WHERE ARE THE NOOSA EVERGLADES?

The Noosa Everglades are part of the Noosa River system, a 60km long majestic waterway meandering the coastal areas of south-east Queensland from the massive sand dunes in the north to its mouth near Noosa Heads.  Noosa is approximately 90 minutes by car north from Brisbane.

The Everglades form the northern upstream end of this river system located within the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park, and are renowned for their pristine and natural condition.  Throughout the Everglades, the Noosa River varies in width from just a few meters to around 70 meters, and includes sections which cross Fig Tree Lake and Lake Como.  Being largely protected from the wind by the surrounding forest, the river is mostly calm and highly suitable for exploration by canoe or kayak, or slow moving powered boats.

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Through the Everglades section of the river, its waters are stained dark from the tannin leached from surrounding Tea Trees, which makes the water surface shinny and highly reflective, giving rise to its local nickname of "The River Of Mirrors".

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE NOOSA EVERGLADES

The Noosa Everglades are only accessible on foot or by boat.  The only vehicle access into this area, apart from emergency vehicles, is the public camp ground at Harrys Hut, but this is regarded as being several kilometers north of the most appealing sight-seeing sections of the river.  Several walking trails also enter this area but they allow only restricted viewing of limited parts of the waterways and foreshore area.

Without any doubt, the Noosa Everglades should be experienced by boat.  And it is precisely this aspect which keeps visitor numbers relatively low and which thus helps to mimimise impact and to conserve and preserve this area in its absolute natural state.  The Noosa Everglades are rich in flora and fauna, and have remained relatively unchanged for centuries.

WHAT IS AN EVERGLADES?

It is said and written that there are only two EVERGLADES in the world, the renowned Florida Everglades located in the southern end of that state of the USA and our very own Everglades just north of Noosa Heads.

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The defining characteristics of both of these Everglades regions can include the following:

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• a tract of low lying and swampy land, featured with clumps of tall grass and numerous branching waterways

• comprise of a complex system of interdependent ecosystems with subtle or imperceptible borders, which shift, grow and shrink, die, or reappear within years or decades under the influence of the climate

• include a vast area of normally very slow moving and brackish water draining through a river system into a lake or the sea - the river system is spotted with small islands and numerous waterway branches

• rainfall catchment area contained primarily within a national park

• being remote and located within a protected area, the Everglades is a haven for a vast variety of animals, plants and fish

• climates are sub-tropical with similar annual temperature ranges (10-30C) and rainfall (160-170cm) across the year

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The major noted differences between the two EVERGLADES regions would include size (Noosa is just a fraction of the 20,000 sq klm Florida Everglades), the absence of crocodiles in Noosa, and the lack of ecological and development problems in Noosa which have plagued the Florida Everglades since first discovery up to the current day.

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In various respects the Noosa Everglades remain unique and special, and will remain so!

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