There are more than 4.2 million pet dogs in Australia with 39% of households owning one and that figure was pre-covid times. There are many more now. If you are visiting the dog friendly Sunshine Coast, put Stumers Creek Coolum at the top of your to do list. Stumers Creek is the premier dog friendly beach Coolum and yes it is an off-leash area. Stumers is also a great Coolum picnic spot and the only one that is off-leash.
Aussies value beach-time and want to share it with their four legged friends. Just walking the dog for half an hour daily is said to improve fitness, lower blood pressure, build stronger muscles/bones, lower stress levels and give you that lovin’ life feeling.
Read about Sunshine Coast Dog Friendly Cafes, Restaurants and bars here.
105 km north of Brisbane is the drop dead gorgeous string of Queensland beaches known as the Sunshine Coast. The local Council has dedicated off-leash areas of which approximately 20 are located on beaches. Coolum, midway along the Coast and where we happen to live, has it’s own off-leash area at Stumers Creek Coolum.
Dog owners are the friendliest people in the world after five years I can assure that Stumers Dog people certainly are friendly.
If you are looking for dog friendly accommodation Sunshine Coast for Easter 2021.
Dog Friendly Beach Coolum
An off-leash dog beach on the Sunshine Coast, like the one at Stumers Creek, is a great place to meet people and make friends. All that is required is to say hello to their furry friend.
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We first came to Stumers in the year 2000 when it hosted the Coolum International Kite Festival. We were visiting with our kids in September School holidays and watching those huge kites was a fabulous and thankfully free activity. Bring Back the Kites!
Stumers Creek Coolum
Stumers Creek is a mangrove creek. At times the mouth is open and water flows freely into the ocean. At other times sand closes the mouth and Stumers becomes a lake. The local council sometimes uses earth moving equipment to open the mouth so that the creek can drain.
Shortly after the car park the creek divides into two, with the southern branch of the creek leading beneath a bridge on the David Low Way.
Looking upstream from the Stumers or Coolum dog beach with the car park at the back left of photo.
Stumers Creek Car Park
The sealed Stumers Creek Road leads from David Low Way, to Stumers Creek. Where it meets the creek there is a turning area and parking places, but overnight camping is not allowed. Facilities are well maintained with a sign-posted carpark, grassed shady park, picnic tables and toilet/shower amenities.
All beach accesses on the Coast are numbered – the off-leash area runs from Access 67 to 72.
Stumers Public Dog Wash
The dog wash area with hose at the entrance to the beach is well utilised.
Where is Stumers Creek Coolum
Stumers Creek is on the northern outskirts of Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Turn right 1 km north of Coolum into Stumers Creek Road which terminates in a creek-side carpark. I must pre-warn you that the turnoff is a little hard to see from the south – I’ve driven past it several times and it’s not always easy to get back.
By road it is:
- 20 minutes south of Noosa.
- 1 hour 22 minutes north of Brisbane Airport.
- 22 minutes east of Yandina Markets.
- 18 minutes east of Mt. Ninderry.
If the Creek Carpark is full, backtrack to one of the other beach accesses.
Beach Access 70 on Stumers Creek Road.
Stumers Creek Fishing
Fishing is popular in the Stumers off-leash area. There is Beach fishing for Dart and Whiting using live beach worms (an art in itself) for bait.
In Stumers Creek, Mangrove Jacks are caught in the early morning and late afternoon. Beneath the bridge and around fallen trees are popular spots to find Jacks using slabs of mullet, live bait, soft plastics and lures for bait.
Could this be the real Hairy Maclary.
Budget Travel Tips – Off Leash Dog Beach Coolum
Off-Leash Areas are free.
Pet owners must be able to control their pets with verbal or other commands while they are off leash.
Dogs must be on leash in the car park area.
Doggy Bags are available at beach entrances. Rubbish Bins are provided near the Dog wash station.
We choose to live at Coolum Beach but choose the best sunshine beach for you here.
What is your favourite Sunshine Coast Dog Friendly Beach?
Thanks for reading and commenting – we really appreciate it. If you have a blog, please add a travel post to the link below for Nancie’s Travel Photo Thursday which we co-host with Ruth from Tanama Tales and Rachel from Rachel’s Ruminations.
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What a fun post! Brings back fond memories of enjoyable days with my own dogs at the beach. They always became so excited the moment the hit the sand. There was no question that the beach was a delight to them. Living overseas, as I do now, I can no longer keep dogs but still love them.
Gorgeous photos Jan and adorable pooches as well! We have several beaches here on the Gold Coast at Tallebudgera, Palm Beach and The Spit at Main Beach that are dog friendly. I walk our puppy most mornings along our beach at Burleigh Heads with a little time off the leash to have a swim. It is well before surf patrol time so we can fit in a nice walk before the flags go up. I would love to bring our puppy to Coolum. Maybe next trip! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Great photo’s!! I love a dog friendly beach. I’ve been to this beach but not with my dog. That’s because most beach holidays we have with our dog are at my brother-in-law’s beach house at Caloundra – so we go to dog friendly beaches around there, like Moffat Beach or Currimundi Beach. Must take her to Stumers Beach next time we’re up the Sunshine Coast! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Let me know if you want some non doggy company on the walk Min.
We do have a dog beach near us and I love watching all the dogs having a good time. It’s great to have this facility in Australia, and very sensible.
It looks lovely, haven’t been to Coolum for at least 5 years. Cute pup too!
This dog beach looks fabulous. Our pooch would love it too. Great photos Jan! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Looks like a fun day in the sun! Love going to the beach… only a few more months till Summer here in USA. : )
We’ve just said goodbye to Summer here in Australia. Of course the weather here in Queensland is still mild.
Great pics! Gotta love a good dog beach. We have beach dogs and we have our fave beaches on the NSW South Coast.
This looks like a doggie paradise! When I was growing up, we had 4 dogs and we used to take them to undeveloped beaches. This post reminds me of how much fun our dogs used to have. #TPThursday
Wow Ruth, 4 dogs would have great fun together on the beach.
Heaven for dogs and their owners! I love that they also have a dog wash area 🙂
I adore Hairy McClary! What an unattractive and yet strangely appealing dog. Mine would start a fight unfortunately.
I love that Hairy McClary dog. You would have to keep your trouble makers at home lol.