Currimundi Lake to Point Cartwright walk via Buddina Beach

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Follow the beach or Coastal Pathway between 2 great spots

This walk on the Sunshine Coast is 10 km from the Currimundi Lake Reserve to Point Cartwright . Much of the walk can be done via the Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway through bushland, but most walkers prefer to stick to the beaches with the Coastal Pathway being better for cyclists. Overall a lovely walk without too many people around with the beginning and end being nice places to relax.



Crummunda Park

Effectively the walk starts in Crummunda Park, which is a lovely little lakeside park with picnic shelters and barbecues. The path leads from the park into Currimundi Lake Reserve, but you might start the walk closer to the reserve or even in the suburb of Currimundi on the other side of Currimundi Lake and walk across the sand bar at low tide.



Currimundi Lake Reserve

This a lovely bit of bushland that borders on northern side of Currimundi Lake and the sand bar on the beach. The reserve is actually in the suburb of Wurtulla and not in Currimundi. But you can walk across the bar at low tide to Currimundi where there is a patrolled beach.



Most families with young kids will stick to the calm waters of the lake, and it is also a popular spot for kayakers and paddleboarders. It is less crowded than the better-known beaches and creeks where there are more cafes and shops nearby. So this is a spot for people trying to the crowds and bustle of the more popular places nearby.



The reserve is a nice spot to explore, but it doesn't link directly to the Coastal Pathway track, so you either have to walk along the beach or through the suburbs to get to the coastal pathway itself. There is a section of the walk that leads up to the reserve, and the next section starts at Bokarina Boulevard, though a cycle path starts at the end of Park Haven Drive.



The Walk North

The coastal pathway here is not that interesting or even pleasant for walkers. The mostly white concrete pathway reflects light and heat back up, and currently, there is not much tree coverage, though this is likely to change over time as the trees grow taller.



I don't want to sound too negative about the pathway though. For cyclists, scooter riders or skateboarders, the coastal pathway is great, and it creates a nice link along this section of the Sunshine Coast. You will see more people on wheels of all kinds on the path than walkers.



I should point out that some parts of the track are actually pretty nice, with boardwalks and tree cover. But it is the exception not the rule for this path. Of course, if you are reading this in the future, even with hoverboards and AI overlords, I am sure you will find the now-shaded walk much more lovely than back in the primitive days of 2025.



But for most people it is just much better to stick to the beach. The nature of the beach means that unless it is at the peak of high tide, walking is usually pleasant on hard-packed sand, though it is better to choose low tide to do this walk. I should also mention that the whole beach is dog-friendly and most areas allow dogs to be off the leash. This also makes walking on the beach a joy for your dogs as well.



While it is officially multiple beaches, in reality, it is just one long stretch of beach from Currimundi Lake to Point Cartwright. Kawana Beach is the most popular as it is near shops, cafes and restaurants. This might be a good spot to stop for coffee and snacks if that is your inclination.



If you are walking along the coastal pathway instead of the beach, there are spots to stop and enjoy the view. This includes some open sections as well as benches to sit and rest. But overall these are pretty exposed and not used often except maybe at sunrise.



From Kawana Beach the path changes and instead of being in coastal bushland it is either going through parks or along the side of the road. While this isn't too bad, again it is another reason to stick to the beach than the path.



At Buddina Beach you begin to get cliffs and at the northern end you will see rocks and of course, Point Cartwright . Walking up on the cliffs gives you some nice views, and during whale migration season keep a watch for whale-watching boats as it is likely that there will be whales nearby.



Point Cartwright

The rocky headland of Point Cartwright features a lighthouse and mural-painted water tower and is a nice end to the walk and makes a nice place to visit even without the walk. You can keep going a little further if you want.



From Point Cartwright, you have views south along the beach, as well as over north towards Mooloolaba and out to sea. This, along with the bushland, parkland and beach makes this a great spot to rest at the end of a walk.



During whale season look out to sea where you are likely to see whales. An easy way to spot them is to look for when the whales blow on the surface, but an easier way is to look for the whale-watching boats that leave from Mooloolaba. They use spotters to find the whales for the boats, and humpback whales are curious so they come up around boats. Also if you see someone with binoculars or a big camera lens, go up and ask if they have seen anything.



There is also an open parkland area on Point Cartwright and a lovely little rocky beach just below the northern side of the cliffs. So the area is worth walking around and exploring. The beach is popular with kids who enjoy exploring the rock pools.



At the very end of Point Cartwright, there is the Mooloolah River. You can walk out to the end of the Rock Wall along the river and it is a popular spot for fish. There is also a pathway along the river if you want to keep walking.



Beyond Point Cartwright

Following the river, you end up at La Balsa Park. This is the end of this section of the Coastal Pathway, though you can continue on through suburban streets to connect to the next section of the pathway. There is now also a private ferry that goes from La Balsa Bark to Mooloolaba if you want to use it to cross the river.



Getting there and away

Getting to the southern end of the walk is easy. There is plenty of parking in that area and buses stop at Crummunda Park. Point Cartwright though lacks public transport other than the new and fairly expensive private ferry that can take you from La Balsa Park to Mooloolaba. The key problem really is that you can't just walk there and take the bus back. The nearest buses are 3.1 km away from Point Cartwright at Kawana Shopping Centre, making the overall walking distance 13 km, unless you take a taxi or rideshare back to start.

Overall

The Coastal Pathway from Currimundi Lake is a nice cycle path but a just okay walking path, but it is one of the best places to walk on the beach on the Sunshine Coast. Even better if you are a dog walker. The 2 ends are also great, and it is what makes the walk really worth it. It is a pity about the lack of buses near Point Cartwright, but the new private ferry could be quite useful.

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