We operate within the Noosa River and the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park, in South-East Queensland's Sunshine Coast area.  Our operations base is at Boreen Point, on the shores of Lake Cootharaba, the largest lake in the Noosa River system.

 

To help visitors gain the most from their visits, we have compiled a list of interesting activities and things to do on and around the local lakes and rivers.  Click here for information on our lake and river exploration trips.

 

THE NOOSA RIVER & LAKES SYSTEM

 

The Noosa River is a 60 km long aquatic corridor that extends from its primary source deep within the Great Sandy National Park, down through the tanin-stained waters of the Noosa Everglades, into the semi-fresh waters of Lake Cootharaba and through Lake Cooroibah, before it snakes its way past residential areas, the popular boat hire and waterfront restaurants of historic Tewantin, Noosaville and Noosa Heads.  The river meets the South Pacific Ocean at Laguna Bay near Noosa.

 

THE GREAT SANDY NATIONAL PARK

 

The Park comprises two sections - The K'gari section in the north which essentially covers Fraser Island and the nearby two Woody Islands is about 184,000 ha, while the Cooloola Section in the south - also known as the Cooloola Recreation Area - covers an area of approximately 62,000 ha. This section stretches south from Rainbow Beach to Noosa North Shore, and provides a haven for indigenous flora and fauna threatened by urban development and is characterised by open heathland, banksia woodlands, dry sclerophyll forest of scribbly gum and blackbutt, rainforest, coloured sand cliffs, attractive and extensive beaches, a plenitude of birdlife, including sea eagles, and the freshwater lakes, mangrove wetlands and tributaries associated with the Noosa River.

 

Great Sandy National Park incorporates and preserves the largest tract of natural land on Queensland¹s southern coast and the largest intact sand dune system in the world.

 

THE NOOSA EVERGLADES

 

The tannin-stained waters of the upper Noosa River are often called the River of Mirrors for their startling reflections. Further up, the waters of the Everglades are covered in a canopy of dense vegetation and mangroves, and the waters filled with fish, frogs and large populations of waterbirds.

 

Find out more about this rare environment at the Kinaba Information Centre, an interpretive centre that is built on the boardwalk above wetlands. Visit the historic Harry's Hut and set up camp or head further up river to one of the many camping spots accessible only by water vessel.

 

BOREEN POINT & LAKE COOTHARABA

 

The village of Boreen Point sits on a small peninsula surrounded on 3 sides by Lake Cootharaba and bordered by the rural hinterland areas. Boreen Point is the only residential area on Lake Cootharaba and is a comfortable 1.5 hour drive north of Brisbane. It's a 15 minute drive to Tewantin from the village and 25 minutes to Hastings Street in Noose Heads.

 

Lake Cootharaba is the largest coastal lake in Queensland. It stretches about 10 klms long by about 5 klms wide, to the high sand dunes on Noosa's North Shore and its sweeping beaches. It is bordered by The Great Sandy National Park, a pristine water catchment area forming the headwaters of the Noosa River system and is home to the famous Noosa Everglades, with its mirrored waters. There are colored sand cliffs, and a sandblow, freshwater lakes, tall forests, paperbark swamps and wildflower heath plains. The Lake is popular for sailing, fishing, swimming, wind surfing, kite surfing and canoeing. There is a Council Camping ground on the foreshore, a sailing club, general store, cafe, and the historic Appollonian Hotel.

 

NOOSA BIOSPHERE

 

The Noosa Biosphere Reserve, an area comprising our terrestrial and coastal/marine ecosystems, was formally established by UNESCO on 20 September, 2007 in recognition of and to further promote the balanced relationship existing between the local community and the environment.  There is an amazingly strong and very genuine sense of respect and pride held by the local community for the pristine environment we are blessed with.  For more information on the Biosphere Reserve, refer to the Council website and the Noosa Biosphere Association's website.

 

As part of Noosa Council's bid to win world environmental recognition, an independent biodiversity study in 2005 found that the Noosa Shire had significantly more plant and bird species than the Yosemite National Park World Heritage Area in the USA, and the Kakadu National Park in northern Australia.  "In brief, the report showed that Noosa has one of the most amazing environments in which to live on the whole planet."

 

 

Many people are unaware of the wide range and variety of attractions and things to do, on and around the Noosa River and Lakes.  All of the following are accessible from Boreen Point by powered boat, kayak or canoe .  We will provide you with a FREE detailed briefing and some maps on any of the following and then use your own watercraft or hire ours to gain access.

 

You can easily devise interesting and longer itineraries by combining related activities and/or splitting your group into separate activities and agreeing on a suitable place to meet along the way.

 

WALKS & HIKES

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• Walk the 2km from Teewah landing on the eastern side of Lake Cootharaba to Teewah Village on Noosa's North Shore. You can also take the 4km return side track to beautiful Mount Seawah, with its 360 degree views from the South Pacific Ocean right round to the coastal hinterland.

