Poona Lake Swimming & Walking Track near Rainbow Beach
The Poona Lake walking track and swimming area near Rainbow Beach is one of those hidden gems travellers often hear about but aren’t quite sure how to plan for. If you’re searching for a calm, freshwater spot to swim, paired with an easy rainforest walk, this guide will give you everything you need to know before you go.
Many visitors struggle to figure out how long the walk actually takes, whether the trail is steep, if the lake is safe for swimming, and whether it’s worth fitting into a Rainbow Beach or Cooloola itinerary.
After personally completing the Poona Lake track a couple of times, this post is written for First-time travellers, who want a peaceful natural escape. By the end, you’ll know exactly why Poona Lake deserves a spot on your Sunshine Coast or Fraser Coast adventure.
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Is Poona Lake Worth Visiting?
As a local to Brisbane and countless visits from me over the past 25 years, Poona Lake and Rainbow Beach are worth visiting and one of my favourite locations in Queensland. Primarily, there are a lot of freshwater lakes in Australia, but this one happens to be in my top 10 with a white sandy beach, plenty of room and never that busy.
⏱️ Short on Time?
Don’t want to read the entire post, then here is a quick summary to help you get to Poona Lake and try out this fantastic swimming spot!
- Poona Lake is located near Rainbow Beach in Great Sandy National Park
- 4.2 km return walk (1.5 Hours) through rainforest (moderate fitness needed)
- Lovely swimming and features a tea-tree stained freshwater lake with fine-white sand.
- Peaceful and less crowded than other nearby spots
- Access via Bymien Car Park (2WD possible but it’s a rough road)
- No toilets or facilities at the lake, so please plan ahead and use the public facilities at the car park.
If this has you intrigued, then please read on for more detailed information about the hiking trail, lake, what to bring, where to stay and other things to see nearby.
How to Get to Poona Lake (Map & Directions)
Poona Lake is located about 10 minutes outside of Rainbow Beach in the Cooloola Recreation Area (Great Sandy National Park). Please click HERE for the Map from Rainbow Beach to the Car park and apply directions from your location.
Freshwater Road will be sign posted as the Great Sandy National Park & Cooloola Recreation Area (Photo above). This is a dirt road, but it will be fine to take 2 wheel drive cars, as I drove in a small Mazda 3!
After a 7 min or 3 km, slow bumpy ride you will get to Bymien Picnic Area and this is where you will park for the hike. This is a Loop car park and only allows a few cars.
Pick a spot under tree if you can’t get one in the car parks.
It’s important to know, that while there are toilet facilities available at the Bymien Car park Area, there are none to be found at the lake itself. Therefore, please use the facilities before embarking on the Walking Track in the Great Sandy National Park.
Note: Before setting off, please make sure to consult the Cooloola conditions report and Park alerts for safety information.
Note: Officially, the Freshwater Track is recommended for 4WD only and you should assess you own risks in the vehicle you drive. However, you definitely won’t be able to drive past the Bymien Car park in a 2WD.
Do you need help planning your trip to Queensland? Book a one-on-one consultation call with me, to get your questions answered & personalised help!
How Long is the Hike?
The path from Bymien Car Park to Poona Lake covers a 4.2 kilometres round-trip, which can easily be completed in just 1.5 hours of walking time. This is a Grade 2 trail and perfect for anyone with a moderate fitness level.
However, don’t be afraid to take a little extra time for swimming and exploring the scenic surroundings along the way.
It’s a relatively easy walk but will be slightly uphill on the way there, and downhill for the last few hundred metres. Rest assured that the cool fresh waters of Poona Lake will be nice and refreshing after this small hike.
I found the track is well signposted with a couple of turns to the right, just ensure you follow the signs. Although, take care after storms or strong winds, as there might be tree branches and obstructions across the track.
You don’t see the lake until the last minute when the trees open up, but when it does, you come to some beautiful white sandy beach and a clear freshwater lake.
Tip: There could be a few leeches around, especially in rainy weather. Although, the quieter you are walking through the forest, you’re less likely to encounter them!
About the Walking Track & Lake
This trail is part of both the Dundathu Circuit and the Cooloola Great Walk. Although the walk is easy, be mindful of the ground covered in a lot of fallen tree branches and a gradual elevation (up to 518 ft) on certain sections.
Along the way, you’ll encounter stunning flora such as Kauri trees, hoop pines, and Strangler figs. As for Wildlife, listen out for for catbirds and wompoo pigeons, and noisy pittas.
Take a moment to appreciate the towering Piccabeen palms and the vibrant scrub that surrounds you. The reward at the end of your journey is truly breathtaking with a perched lake (like Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island) nestled in the sand mass of Cooloola.
What is a perched lake? It’s a type of lake that sits at a higher elevation than the surrounding water table. They are formed in depressions on sand dunes, where a layer of organic material or rock prevents the fresh water from seeping away.
This unique formation allows the lake to retain water above the natural groundwater level, creating a distinct ecological environment. But, you’ll notice the lake’s water has a unique tea color, caused by tannins released from surrounding paperbark trees.
Poona Lake boasts a gorgeous white sandy beach that surround the entire lake. Plus, one of the standout features is the promontory located right in the middle.
The water is cool, refreshing, and absolutely pristine, giving visitors a chance to cool off and take a dip on a hot day.
