Written by Jessica Palmer
The plan was to paddle all the way over to the other side of Lake Cootharaba and explore the narrow canals of the Noosa Everglades system, one of only two everglades systems in the world. The other is found in Florida in the USA.
However, things didn’t quite go to plan when my ambitious goals were quickly thwarted by my youngest. According to her, there were too many waves on the completely flat lake and she was starving, even though she had eaten both hers and her brother’s muesli bars in the last 10 minutes. Last but not least, her bathers were too wet, despite the fact that she was sitting high and dry in a kayak.
You know what? I was secretly relieved. I had completely misjudged how big Lake Cootharaba was and by the time I was three-quarters of the way across its expanse in the kayak, my arm muscles (or lack thereof) were already letting me know that we should head back and relax a little on the shores.
hoever gave Noosa the title of the ‘Relaxation Capital of Australia’, has clearly never tried to get parking near Hastings Street or the Noosa Heads National Park. I’m convinced they must have spent a week at Boreen Point Campground, right on the shores of Lake Cootharaba instead.
The Boreen Point Camping Grounds are located on the esplanade at Boreen Point, directly on the shores of Lake Cootharaba, the largest natural salt-water lake in Queensland. At only 30-minute drive from the hustle and bustle that is Hastings St at Noosa Heads, it’s a great base to explore the Noosa area whilst avoiding the crowds.
Accommodation options consist of free-range camping spots set in the natural bushland as well as a foreshore area dedicated to tent camping. Powered sites suitable for caravans, campers, tents and even long RV’s are available as well as a camp kitchen.
More importantly, the showers were always hot and the toilets and clean for the entire 10 nights that we stayed.
Watching the sunrise over the peaceful lake is worth dragging yourself out of bed for, but don’t worry if you can’t, there is plenty more to do here. Swim, kayak or enjoy a SUP on the lake, let the kids loose on the BMX track behind the campgrounds and play frisbee on a huge expanse of lush grass nearby.
A guided or self-guided kayak tour through the Noosa Everglades is a must, as is a visit to the Apollonian Hotel for the iconic woodfired spit-roast held every Sunday. Constructed during the gold rush era in the 1870s, this old hotel was moved from Gympie to Boreen Point in 1985 and still contains a lot of its historic charm.
At just under two hours of driving time from Hervey Bay, Boreen Point makes for a great relaxing weekend getaway. Got a long weekend coming up? Even better.