Skip to content
Adventure

Noosa Everglades Guided Kayak Day Trip

Paddle the River of Mirrors with a guide, lunch and a swim thrown in.

A full day's guided paddle from Lake Cootharaba into the Noosa Everglades and the Upper Noosa River, the one they call the River of Mirrors. Kayak and safety gear, a hearty lunch and a river swim included.

📍 Noosa ⏱ 1 Day 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

More Noosa trips

Compare all 10 Noosa trips

From

$189 AUD

per person

Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.

Choose a date Got a question first? Ask our team →

Booking guarantee Price Match Promise Secure payment via Square

  • Instant confirmation

    Booked instantly · confirmation and ticket by email within 30 minutes.

  • No change fees from us

    Need to move? Just message us and we'll arrange it for you.

  • Licensed local operator

    An established operator with public reviews.

Pick your start date

Pick an available date. Your confirmation and ticket arrive together in one email within 30 minutes.

SuMoTuWeThFrSa

Available, pick any date Instant booking, confirmed in minutes

From

$189 AUD pp

Choose a start date →

Travellers
1
Pick a date to book
Secure payment via Square · you don't pay for a spot we can't confirm

Overview

The Upper Noosa River earns its nickname honestly: on a still morning the water goes glass-flat and the whole shoreline doubles up in the reflection, which is why people call it the River of Mirrors. This is a full day's paddle in there, in an expedition sea kayak, with a guide who knows the channels and the birds that live in them. It's the quietest way into the Noosa Everglades.

The day starts at 8:30am at the Elanda Point canoe launch on Lake Cootharaba, about 25 minutes north of Noosa. After a briefing and some paddling instruction you cross the lake to the Kinaba Information Centre for morning tea and freshly brewed coffee, then push on into the Narrows, where the river tightens, the tea-tree-stained water turns to glass and the mirror effect kicks in. Lunch is at Fig Tree Point, with a short walking circuit through the bush and a swim in the tannin-dark river once you've earned it. Then you paddle back out to Elanda Point, finishing no later than 3pm.

It runs on scheduled days with a maximum of around eight paddlers, and sea eagles are regulars overhead. Kayaks, safety gear, guide, morning tea and lunch are included. You need a medium level of fitness, and it suits adults and families with teenagers. Bring a water bottle, wet shoes, sun-smart swimwear, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a weather jacket, a towel and a change of clothes. Return transfers from Noosa are extra and booked separately, so ask when you book.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Full-day guided paddle, 8:30am to 3pm

  2. 2

    Expedition sea kayaks

  3. 3

    Lake Cootharaba crossing

  4. 4

    Morning tea and coffee at Kinaba

  5. 5

    The Narrows, the River of Mirrors

  6. 6

    Lunch and bush walk at Fig Tree Point

  7. 7

    Swim in the tea-tree river

Itinerary at a glance

1 8:30am · Elanda Point canoe launch

Meet at the Elanda Point canoe launch car park on Lake Cootharaba, about 25 minutes north of Noosa. Gear up, get the safety briefing and paddling instruction, then launch.

1 Morning · Cross Lake Cootharaba to Kinaba

Paddle across the lake to the Kinaba Information Centre for morning tea and freshly brewed coffee.

1 Late morning · The Narrows, River of Mirrors

Into the Upper Noosa River where the channel tightens and the still, tea-tree-dark water throws back a perfect reflection of the paperbarks.

1 Lunch · Fig Tree Point

Lunch at Fig Tree Point, a short walking circuit through the bush, and a swim in the river.

1 By 3:00pm · Paddle back to Elanda Point

Return across the lake, finishing no later than 3pm.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Expedition sea kayak and all safety equipment
  • Professional local guide
  • Paddling briefing and instruction
  • Morning tea with freshly brewed coffee
  • Hearty lunch
  • Swim stop in the river

✕ Not included

  • ✕Return transfers from Noosa (available at extra cost, booked separately)
  • ✕Towel, change of clothes and wet shoes (bring your own)
  • ✕Sunscreen, hat and insect repellent (bring your own)

Common questions about this trip

  • Where does the tour start and how early should I get there?
    The tour starts at 8:30am at the Elanda Point canoe launch car park on Lake Cootharaba, inside the national park about 25 minutes' drive north of Noosa. Allow time to find the launch area and be ready for the briefing at the start time. Return transfers from Noosa are extra and booked separately.

  • How fit do I need to be?
    The operator rates it as needing a medium level of fitness. It's a full day in a sea kayak with a lake crossing each way, broken up by morning tea, lunch, a bush walk and a swim. It suits adults and families with teenagers.

  • What should I bring?
    A water bottle, wet shoes, sun-smart swimwear, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses, insect repellent, a weather jacket, a camera, and a towel and change of clothes for afterwards. Kayak, safety gear, morning tea and lunch are provided.

  • Will I share a kayak?
    The kayaks are expedition sea kayaks and pricing is per person. Solo travellers are either given a single kayak or paired with another paddler for safety. A small number of singles are available, so request one as early as you can if you want to paddle alone.

  • Does it run in the rain?
    Yes. Tours operate in all weather conditions that are deemed safe, and the operator makes that call on the day. Pack the weather jacket.

  • Are there crocodiles?
    No. The Noosa Everglades are too far south for crocodiles. What you will see is birdlife, with sea eagles a regular sight overhead.

  • How big is the group?
    Scheduled tours run with a maximum of around eight people, which is small enough that the river stays quiet and the guide can keep everyone together through the Narrows.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    All client cancellations carry a 10% admin fee. For groups of 1 to 4, cancel 8 or more days before for a full refund or reschedule, 3 to 7 days before for a 75% refund, and 1 to 2 days before for no refund (substitutes allowed). If the operator cancels, you get a full refund or a reschedule, but travel and accommodation costs are not covered. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf.

Got a question that's not here? Ask us or hit the chat, instant AI reply with a follow-up from the Wanderlust crew.

What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"What an unforgettable adventure! Our kayaking day trip with Kanu Kapers through the Noosa Everglades was one of our highlights of our time in Noosa."
V

Vannessa M

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Great day trip with a beautiful bunch of people and a fab guide (…). The place is stunning and I’m so glad I did it."
N

Nick B

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

Read before you book

You might also like

Secure checkout · you don't pay for a spot we can't confirm

From

$189

Choose a date