Visitors to the Sunshine Coast don’t often expect to find a great lake in their midst. Less than two kilometers, as the crow flies, to the unspoiled beaches on Noosa’s North Shore, Lake Cootharaba inhabits a completely different kind of environment, one that has been drawing regular visitors for over 100 years.
Lake Cootharaba is a tidal lake along the Noosa River. Adventure seekers can travel up the Noosa River to the lake, which spans nearly 9400-acre. A noted location for regattas and sailboat racing, the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club hosts several major sailing regattas each year. It’s also a dreamy place for paddleboarding, kayaking, and even kitesurfing when the wind is up.
A trip upriver from Noosa to Lake Cootharaba is an easy weekend jaunt. Or, for those without a boat, the easiest way to access Lake Cootharaba is the village of Boreen Point. Perched on a rise above the lake, Boreen Point is home to artists, craftsmen, and a renowned local pub with its own history, the Apollonian Hotel. With sealed roads all the way, Boreen Point is less than two hours north of Brisbane, only a 20 min drive to Tewantin town centre and only 20 minutes from the Bruce Highway.
Set along the shore is Boreen Point Campground. The campground is tucked in majestic bushland surrounded by ancient trees that seemingly scrape the sky. The peaceful campground is a family favourite with warm showers, campfires and dogs permitted. The average depth of the lake is only about four feet with a shallow shoreline, which makes it the perfect spot for younger family members and four-legged friends to enjoy the water in relative safety. There’s also watercraft for hire along the foreshore.
The water in Lake Cootharaba is brackish due to the effects of ocean tides and tea trees that line the shore. In places, water is considerably less salty, making it a haven and breeding ground for many kinds of fish. Those in the know pack their fishing kayaks for a day out on the water and usually come in with a good haul from the creeks and inlets.
One of the most popular boating activities is to venture upstream at the north end of Lake Cootharaba into the Noosa Everglades. For ecologists, the Noosa Everglade water trails are a source of endless discovery, with a huge variety of birds and plants inhabiting the swampy areas. River explorers can venture here on their own or sign up for a guided tour.
Where to stay
Boreen Point Campground is located on the shores of beautiful Lake Cootharaba, which has been a popular location for recreational activities such as camping, fishing, kayaking, and sailing for almost 100 years.
The lake has a long sandy foreshore for the length of the park. There are a small number of powered sites with the majority of sites suited to unpowered tents and campervans. Bring your camera and capture some awesome sunsets or sunrises, not to mention the resident wildlife. Dogs are welcome outside of school holidays and contained campfires are permitted.