© irene waters 2014 Noosa Everglades
The Noosa River commences life in the Wahpoonga in the Great Sandy National Park (of which Fraser Island is a part) and travels south via the Noosa Everglades which open up into a series of fairly shallow lakes, Lake Cooloola, Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroiba and Lake Weyba. The Queensland Lakes District.
© irene waters 2014 Lake Cooroiba
Makepeace Island (from internet images)
Richard Bransen owns a heart shaped island on the Noosa River on which he has built a luxury resort initially for the use of himself and his staff. It is now open to the public for an exclusive use fee of $3,250 per day plus a fee of $550 per adult. Although the vision you have of it from the river is that of total luxury I doubt that I will ever have the opportunity to stay a night. The most I will get to do on the river is the odd fishing trip in a hired tinny and there are plenty of fish to be caught between the first lake and the river’s mouth at Noosa Heads.
© irene waters 2014
The aspect of the river that I love is that it is not commercialised. . There are numerous people who live on/in the river. Our guide on one Everglades Tour told us that there are 65 permanent house boats registered to be on the river, most located between Tewantin and Noosaville. There is now a push to get rid of the houseboats and I think that the character of the river would go with the houseboats. When a houseboat is now sold the mooring can no longer be sold with it and the number of moorings are being decreased with each sale.
© irene waters 2014
Apparently of the 65 house boats most were purchased by couples planning on living permanently on board. At the time of this trip we were told that there was now one with an entire family of four, two that still had the couple living on board and five where the man had remained alone, the wife having scarpered. The remainder are now used as weekenders or virtually abandoned. Of course I can’t find the best photo I have that I took up close whilst on one of my fishing trips but I have included all those that I have. I love the resemblance to a normal house that many of these house boats display.
The other aspect of Noosa River is walking along its edge at Gympie Terrace particularly as the sun sets. Often spectacular but more arresting is the cacophony of sound as the parrots come in to roost in the trees that line the river’s edge. Black swarms flying in as the sun sets and as though a light switch is turned the noise abruptly stops. Just the perfect end for a perfect day.
© irene waters 2014
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
A very interesting post Irene, lots of lovely photos and we get to see you showing off your fishing technique!
We once had a dream of getting a houseboat and living on the Murray River, which begins in Victorian alps, forms most of the border between New South Wales and Victoria, and then runs through the lower part of South Australian waters and empties in the sea at Goolwa. But then we changed our minds about being water folk, being isolated from medical treatment would be scary, especially as we get older.
🙂
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My fishing technique has not as yet produced on the Noosa River any fish at all although I watch others bringing them in. I thought my recumbent position eliminating shadows would be successful but not yet.
I have always wanted to do the houseboat on the Murray experience (I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to live on one permanently) but I’ve heard tales of the speed of the river and the attempts to make fast and I’m afraid they’ve turned me off somewhat.
Yes I think the isolation would be fun at first but then reality would set in. (whether you are old or young) XD
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The currents get some speed up in the wet times, but during summer it isn’t too bad. Houseboats are very popular between Echuca and Torrumbury Wier. There is a lock at the latter and that slows the water down too. I’ve never actually been on one, but have been on a few of the paddlesteamers.
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I might stick to a paddle steamer. I hear it is beautiful on the Murray though. 🙂
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You lucky thing …
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I know M-R 🙂
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Wonderful this. My experience of houseboats and boats in general is on the Norfolk Broads where we used to take our annual holidays, but I would love to experience being on the water in your part of the world Irene! I love reading all about your adventures, so interesting and varied, just wonderful. And you never know, maybe Richard Branson will send you out an invite one of these days…and when he does, mention me too will you? Hope your day is going well my friend 😎 😀
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When he does Sherri you’ll be the first to know. 🙂
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I’ll hold you to that my friend 🙂
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🙂
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I’ve never spent time on a house boat but have admired the ones moored in the canals in Amsterdam. Your setting is so lovely and tranquil – are there alligators there? – it seems very tropical.
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We don’t get alligators in Australia but their relative the crocodile both salt and fresh water. They are a protected species and the only time they kill them is when they are looking for the remains of a human. They killed two the other day and found the chap inside one of them. It is sub-tropical here although not far from the latitude that would change it to tropical but they don’t come this far south. I wouldn’t live further north as you start getting the signs – Beware Crocodiles, Beware Stone fish, Don’t swim stingers (a poisonous jelly fish). If you are in the tropics water activities are one thing I’d be wanting to do so I’ll stay here and travel further north for holidays in winter. 😎
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An interesting post. Stunning photos. I would imagine that the romance of living on a house boat wouldn’t last too long for the wives. 😀
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I agree. There would be no space to escape and I think we all need a bit of time alone. 🙂
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There is a tranquil feel to these pictures. Seems like the ideal place to hide away from the world for a while. The last one is my favourite 🙂
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Yes the sunsets are just spectacular. We came from a small town and Noosa has the perfect mix of facilities and tranquility. 🙂
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