Coolum Beach north

Coolum Beach north is the off-leash stretch of sand around Stumers Creek, best understood through its main entry point: Beach Access 67. Dogs get a designated off-leash zone on the beach itself, and the creek mouth alongside it gives paddlers and swimmers a calm-water option that few ocean beaches can offer. The whole setup is serviced from one large free car park, which is why locals treat this as the working dog beach for Coolum.

Leash status

The off-leash area covers the beach between Access 67 and Access 72 under Sunshine Coast Council's dog exercise rules, so once you are on the sand in that stretch your dog can run free. The access route itself, from the car park to the beach, is on-leash under the council's updated dog access rules that took effect on 3 July 2026, so keep the lead on until you are north of Access 67 and clip it back on for the walk out.

Water and terrain

Entering at Access 67 puts you straight at the Stumers Creek mouth, which is the real draw. The creek mixes fresh and salt water and runs shallow, suiting dogs that want a paddle and a splash without surf. Low tide widens the sandy expanse and leaves calm shallows in the creek, while the creek mouth itself shifts with the tides, so the swimming hole moves around a little from visit to visit. Out on the open beach there is plenty of running room, and natural shade on the sand is limited, so plan for sun.

Max: the car park fills fast on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 8 and 10. Arrive early or you will be parking well back along the road and walking further than you planned.

Getting there and parking

Turn off David Low Way via Stumers Creek Road to the large free car park at Stumers Creek. The pathway from the car park to the off-leash zone is direct, with public toilets, outdoor showers and dog waste bag dispensers positioned at this access hub before you reach the sand.

When to go

Early mornings are the quietest and coolest window, and weekends before 8am beat the car park rush. Low tide is the best water condition for creek paddling and the widest beach run. Summer middays are hot with little shade, so bring water for both of you.

While you're out there

The Stumers Creek Dog Offleash Area listing covers the parkland side of the creek if you want grass underfoot as well as sand, and the Coolum to Point Arkwright Foreshore Trail starts close by for an on-leash leg stretch. For coffee afterwards, Rock Hop Espresso and Coolum Corner both welcome dogs.

More options are on the Queensland dog beaches guide and the Coolum Beach destination page.