NOOSA EVERGLADES

MULTI-DAY / OVERNIGHT TRIPS

OVERVIEW

Spending the day canoeing or kayaking in the Noosa Everglades is one option to experience this unique eco-system.

Another option is to stay several days and camp overnight in one of the many public riverside camp grounds and combine your canoeing or kayaking experience with a range of other activities. For example, the park offers a variety of walking trails to suit all levels of interest, some of which are only accessible by boat.

Our most popular multi-day trip into the Everglades comprises 3-days and 2-nights (3D2N) and is packaged so that all you need supply is your own clothes, food and personal items. We provide the canoes, all the camp and cooking gear and a detailed pre-departure safety briefing including good quality accurate maps. You may also do an overnight trip across only two days or stay as long as wish.

PRICES (A$)

Price depends on:

whether you have your own camp gear or wish to hire ours, and
the number of people in your group, and
how many days/nights you will be away.

These are our PER PERSON rates for canoes or kayaks on multi-day hires, using either your own camp gear or hiring ours, assuming a minimum booking for 2 people:

Enquire or Book

Please note:

If you book as a solo paddler on your own, the above rates do not apply, in which case you need to contact us for a custom quote
Groups are normally assigned to double canoes or double kayaks (that is, 2 adults per boat). If you have an odd number of people in your group we will assign one person to a single kayak and they will pay the same per person hire fee as everyone else. However, if you specifically request more than one single kayak, a per-person supplement of $15 per day may apply to those taking the single kayaks
Young children accompanying their parents will be charged $10 per day and will be provided with a paddle and safety vest
Please contact us for special family-group pricing as discounts may apply
See details below of what's included and what you need to bring with you on these overnight trips

AVAILABILITY

These overnight hires are normally offered daily but are always subject to availability, acceptable weather and various other factors including the occasional national park closure. Since some preparations are required by you and us, these hires need to be booked in advance – please use our booking request form or contact us directly to discuss and obtain more details and guidance.

WHAT'S INVOLVED

Please be aware that these Everglades trips are serious undertakings with around 5-6 hours of paddling time plus stops along the way. While you don't need to have any previous paddling experience you do need a good general level of fitness. If you are looking for something less demanding and easier to paddle but still interesting and fun on the same waterway system, please consider one of our Paddle'N Picnic hires
For these Everglades trips we encourage early starts in order to help get the best paddling conditions, and thus we aim to meet you here in Boreen Point between 7:00 - 8:00am depending on the time of year. When you make contact to book for your preferred date you will be informed of the appropriate specific meetup time. We do open from sunrise so if you'd like to arrive earlier or later, please just talk to us about this
You have the choice of launching from the lakefront at Boreen Point or, to get the shortest and safest paddling route to the Everglades, the public launching ramp at Elanda Point would be our recommendation
Either way, we provide you with detailed briefings on where to go and what to see, map reading, navigation and landmark identification, paddling and boat handling techniques and emergency procedures - all intended to help ensure your trip into the Everglades is safe and enjoyable
If launching from Elanda Point we will initially meet you outside the entrance to the national park - beside the group of four roadside letterboxes located at 81 Lake Flat Road, Boreen Point - where we will provide the pre-departure safety briefing, after which you will follow us in your vehicle to the Elanda Point launch area, just a 4 min drive away, where we will together unload and prepare your boat before you get underway
If launching from Boreen Point, we'll meet you next to the public boat ramp in Urunga Parade, Boreen Point near it's intersection with Orchard Ave
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 advise and assist you
You may follow our recommended route and timings through the Everglades or vary these to your own interests. There are opportunities to stop along the way, some toilets are available, and you can indulge in fishing, swimming, bird watching, photography, hiking, bush walks and other activities as you prefer
At some designated time or location through your trip you will start your return paddle back to the departure point, normally ending the trip around 3-4pm. You can of course return ealier than this if you wish

CANOE OR KAYAK?