What do you need to bring?
Rainbow beach is your closest point for food, drinks or any kind of supplies, so ensure you bring your own snacks and water (we had a 600ml bottle each). But, whatever you bring in, must be taken out, including rubbish.
Also, don’t forget to pack everything into a backpack and bring along a towel, hat, and sunscreen to protect you from the sun. The track itself is well shaded, but the beach and swimming areas are very open!
As for footwear, wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. While closed-in footwear is ideal for longer hikes, thongs (or Flip-flops, jandals) were perfectly if that’s what you’re used to.
Personally, I find it easier to wear thongs, especially when going for a swim. But, take care against cuts and scraps while walking over loose branches.
Note: There are no dogs or domestic animals are allowed in the Great Sandy National Park or any national park in Queensland. This includes Poona Lake!
Best time to visit?
If you’re swimming, the best time to visit would be the summertime from December to February, but is also the rainy season. Just make sure you check the weather report for the day!
School Holiday periods vary around the middle of December to the middle of January, so this will also be your busier times.
If you’re hiking, wintertime from June to August will be a little cooler, but there are some occasions where you can get hot days to swim. We visited in September which was still hot enough to swim and we only saw 6 other people in the 2 hours we were there.
Note: The area holds a significant cultural and spiritual importance for Indigenous Australians, particularly the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) and Butchulla people, who are the traditional custodians of the land.
Where to Stay
Poona Lake is in an off-grid location and there is no accommodation close to the lake itself. Instead there are plenty of choices at Rainbow Beach, Inskip point or camping in The Grant Sandy National Park.
Fixed Accommodation
Rainbow Beach is the Fraser Island gateway so it has accommodation choices from Hotels, Motels, Hostels to AirBNB. They can range in price from $30 per night for Hostels to $400 per night for Luxury accommodation.
➡ Compare the Rainbow Beach Hotel Deals HERE on Booking.com
You can choose to stay close to the city centre, or stay a little out of town with fantastic views or overlooking the beach. I’ve personally stayed at “Debbie’s Place” a couple of times and the “Sands Resort” – both are great options!
Camping
The Cooloola region offers you a range of camping options from modern facilities to no-frills beach camping in the National Parks.
There are two main Caravan Parks in Rainbow Beach itself, the Rainbow Beach Holiday Village in town and the Breeze Big 4 Holiday Park at Carlo Point Marina. These are both easily accessible with any vehicle.
All beach camping areas are only accessible by 4WD vehicle (or walk ins to some Inskip point sites), this means there is sand or beach driving involved. Firewood is not provided, so if campfires are allowed in your camping area, bring your own clean or milled firewood.
Things to see and do in the area?
Click here for the best things to do in Rainbow Beach, but I have some of the more popular activities mentioned below. This is a small coastal town in the Wide Bay Burnett region of Queensland with a population just over 1000.
It’s a popular tourist destination, both in it’s own right and as a gateway to Fraser Island.
The town was named due to the Rainbow Coloured Sand dunes surrounding the settlement. OK, they are not actually rainbow coloured, but they are different shades of sand in red, orange, yellow and browns.
➡ Check out tours HERE with GYG from Rainbow Beach
Fraser Island
If there’s one natural wonder you need to visit in your lifetime, it’s K’Gari (Previously known as Fraser Island). It’s the world’s largest sand island and can be accessed from Rainbow Beach.
Fraser Island is worth visiting and was granted World Heritage Area status back in 1992. So, once you set foot on its sands, it’s easy to see why. From evolving dunes, lakes and forest systems, to unique landscapes that are unparalleled in their natural beauty.
Carlo Sand Blow
The Carlo Sand blow is a sand mass covering over 15 hectares and overlooks the Cooloola Region. From Cooloola Drive, its an easy walk up some stairs to the wooden lookout point and from there you can walk as little or a long as you want over the sand dunes.
You might be lucky enough to see some hand gliders, as it’s a great place to do this with a bit of wind. People come for the views, Sit and relax while the sun goes down or maybe bring a board for some sand tobogganing
Inskip Point
Inskip Point is a peninsula to the north of Rainbow Beach in South east Queensland. The small point is know for the camping sites, relaxed atmosphere and the endless supply of beach.
In 2011, unfortunately a large sinkhole consumed much of the beach at Inskip Point, affecting campers. The hole size estimated at 100 metres wide and 50 metres deep, but be assured there is still plenty of beach to camp.
We happened to be at Inskip Point when a small amount of sand erosion occurred in 2019, you can watch the you tube Sand Erosion clip here. Being first on scene for this one and gathered video footage, I was interviewed by a number of News stations and featured on TV for the next few days.
Wrap up!
Thanks for reading this blog today on How to get to Poona Lake for swimming near Rainbow Beach and hope you found what you were looking for. However, if you’re still researching, please find more Queensland blog post HERE to help you plan.
- How to 4WD from Rainbow Beach to Double Island Point
- Exposing the Downsides to a Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Tour
- Tips to know BEFORE planning a Queensland Road Trip
- Things to see on a Brisbane to Cairns Road trip
- 100+ Bucket List Ideas in Australia & Map
- Is Bundaberg Worth visiting & the best things to do?
- Best Australian Waterfalls you must see
