Heart Week celebrated by Walkers

Maggie Travers

HEART WEEK is held annually in the first week of May. The Heart Foundation recommends 3 simple steps to keep your heart healthy: 1.Measure blood pressure. 2. Calculate heart age. 3. Book a Heart Health Check. If you are 45 and over, or 30 and over for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islanders, you can have a Heart Health Check with your GP that is subsidised by Medicare (until 30 June 2025).

The Heart Foundation Walking 2023 Calendar for the month of May featured a photo taken and submitted by local Melissa of some of the ‘One Step at a Time Tin Can Bay’ walkers and dogs treading the path towards the seat and picnic shelters overlooking the Bay and yachts.

To promote Heart Week plus the joy and benefits of walking, Gympie Regional Council posted on their Facebook page, a video produced by Artist-In-Residence, Leeroy Todd of our combined HF Cooloola Coast Walking groups.

The weather was perfect, the tide was in, and we enjoyed walking/ wheelie walking the Tin Can Bay Boardwalk and foreshore, plus coffee after at the Tin Can Bay Bakery. Do watch us gathered together having fun: search for it on the GRC Facebook page, or use the link included with this article on the Rainbow Beach Community News website.

‘Cooloola Cove Wheelie Walkers’ enjoyed the Boardwalk so much, we designated the last Friday of the month’s walk to be the TCB Boardwalk, with a picnic afterwards in Norman Point.

Welcome to three new members of our Heart Foundation Walking: Nicki, Liz and Brett. Great to have your cheery company.

Congratulations to both Verna Newman and Mike Happy for achieving your 100th officially recorded walk with Heart Foundation. Your badge, award certificate, and discount voucher are in the mail.

From Saturday 3 June, the ‘One Step at a Time Tin Can Bay’ early group departs Tin Can Bay Bakery at 7am, whereas the later group is half an hour later, at 7.30am - Saturdays and Wednesdays. ‘Cooloola Cove Wheelie Walkers’ meeting time now is 9am Mondays and Fridays at the Nautilus Drive Bus Shelter outside the Cooloola Cove Shopping Centre.

Walk Yourself Happy! Welcome to join us. Contact Judy Kiddle in Cooloola Cove on 5486 2181 or myself (Maggie Travers) on 0400 756 615.

Must See and Dos

Patrolled Beach

Swim in the flags in front of the Surf Lifesaving tower. Walk via the steps or walkway near the lookout and surf club, or drive onto Griffin Esplanade. 4WD beach access begins here.

Coloured Sands

Visit the patrolled beach, near the surf tower or the lookout to see the 70 plus colours in our cliffs. From town, walk south 1km along the beach - for best colours 4WD or tour a further 9km. Remember it is a gazetted road.

Carlo Sand Blow

Park at the top of Cooloola Drive, and walk 600m up from the car park or bushwalk about 2km from the National Parks Office for spectacular views of the Coloured Sands, Double Island Point, Tin Can Bay Inlet and hang gliders.

Poona Lake

Drive to Bymien Picnic Area (2WD) via 3km gravel on the Freshwater Road, (off Rainbow Beach Road). It’s a 40 minute walk to reach the cool waters of Lake Poona through beautiful rainforest and carrol (grey myrtle) scrub.

Searys Creek

Only 7km from town towards Gympie, with 2 waterholes, boardwalks, bridges and history – do read the sign and spot the creatures. Always cool on the hottest of days.

Rainbow Beach Headland

A look out, a viewing platform, 2 playgrounds, a skatepark, BBQs and picnic facilities. See the whales from here in season and watch the surfers out the front. Take a photo at the Cherry Venture propeller.

Double Island Point

Access via the 4WD only Great Beach Drive or Freshwater Track. See dolphins, whales (seasonal), manta rays, turtles and walk up to our historic lighthouse. It has the longest break in Australia -when the swell lines up.

Mudlo Rocks

Wander here at low tide, play in rock pools and watch 4WDs navigate any exposed rocks. ALWAYS check conditions and ask locals before you 4WD - it is not always safe, even close to low tide.

Middle Rock

When tides and conditions allow, the walk to Middle Rock and back is a beautiful way to check out the Coloured Sands. From here, vehicle permits are required and dogs are prohibited.

Inskip Point

This peninsula is the gateway to Fraser Island, a favourite fishing spot and pet friendly camping grounds for generations. Only 15 minutes drive (2WD) from Rainbow Beach.

Freshwater Picnic Area

Walk to and swim in nearby Freshwater Lake, picnic or BBQ at the beautiful shady day-use area, found before Freshwater Road reaches Teewah Beach. 4WD only.

Tin Can Bay Foreshore

Walk 4km from Crab Creek to Norman Point, over picturesque bridges, signage of flora and fauna, through mangroves, playgrounds and outdoor gyms. It is mostly flat and very safe for children on wheels. Look out for 137 species of birds.

Tin Can Bay Wildflower Walk

Known for spectacular wildflower species, access this trail from the corner of Emperor St and Oyster Parade. Best in late winter and early spring.

Boat Ramps

You can launch your boat at Norman Point and Crab Creek in Tin Can Bay or Carlo Point and Bullock Point near Rainbow Beach. All except Bullock Point offer toilet and scenic picnic facilities.

Feed Wild Dolphins at Norman Point

Arrive from 7am, after feeding (fees apply), the dolphins leave for another day. A picturesque peninsula with public pool, playground, sailing, boat ramp and pontoon and picnic facilities.

Carlo Point

For spectacular sunsets over the water, take a cheese platter or fish and chips and watch the day’s end. This favourite fishing spot is only 3 km from Rainbow Beach.

Rainbow Steps

Reputably Rainbow Beach’s most ‘Instaworthy’ location - check out our colourful stairs and share a photo on our socials.

Great Sandy Strait

If you love the wonderful peace and relaxation of sailing or cruising, the sheltered waters around Tin Can Bay are for you. You may see dugong, turtles, dolphins in this section of the Great Sandy Marine Park.

Fraser and Cooloola Great Walks

A 90 km trail showcases natural and cultural features of the world’s largest sand island between Dilli Village and Happy Valley. Or trek 102 km from Noosa to Rainbow Beach through sandblows, past lakes and spectacular views.

Fraser Island K’gari

World heritage listed, K’gari has over 40 lakes, rainforests, sand dunes, wildlife, four wheel driving and fishing! Take a 1 or 2 day tour, hire a 4WD or take your own. Cross the barge at Inskip Point, permits are online or at the Parks Office.