Sunshine Coast Council

A beautiful, serene paddle at the entrance to the Everglades around the top of Lake Cootharaba.

SUITABLILITY
Suitable for beginner kayakers

HIGHLIGHTS
This is your chance to explore some different locations at the top of Lake Cootharaba. Basically, you head towards the northern shore of the Lake where it meets the upper Noosa River.

Paddle to Kinaba Information Centre to the left of Kinaba Island. This heralds the entrance to the Everglades. Kin Kin Creek meets the Noosa River just past the Education Centre. If you head left and westward you will head up Kin Kin Creek. Travel as far as you like and then return. Coming back out of Kin Kin Creek, if you hug to your left and go around you will then be able to head north again. Follow the water up till you get to some signposts to find Figtree Point with its own beautiful campground, jetty, and little 15 minute rainforest circuit walk. Just around the next corner in the river, to the left, is Lake Como. If there’s a breeze a better option may be ‘the narrows’ to the right. In all instances watch the weather, your GPS, and allow plenty of time to return. This makes for a few great individual experiences based from Kinaba or Figtree.

AFTERWARDS
KanuKapers is located at Boreen Point and conduct kayak tours.

You can hire also hire canoes and kayaks from Habitat Noosa at Elanda Point, a newly updated establishment offering everything from glamping, camping, boat hire to coffee/cake, ice creams and finer lunch dining. There is also a craft brewery and bar on site offering very nice craft beers (Pacific Ales/XPA’s) and delicious cocktails. Sit back and relax and look out over large trees towards the lake. Some weekends they bring in a free kids rock-climbing course.

Down the road is the famous Apollonian Vale Hotel relocated from Gympie (and its old mining glory days). If you wanted to drive further afield there is plenty to see in the nearby townships of Pomona, Cooran and Kin Kin.

HOW TO GET THERE
To the starting point: You can start from either Boreen Point or Elanda Point and padde through to Kinaba as your starting location to Kin Kin Creek.

To get to Elanda Point: Drive to Habitat Noosa, entrance is via a dirt road off Lake Flat Road, Elanda Point/Boreen Point. Heading towards Boreen Point on Louis Bazzo Drive, drive past Boreen Point township (on your right) onto Lake Flat Road and follow the signs.

To get to Boreen Point: Drive on Louis Bazzo Drive, turn right onto Laguna Parade and head down to the waterfront. You can launch off Boreen or Urunga Parades. There are public toilets at the end of Urunga Parade.

To the end point: The end point is the same as the starting point.