NOOSA EVERGLADES

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Bureauocracy = Running Uphill

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

We are based at Boreen Point which can serve as the lauching location for accessing and exploring the Noosa Everglades, however most people will wish to minimise paddling distances by launching as close as possible to the start of the Noosa Everglades, from within the Great Sandy National Park at Elanda Point.

Restrictions placed by Authorities on our access to the national park have forced us to limit the services we offer for people wishing to explore and experience the Noosa Everglades, as below.

For groups of any size, we can offer the hire of canoes, kayaks and SUPs for day or overnight trips as follows:

for customers able to meet us at Boreen Point and to launch from there, and to return to Boreen Point at the end of the paddling trip;
for customers able to transport your hired craft without us accompanying you to and from the public launching area at Elanda Point - which would require you to either have roof racks on your vehicle, or a tow bar for the towing of your own trailer or a small canoe trailer borrowed from us;
for customers able to transport your hired craft without us accompanying you to and from the public launching facilities at Harrys Hut - which would require you to either have roof racks on your vehicle, or a tow bar for the towing of your own trailer or a small canoe trailer borrowed from us

For groups comprising a minimum of 6 people, we can transport your hired craft to the public launching area at Elanda Point in advance of the start of your day or overnight hire - the craft would be ready for you in the shallows of the lake at the shoreline and may be returned to the same location at the end of the paddle.

WHAT WE CAN'T HELP YOU WITH

Unfortunately we can not help you with the following:

Day or overnight hires of canoes, kayaks and SUPs for groups of less than 6 people if you wish to launch from Elanda Point and do not have either roof racks or a tow bar on your vehicle;
Making canoes, kayaks or SUPs available for you at Harrys Hut (unless you can transport them yourselves as explained above)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please follow these links for more information and details about:

General information on exploring the Noosa Everglades
Day trips by canoe or kayak to the Noosa Everglades
Overnight camping trips by canoe or kayak to the Noosa Everglades
SUP hire for exploring the Noosa Everglades

We are always more than happy to discuss any of the above with you by phone or email - see here for contact details

WHY ALL THIS FUSS AND WHY THE RESTRICTIONS?

In February 2019 the Australian Government formally accepted a Native Title Claim from the Kabi Kabi First Nations People over a large area of land from near Buxton in the north (about 36km south of Gladstone) to Redcliffe in the south, incorporating the Great Sandy National Park including the Upper Noosa River area. We are told that permits normally required by commercial hire operators such as oursleves to access areas of national parks can not be issued by the Queensland Government while the Native Title claim and certain other internal government reviews are underway. Without such a permit we are unable to gain direct access to the Elanda Point canoe launch area.

For more details on the respective Native Title claim, please refer to the National Native Title Tribunal website.

Please note that:

the general public's access to the Elanda Point launch area is unaffected and unrestricted by the current situation; and
our access to launch you from Boreen Point is also unaffected and unrestricted; and
you also have the option to drive into the Everglades area via Harrys Hut campground and to launch yourselves from there.

"WE JUST WANT TO GET ON THE WATER, HAVE SOME FUN & BE CLOSE WITH NATURE"

The Noosa Everglades is a well regarded area for paddling and exploring and is widely promoted in the media. Due to the distances involved - around 23km of paddling - you will need to allocate a full day in order to get the most out of the experience as well as requiring a reasonable level of fitness. The trip may also not be suitable to families with very young children.

You do however have other choices for getting out on the water along the very same river system as flows through the Everglades.

Not so well known are the various routes and destinations available to paddlers on and around Lake Cootharaba which are generally easier to reach, have simpler navigation and can be selected based on prevailing weather conditions, how much time you have and your own specific interests. We refer to these as our Paddle'N Picnic trips, with all launches taking place from the foreshore area at Boreen Point.

All these adventures offer paddling by canoe or kayak with opportunities to stop along the way and take a picnic break (BYO), go for a swim, do a hike, catch a fish and various other activties. Paddling times vary from just one hour to many hours, with total durations of a couple of hours to full days and even multi-days if you wish, and most routes are family-friendly. There's lots of route options to chose from including exploring ancient creeks, accessing elusive hiking trails and even picnicing on your own private beach with delightful lakefront swimming. Yes, overnight lakefront camping is also available.

Subject to weather conditions and availability, we have canoes and kayaks available daily for casual hire on Lake Cootharaba, starting and ending from the lake foreshore area at Boreen Point.

Paddle'N Picnic

LAKE ESCAPADES