OVERVIEW

We have canoes and kayaks available for casual hire on Lake Cootharaba, starting and ending from the lake foreshore area at Boreen Point.

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If you are wanting to do a day or overnight paddling trip to the NOOSA EVERGLADES, please see separate details here. 

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If you wish to paddle elsewhere away from our operational area, we can deliver canoes and kayaks to these locations or you may collect and transport them yourselves.

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Please contact us to make an enquiry or to book.

PRICES (A$)

These are our PER PERSON casual hire rates for paddling on Lake Cootharaba or taking our canoes and kayaks to other locations:

AVAILABILITY & LOCATION

• Canoe and kayak hire is normally available out of Boreen Point every day of the year, subject to weather conditions and other factors

• Our designated base for these hires is the foreshore area of Lake Cootharaba.  You will see our sign in the parkland area opposite 16 Boreen Parade, Boreen Point, just a short distance south of the Coffee Tribe Cafe.  If you can't find us, give us a call

• We suggest you book in advance because we may not be operational every day or through the whole day, though if you have last minute arrangements please just contact us to check availability and weather conditions

• We open from sunrise and encourage early hires as this is when there's generally less wind and therefore calmer paddling conditions

WHAT'S INVOLVED

• We encourage early starts in order to help get the best paddling conditions, and thus we aim to meet you here at the lakefront in  Boreen Point at 7am.  We do open from sunrise so if you'd like to arrive earlier, please just talk to us about this

• Together we unload your boats - canoes or kayaks - and then load these ready to depart

• Next we provide you with detailed briefings on where to go and what to see, map reading, landmark identification, paddling and boat handling techniques and emergency procedures - all intended to help ensure your trip into the Everglades is safe and enjoyable

• Most hires are provided with GPS tracking devices, enabling us to remotely monitor your progress - in the event of any issues we will attempt to remotely advise and assist you

• We will normally recommend your paddling route, including places to stop through the hire period, based on your specific interests

• At some designated time or location you will start your return paddle back to the departure point, where we will normally meet you and assist with the unpacking and tidying up

OUR CANOES

We use Canadian style canoes, which are ideally suited to the lakes and rivers in this area, with both 2-seater (4.4m) and 3-seater (4.9m) versions made from three-layer linear polyethylene technology.  The 3-seater model is pictured above, with a large carrying capacity and ideal for 2-3 people and overnight trips requiring extra gear.

These are lightweight and strong, and suitable for transporting on roof-racks for those wanting to launch away from our hire points.

OUR KAYAKS

We only use top-of-the-range Ocean Kayak brand kayaks, as Australia's most popular and successful sit-on-top kayaks and the world's leading sit-on-top brand. These boats are proudly made in New Zealand and since their innovative debut in 1971, Ocean Kayak models are considered amongst the most stable and safest kayaks on the market.

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Pictured above is our double paddler kayak, the "Cabo" model (5.0m), with a seating capacity for two paddlers and a jump-seat passenger.  Pictured below is our single paddler kayak, the "Prowler Ultra 4.3" (4.3m)

TO SEE & DO

On & Around Lake Cootharaba:

• Teewah Landing, on the eastern shore of the lake

• Teewah Landing to Teewah Village walking trail - giving access to the Noosa Northshore beaches, this is the magnificant Coral Sea

• Teewah to Mt Seawah walking trail

• Cooloothin Creek, on the south-eastern shore of the lake

• Swimming the foreshore area at Elanda Point

• Circumnavigating and exploring the lake edges, shallows and foreshore areas

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The Northern End of the Lake:

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• The Kinaba Information Centre -  with its static displays, posters and maps offers useful and interesting details about the area

• An elevated circular walkway through the mangroves near to the Information Centre

• To venture upstream of Kinaba you will need to book for our Everglades trips, refer here for more details

The Southern End of the Lake and Beyond:

• Noosa River section to Lake Cooroibah

• Lake Coorobah

• Noosa River section downstream to Tewantin

• Noosa River section to Noosaville

• Noosa River section to Noosa Heads

WHAT WE SUPPLY

• Canoes or kayaks, with paddles (2 or 3 people per canoe)

• PFDs (bouyancy vests) - mandatory for the kids

• Accurate maps

• Detailed briefings on a suggested route to follow and places to stop, map reading, landmarks and emergency procedures

• Instruction on paddling techniques and general boat handling​

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

• Your picnic basket - food, drink and snacks for the day (at least 2-3L of water per person, for a full day)

• Consider esky (more practical in canoes)

• Hat

• Sunscreen

• Insect repellant

• Light, comfortable sunsafe clothing

• Spray/fleecy jacket - in case of wind or rain

• Swimming costume & towel

• Footwear - thongs are OK

• Camera

• Mobile phone (just in case)

• Optionally, fishing gear

CANOE OR KAYAK?

Generally speaking:

• Seating structures in canoes tend to be solid and more supportive of the paddlers' backs, and thus to be more comfortable for a day's outing - they are also more raised allowing you to sit with your legs bent as if sitting in a chair

• Canoes tend to better cater for the storage of gear - they have more space than kayaks and it is all easily accessible

• Canoes tend to offer better protection from small waves and the wash from any passing boats

• Canoes can be used with either single or double bladed paddles while kayaks generally require the double blades, and experienced paddlers can cover more water using double blades

• Kayaks are affected less by the breeze because they have lower sides than canoes - however 90% of the Upper Noosa River is relatively narrow and protected from the breeze so wind is mostly not an issue while on the river

• Our kayaks have a rudder which is controlled using foot pedals by the paddler closest to the stern. This can be an advantage in terms of steering, though manouvering canoes by paddles is also easy after you have been given some basic instruction

Overall, the choice usually comes down to a trade-off between comfort and ease of paddling because essentially the seating in canoes is more comfortable and spacious while the kayaks are more efficient through the water and therefore slightly faster to paddle ... but then again, who's in a hurry?

SAFETY

Your comfort and safety are our primary concerns at all times. You need to be aware that all outdoor adventure activities carry an element of risk and that you need to be in reasonable health to partake in a day of outdoor activity. For your information:

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• As with any on-water activity, weather plays a very significant factor in the level of comfort and safety you can expect during any hire or trip with us, and so we encourage you to check weather forecasts a few days in advance of any booking and to discuss any concerns with us.  Pay particular notice of the expected wind strength and direction through the day noting that wind strength is normally at its lowest in the early mornings and gathers through the day - this is why we mostly recommend early starts for all hires.  Remember, you are free to cancel or postpone any booking with us for any reason and at any time - we are very understanding about these matters

• Mobile phones usually work on Lake Cootharaba and the higher hills which fringe this area, but will be intermittent or non-existent on the Noosa River and at most of the camping areas  

• If ever needed, your best source of immediate assistance on the water is probably any passing commercial tour boat and the general boating public

• We have a rescue boat and will come to your assistance if called

• General and emergency vehicle access is available into the Harrys Hut camp area

• National Park rangers do patrol the area at times - both on the water and at the riverside camp sites

• For most hires we can provide GPS trackers for added safety and convenience, at no cost

• Our pre-departure briefings will alert you to some other matters of safety and some of the actions you should and should not take on these trips

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Your involvement in any of our trips, tours and hires is subject to our General Terms & Conditions, and any other specific hire agreement we may execute with you.