Generally speaking:

Canoes tend to better cater for the storage of gear - they have much more space than kayaks and it is all easily accessible
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
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 - but then again, who's in a hurry?
Kayaks are affected less by the breeze because they have lower sides than canoes - however most of the Upper Noosa River is relatively narrow and protected from the breeze so wind is mostly not an issue
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, we suggest the use of canoes for over-night trips but we also have a modern fleet of kayaks if these are your preference.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OVERNIGHT TRIPS

Water taxi transfers across Lake Cootharaba (if taken)
Kinaba Information Centre and mangrove broadwalk
Kinaba Island
Upper Noosa River
Kin Kin Creek
Fig Tree Lake
Lake Como
Noosa Everglades - the "River of Mirrors"
Canoeing - the rivers and the Everglades
Camping - in the national park - there's wide range of campgrounds available in terms of size and facilities offered
Treking - through the forest - there's a wide variety of walking trails available - talk to us for guidance
Swimming, fishing
Cooloola Sandpatch - with amazing views to the ocean, rivers and lakes, and the hinterland beyond

WHAT'S INCLUDED

For all multi-day hires:

Your choice of canoe or kayak, for the same price - kayaks carry a maximum of 2 people whilst our canoes can carry 2 adults and up to 2 young children
Mandatory safety gear for each person including buoyancy vests
Dry bags or water-proof drums for the storage of your gear
Our detailed pre-departure briefing, and accurate maps
Optionally, our water taxi service for transfers between Boreen Point and Kinaba Information Centre (see more details above)

If hiring our camp gear, we also provide:

Tents and sleeping mats
Cooking equipment, including a gas cooker with gas canisters, cooking pot and pan, cutlery and plates, cups/mugs and cleaning materials
Lighting - battery-powered lanterns and/or torches
Folding seats
Drinking water
Basic first aid kit
Rubbish bin
Esky/ice box, if required
Optionally, sleeping bags for a hire fee of $20 each to cover laundering costs

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING

National park camping permit (book on the Parks' website here or phone them on 13 74 68 > Book "Cooloola Recreation Area" and then "Harrys Hut River Access Sites" or any of the various other riverside camp areas on the Upper Noosa River - ask us for details if you are unsure)
Camp gear and sleeping bags or blankets (if not hiring from us)
Comfortable clothing, including enclosed shoes for walking, a sweater for the evenings and a spray jacket if you have one
Fully charged mobile phones
Torches, if you have them
Hat
Swimming costume and towel
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Fishing gear, if you wish
Food and drink - pre-cooked food is the most simple to prepare
Water bottle
Personal first aid kit (if you have one)

SUGGESTED ITINERARY (For 3D2N Trip)

Our most popular trip is this 3-day 2-night trip and this would be our suggestion, which you can vary as much as you wish:

Day 1

Get yourselves to our depot at Boreen Point, a 20 minute drive from Tewantin or Pomona
Receive full briefings on use of the equipment, canoeing techniques, map reading, the suggested itinerary and safety matters
Together we drive for 5 mins to your chosen launch area - normally, at Elanda Point
Unload your gear and park your car
Together we pack your canoe or kayak
Either paddle across Lake Cootharaba to Kinaba Information Centre, or take our water taxi
Paddle upsteam through the Upper Noosa River and the renowned Noosa Everglades
Arrive at your chosen campsite - there are several to choose from (we will advise you)
Setup camp - you can stay at the same campsite for the two nights, or you can move to a different site on day 2 (depending on what you booked)

Day 2

After breakfast, paddle or hike to Camp Site 3, taking your lunch with you
Hike along easy trails through the rainforest to the Cooloola Sandpatch - 12km round trip
Return by canoe to your campsite

Day 3

Time for exploring alternative walking trails or routes along the river
Pack up your camp and load back into your canoe or kayak
Paddle downstream back to Kinaba, with several options to detour and further explore along the way
Paddle back across Lake Cootharaba or catch our water taxi service
Arrive at Elanda Point
Return our equipment
Pack your car - and, end of the adventure!

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:

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.

LAKE ESCAPADES