Lake Macdonald Amphitheatre & Noosa Botanic Gardens, Cooroy

One of the Sunshine Coast’s least known attractions is Noosa Botanic gardens located on the shores of Lake Macdonald, a short drive from the hinterland town of Cooroy – about 25km from The Rise Noosa.

The gardens comprise 8 hectares of native and exotic plant species, within which, you’ll find an open air bush chapel, fern house, lily pond, large lawn areas and winding paths leading to picnic areas and a Grecian style amphitheatre. All of this is surrounded by an abundance of wildlife. 

Originally farmland, the site was resumed by Council in the late 1950s and part of it used to create the Lake Macdonald water supply. 

Surprisingly, the site where the gardens are situated was used as an unofficial rubbish tip. After a great deal of preparation and work the Noosa Botanic Gardens officially opened to the public in August 1990.