules

Sunrise Beach is a long stretch of golden sand on Noosa’s coast, with open surf, whale-watching lookouts and a handful of local parks. Visit Noosa groups it with Castaways Beach and Marcus Beach as the quieter Eastern Beaches, a good place for long walks.

Below is what Noosa Council and Visit Noosa publish about the beach, the lookouts, the parks and the dog rules, so you can plan the day before the long drive. The parks are neighbourhood reserves, so pack food and water and treat the beach and the lookout as the main event.

The beach

Visit Noosa describes Sunrise Beach as an expansive stretch of golden sand with surf rolling in from the ocean and a sense of quiet seclusion. It describes the Eastern Beaches as almost entirely surrounded by Noosa National Park and fringing Lake Weyba, and says the quieter beaches suit surfing open breaks.

Sunrise Beach is a seasonally patrolled beach, and Noosa Council advises checking the Beachsafe app for details. The eastern beaches, Sunrise Beach among them, are exposed to more powerful surf. Visit Noosa says lifesavers patrol Sunrise Beach only on weekends and during the Easter and Christmas holidays.

The Beachsafe app, from Surf Life Saving Australia, shows patrol services, hazards, facilities and weather, swell and tide details for each beach, so it is worth opening before you leave. Noosa Council contrasts these exposed eastern beaches with the sheltered Main Beach at Noosa Heads.

Whale watching at Tingira Park

Tingira Park, on David Low Way, has a viewing tower overlooking the ocean, tables and a grassed area. Toilet and shower facilities are nearby, along with fresh drinking water and beach access.

Visit Noosa says the lookouts along this coast are ideal for whale watching from June to October.

Visit Noosa describes the beach as good for long walks, and it lists Marcus Beach and Castaways Beach with it among the Eastern Beaches, with open shoreline running on towards Peregian.

Parks at Sunrise Beach

Noosa Council lists several local parks in the suburb:

• Sunrise Beach Park, Selene Street: overlooks the beach and has public amenities.
• Rainbow Park, Rainbow Crescent: a large park with more than 1 km of pathway, playground equipment with swings and slides, a shelter shed, seating, fresh water and open grass.
• Orient Park North, Orient Drive: a large grassy park with swings, a shelter shed, seating and large fig trees for shade, good for picnics.
• Ben Lexcen Park, Advance Place: swings, a cargo net, a slide, a fire pole and natural shade, opposite the local schools.
• Dame Patti Park, Dame Patti Drive: children’s swings and a walk over a footbridge.
• Comet Park, Comet Drive: a basketball court and swings.
• Commodore Park, Bond Court: swings, a sports goal, open space for kicking a ball, shade, fresh water and bushland around the edges.

None of the council park entries lists a car park, so the parks suit a walk or a stop on the way rather than a long stay.

Is Sunrise Beach dog friendly?

Rainbow Park at Sunrise Beach is an on-leash dog area. Marcus Beach, next along the coast, is listed among Noosa’s off-leash dog areas; council publishes maps of the on-leash and off-leash areas on its dogs page. In Noosa Shire dogs must be leashed in public areas except in designated off-leash areas, and dogs are not permitted within bathing reserves.

Planning your visit

• How long: an hour for the lookout and a walk, longer if you plan to spend the day on the sand.
• Best time: June to October for whale watching from the lookouts.
• Cost: free.
• What to bring: water, sunscreen and a hat. There is fresh drinking water near Tingira Park.

Getting there

Sunrise Beach is about 130 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 115 minutes by car without traffic. Council’s park pages do not publish parking details, so look for signs on the day.

Plan a bus or train trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30. See the council’s recreational parks page, its beaches and beach safety page and Visit Noosa’s Eastern Beaches page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Castaways Beach, Noosa – further south along the coast.
• Marcus Beach – the neighbouring beach with the off-leash dog area.
• Noosa National Park – the coastal walk and beaches.
• Alexandria Bay, Noosa – a beach walk in the national park.
• Lake Weyba, Noosa – paddling and birds on the lake.
• Noosa Heads – Main Beach, Hastings Street and parking.

Browse more beaches and Noosa places.

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• Banksia Beach (Bribie Island)
• Bilinga Beach (Gold Coast)
• Yaroomba Beach (Sunshine Coast)

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