• Walk 6km from Campsite 3 on the upper Noosa River up the gentle trail through the forest to the massive shifting sands of the Cooloola Sandpatch. From the top, you may optionally continue eastwards down to the beach on Noosa's North Shore for a swim and a surf in the South Pacific Ocean. You may return via the same tracks or head southwards a couple of kilometers along the beach to Teewah Village before taking the 2km Teewah track leading back to the eastern shore of Lake Cootharaba.

• Take the 500m circular "Melaleuca" walk at Figtree Point.

• Walk the 6.1km track from Elanda point to Kinaba, passing through paperbark and cabbage palm wetlands.

• Walk through forests of casuarina and melaleuca on the 2.6km trail from Elanda Point to Mill Point (also see the "Find" section below).

• Walk through open grassy areas, woodlands and forest to the remnant rainforests of Kin Kin Creek (4.7km). Cross the footbridge and walk to Fig Tree Point (a further 5.9km).

• You can walk the 6.6km from Fig Tree Point to Harrys Hut, following part of the Cooloola Wilderness Trail through open and closed forests.

• There is a 6.4km track on the opposite side of the Noosa River to Harrys Hut, which connects to camp sites 1, 2 and 3.

 

VISIT

 

• Visit the Kinaba Information Centre on Lake Cootharaba with its vast display of maps and photos, and take the optional elevated self-guided circular walk through the mangroves.

 

CAMPING

 

• Camp within the Great Sandy National Park at Figtree Point, Harrys Hut or any of the other 15 camping areas located on the banks of the upper Noosa River. All of these have jettys for easy access by boat, and also for swimming.

• The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a wonderful lake-front camping ground at Boreen Point

• A private camp ground also operates at Elanda Point

 

SWIMMING

 

You may swim in any part of the Noosa River and its lakes, however some places offer more appeal than others. Places of particular appeal include:

 

• Dunns Beach, at the southern end of Boreen Point Village - a nice long stretch of lakeside beach with a sandy bottom and shallow safe waters for adults and particularly kids and family groups.

• Main Beach, in the centre of the Boreen Point penisula, is a short and sandy beach.

• Just south of Elanda point is a large, shallow, sandy bottom area very suitable for swimming.

• Swimming off the jettys at Figtree Point and Harry's Hut is always a popular activity for campers and day visitors to these areas.

• Kinaba Island is located right at the northern end of Lake Cootharaba and offers a number of prime swimming areas.

• Access the ocean and surfing beaches near Teewah Village and also adjacent to the Cooloola Sandpatch.

 

Please be aware that swimming in these waterways offers similar risks to entering the water at an unpatrolled beach or in any other coastal waterway system around the country which is directly linked to the sea. Use common sense at all times.

 

FISHING

 

You may fish in any part of the river and lakes system, but why not take advantage of our local knowledge for the pick of the crop best spots:

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• Go fishing or drop your crab pots in the 6km winding stretch of the Noosa River joining Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroibah.

• Locals seem to spend a lot of time near the junction of the upper Noosa River and Kin Kin Creek.

• Try your hand at beach fishing on Noosa's North Shore - there's more than 50km of beach to chose from, with easy walking access via a trial from Lake Cootharaba.

 

EXPLORING

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• Explore Lake Cootharaba - it's about 25km around the perimeter of this magical lake, and you can throw the anchor anywhere and anytime you like for an on-board picnic.

• Explore 20+km of the Kin Kin Creek starting from its junction with the Noosa River near the northern end of Lake Cootharaba.

• Explore 20+km of the Upper Noosa River known as the Noosa Everglades, the area famous for its mirror-like surface reflections from the tanin-stained waters.

• Explore the 3km long Lake Como - it's deeper than the other lakes - and try to find the sunken ship.

• Find and explore Cooloothin Creek, which empties into the south-western area of Lake Cootharaba.

• Explore the Noosa River all the way from Lake Cootharaba downstream to Tewantin, Noosaville and Noosa. Pull up on any of the sandy beaches and landings at Tewantin and Noosaville for shopping, or enjoy a free family BBQ in the riverside parks, or visit the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club for lunch.

 

FIND

 

• In May 1836, the English cargo vessel HMS "Stirling Castle" was shipwrecked after hitting a reef north of Fraser Island. The captain's wife, Eliza Fraser, was shortly-afterwards captured by aborigines but was eventually rescued some months later with the help of an escaped convict named John Graham. Australian director, writer and producer Tim Burstall made a movie about these incidents in 1976, staring Susannah York and the story also inspired Patrick White's book "The Fringe of Leaves". The now World Heritage listed Fraser Island was named after Eliza and a memorial to her can be found on the shores of Lake Cootharaba.

• Mill Point is located just north of Elanda Point on the western shores of Lake Cootharaba, and has significant historic interest as one of the earliest timber settlements in Queensland. The Luya & Co timber mill was established there in the 1860s which provided massive quantities of timber logs to the surrounding areas, including Gympie, Tewantin and Brisbane, and employed up to 200 workers by the 1880s. A small township evolved, which included a school, hotel, shops and a cemetery. The mill eventually closed in 1892, but remnants of the business and its settlement can still be seen today, including a monument erected in 1993 by the National Trust of Queensland.