If you like unique landscapes, you’ll want to put the Noosa Everglades on your list of places to see. They are in the Cooloola Recreation Area, the southern section of the Great Sandy National Park near Noosa Heads in Queensland.
One of only two Everglades systems in the world – the other being the better known Florida Everglades – we had to go along and see what this mysterious landscape was all about.
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Contents
- What are Everglades?
- Main differences between the Noosa & Florida Everglades
- Why you should see the Noosa Everglades
- Details about the Noosa Everglades Cruise
- Our Experience of the Noosa Everglades
- What did we see in the Noosa Everglades?
- Will kids enjoy this cruise?
- How do we rate our Noosa Everglades Cruise?
What are Everglades?
It’s terrible, but before this cruise, everything we knew about an Everglades environment came from American TV. We knew Everglades were full of alligators and are a good place to escape the law. And according to the film Mega Python vs Gatoroid which is set in the Florida Everglades, it is where genetically mutated monsters battle for supremacy (yes, it’s one of those films that is so bad it’s good).
Unsurprisingly however, there is more to an Everglade than we were led to believe.
The Noosa and Florida Everglades are found at similar latitudes in their respective hemispheres and are both low lying areas with branching waterways. Both host a huge variety of wildlife, and their still water is well known for its mirror-like reflections.
Main differences between the Noosa & Florida Everglades
There are two big differences between the Everglades in Noosa and Florida. First, the Florida Everglades are huge, they dwarf the Noosa Everglades by about 9 times.
The other difference is there are no alligators or crocodiles at the Noosa Evergaldes, so kayakers at Noosa can breathe easy. An estimated 200,000 alligators call the Florida Everglades home.
Incidentally, the Florida Everglades has a huge problem with the introduced Burmese python (which was the inspiration for the film mentioned above). There are no such problems in the Noosa Everglades which are home to carpet and spotted pythons which both occur naturally in the area.
Why you should see the Noosa Everglades
Noosa’s amazing beaches, coastal walks and rainforests are well known so a trip to the Everglades is a great way to see a different environment while you are looking around the Sunshine Coast.
It is also a must for wildlife watchers. The Noosa Everglades claim to host over 40% of the bird species found in Australia including eagles, spectacular jabirus and the glossy black cockatoo.
It is easy to see too. While you could do a 6 hour kayak tour of the Noosa Everglades, a cruise is a great way to get a look at the landscape and hear about the history of the place from expert guides.
Details about the Noosa Everglades Cruise
Cruises are run by Everglades Ecosafaris. They depart from Habitat Noosa which is a big eco resort 30km north of Noosa Heads. We made our own way there, but shuttle bus transfers from Noosa are included in the tour.
The 3 hour cruise departs daily at 2.00pm. Guides provide commentary about the environment, local indigenous history and European settlers. Complimentary beers, bubbles and softies are also included.
Other highlights of the cruise include wildlife spotting (especially birds so bring a camera or binoculars if that is your thing) and stunning reflections on the water.
The cruise runs in all weather conditions. The two 36 seat passenger boats offer plenty of protection from both sun, wind or a bit of rain. If you attract insects, maybe pack some bug spray.
Habitat Noosa has a range of accommodation from campsites to glamping tents, cabins and dorms. So, if you want to stay in the area for a few days to enjoy the water and wildlife, there are lots of options.
Our Experience of the Noosa Everglades
We arrived at Habitat Noosa a bit early and went for a walk around the park. There is plenty of wildlife to see including birdlife, lace monitors, wallabies and kangaroos. Then we had lunch at the café. There is a microbrewery there too.
Shortly before 2.00 everyone gathered near the café for roll call and to be allocated into one of the two boats. From there you make your way down to the wharf, which is a walk of maybe 200m.
If you happen to be booked when there is a very low tide, you might have to wade out to the boats so be prepared with some waterproof shoes. No such issues for us (it is rare that it is an issue). We were able to board from the wharf then make our way across Lake Coolabah to the Everglades.
What did we see in the Noosa Everglades?
The waterways in the Noosa Everglades are known as the ‘river of mirrors’ and there was plenty of amazing reflections to see. We hadn’t had the best weather for our Sunshine Coast trip but fortunately for our cruise there was little or no wind and plenty of sun, so the reflections were amazing.
And we got to see a few birds too. The highlight was a beautiful eastern Osprey that watched us glide out of the river and back onto the lake at the end of the cruise. We also saw a darter and a couple of cormorants.
The 3 hours went pretty quickly. It was a picturesque and fascinating cruise through a unique landscape. The guide’s commentary also added a lot to our afternoon on the water.
Will kids enjoy this cruise?
What if you are travelling as a family?
There were 6 or 8 children on our boat, and they all seem to have a good time. The guides engage them in the commentary and the kids are encouraged to help as spotters for koalas, birds and ‘logadiles’.
Towards the end of the cruise, they had the chance to drive the boat for a few minutes too which went down very well.
By the end of the afternoon there weren’t any sad faces which was a good sign. Maybe just have some snacks handy to keep them going as there isn’t anything available on the boat. There are no toilets either.
How do we rate our Noosa Everglades Cruise?
We’d had some challenges during our stay on the Sunshine Coast. Walking tracks were covered in water, the ocean was too murky for snorkelling and a mosquito plague had closed the Maroochy Wetlands.
So, getting to see the Noosa Everglades on a perfect day was a real treat. Compared to some cruises we have been on (thinking Mary River or Tasman Island), maybe we hoped to spot a few more birds, but hey – that’s wildlife for you.
Even so, the scenery and stories of the Noosa Everglades made for an interesting and relaxing afternoon. We are at an age where we can appreciate a slow boat ride on glassy water with mirrored reflections. We felt that it was fair value too for a 3 hour tour plus the transfers and drinks.
If you travel with kids, particularly older kids (12+) or like a little adrenaline rush when you travel, just be aware that this is a pretty laidback 3 hours on the water (try the 6 hour canoe tour if you like to be more active). But for a lot of people, an interesting, picturesque 3 hour cruise with no fear of getting seasick sounds just right.
Overall, we give the Noosa Everglades Cruise 4 stars out of 5.
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