Laguna Lookout, Noosa: Location, walk & wildlife

The Laguna Lookout in Noosa National Park offers great views of Noosa, and a good chance of seeing native wildlife. It’s a short drive or a steep walk from Noosa Heads.

What is the Laguna Lookout, Noosa?

The Laguna Lookout is a scenic viewpoint in Noosa, Queensland. This Sunshine Coast lookout offers fabulous views of Laguna Bay and Noosa’s main beach.

Between June and November, the Laguna Lookout is a good place for land-based whale-watching. This is when humpback whales head to and from their breeding grounds further north.

Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into

Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.

Where is the Laguna Lookout?

The Laguna Lookout is in the headland section of the Noosa National Park. But it is not on the coast where the most popular walking trail runs. This scenic viewpoint is on the steep hill to the south-east of Noosa Heads.

The walk from Hastings Street to the Laguna Lookout is about 1.2km long, and should take roughly 20 minutes.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

How to get to the Laguna Lookout, Noosa

The walk from Noosa Heads to the Laguna Lookout is a very steep one, however. You need to go to the end of Bayview Drive, then make your way up seemingly endless steps to Viewland Drive. Turn right down to Viewland Drive, and the Laguna Lookout is at the end, just past the car park.

And that car park should be your clue to the other, much easier way up to the Laguna Lookout.

You can skip the Laguna Lookout walk in favour of simply driving up Viewland Drive, which branches off Noosa Drive.

If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?

The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.

Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.

Noosa National Park wildlife

However, skipping the Laguna Lookout walk reduces your chances of seeing the wildlife that often hangs out on the hillside. The famous Noosa National Park koalas can sometimes be seen here, while there’s also a good chance of seeing lace monitors and kookaburras.

You’ll probably hear the latter before you see them, mind.

From the lookout, you can also see the mouth of the Noosa River and the volcanic plugs that dot the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

What else should I do in Noosa?

There is loads to do in Noosa. But top choices include a Noosa Everglades cruise (BOOK HERE), water sports such as surf lessons and water biking, plus small boat tours that get you close to the local dolphin population.

Top Noosa accommodation choices include include Seahaven Noosa, Habitat Noosa and Sofitel Noosa.