| Cost | See Camps App |
|---|---|
| Location | Rainbow Beach, Queensland – Bymien Picnic Area, Freshwater Track off Rainbow Beach Road |
| Pet Friendly | See Camps App |
| Campfires | See Camps App |
| Facilities | Picnic area at trailhead; 2.1km walking track to lake with sandy beach |
| Vehicle Access | Drive to Bymien Picnic Area on Freshwater Track |
| In Camps App | Yes – Bymien Picnic Area and nearby camping options |
We love Poona Lake. Like K’gari Fraser Island lakes, you’ll see rainforest tower above ancient sand dunes – it’s a rare heritage marvel! It is a short, shaded walk into a gorgeous hidden wonder, beloved by locals and visitors.
Poona Lake is the largest of its kind in Cooloola, 12 hectares of water!
Perched lakes are the most common here and form from a ‘saucer’ of organic matter makes a depression in the dunes. Then, water collects and a lake is born.
As you enter the water, it is crystal clear. Then at a couple of metres – pitch black! And deep and it can be refreshingly icy cold.
History wise, you are in the Kabi people land, and “poona” means bloodwood tree. However, it wasn’t added to a map until 1862. William Pettigrew one of the first timber getters is thought to be the first white man to see it.
Drive to Bymien Picnic Area – on the Freshwater Track, off Rainbow Beach Road. You’ll see the sign for the Dundathu circuit, continue on – it is 2.1 km to the lake.
Bring: joggers, hat, swim shirt, towel, camera, water and snacks – or even a picnic!
I love the geography of the place. You start right in the rainforest. The cicadas were SO loud there this week!
Walk through kauri and hoop pines – remnants of the logging era with three kilogram seed cones. There’s strangler figs, piccabeen palms, lilly pilly, Elkhorn and staghorn ferns, moss and fungi, macrozamias or cycads. Stop, look up and check out the canopy.
You might see or hear lace monitors, whip bird, blue wren, wompoo pigeons and noisy pittas. The catbirds made a weird sound! Our visitors thought it was a koala! The scenery changes remarkably as you move into carrol scrub or grey myrtle.
The scribbly gums are fun to spot. In this part of the forest – look out for zig zags on tree trunks. These burrowing patterns are from the larvae of the scribbly gum moths. and would you believe that of each of the six species have their own distinctive signature!
Finally, you reach the sandy beach, edged with reeds and sedges. It is the tannins leaching from paperbark teatrees, or melaleucas, that give the tea colour to the lake. Multi talented, tannins are toxic chemicals that deter insects from trees, with health giving oils and the leaves are used in cooking!
Look out for minnows, tortoises, ducks and dab chicks.
Poona Lake is linked to the Cooloola Great Walk – with a controversial plan to open the walk up to cabins on the other side of the lake and guided tours. You can opt for a 9 km walk back to Rainbow Beach (via the Carlo Sandblow) or walk all the way to Noosa from here! It’s 5 days and 102 km long!
This 4 km return is enough for me, it really is a ‘must do’ when you are in Rainbow Beach. You’ll find the Bymien Picnic Area in the CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App.
Camp at Poverty Point, Inskip Point, Freshwater Campground or Teewah Beach National Park sites or choose from 2 caravan parks in Carlo Point BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks or Rainbow Beach Holiday Village right in town. Find them in the new CAMPS Pendium, CAMPS 11 book and Caravan Parks Guides. And and CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App.
Download the Camps App for iPhone/iPad or Android
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Poona Lake?
Drive to Bymien Picnic Area on the Freshwater Track, off Rainbow Beach Road. Look for the sign for the Dundathu circuit and continue on – it’s 2.1 km walk to the lake from there.
How long is the walk to Poona Lake?
It’s a 4 km return walk (2.1 km each way) from the Bymien Picnic Area to Poona Lake. The track is shaded and takes you through rainforest.
Can you swim in Poona Lake?
Yes, you can swim in Poona Lake. The water is crystal clear near the shore but becomes pitch black at a couple of metres depth. It can be refreshingly icy cold and the lake is quite deep.
What should I bring to Poona Lake?
Bring joggers (walking shoes), hat, swim shirt, towel, camera, water and snacks – or even a picnic! The walk goes through rainforest before reaching the sandy beach area.
Where can I camp near Poona Lake?
You can camp at Poverty Point, Inskip Point, Freshwater Campground or Teewah Beach National Park sites. There are also 2 caravan parks in Carlo Point: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks or Rainbow Beach Holiday Village in town. Find them in the Camps App.
What is a perched lake?
Perched lakes are the most common type in Cooloola. They form from a ‘saucer’ of organic matter that makes a depression in the sand dunes, then water collects and a lake is born. Poona Lake is the largest of its kind in Cooloola at 12 hectares.
What wildlife might I see at Poona Lake?
You might see or hear lace monitors, whip birds, blue wrens, wompoo pigeons, noisy pittas and catbirds along the walk. At the lake, look out for minnows, tortoises, ducks and dab chicks.
What does ‘Poona’ mean?
You are on Kabi people land, and ‘poona’ means bloodwood tree. The lake wasn’t added to a map until 1862, when timber getter William Pettigrew is thought to be the first white man to see it.
