Noosa Everglades tour: Noosa wildlife cruise review & prices

Everglades Ecosafaris runs a Noosa Everglades cruise up the Noosa River from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It focuses on the nature, birdlife and big goannas in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.

What is the Noosa Everglades?

The Noosa Everglades is a system of slow-moving waterways based around the Noosa River in the Great Sandy National Park, Queensland.

This Australian Everglades system is close to Sunshine Coast holiday town Noosa. Everglades cruises, taking in a host of native wildlife and the mirror-like reflections of the water, are one of the best things to do in Noosa.

Noosa Everglades cruise prices

Everglades Eco Safaris runs two Noosa Everglades cruises. The cheapest of these Queensland Everglades tours is the afternoon Serenity cruise. This Noosa boat tour costs $84, includes a glass of beer or sparkling wine and lasts around three hours. It should be booked online in advance.

The morning Everglades Explorer tour offers the chance to tackle 5km of the journey in a canoe, as well as doing the Everglades cruise. This Sunshine Coast nature cruise option costs $129 and includes a barbecue lunch. For instant confirmation and mobile-friendly tickets, book here.

The following Noosa Everglades cruise review is of the Everglades Explorer tour.

Noosa Everglades cruise review

The canoeists wish to give their arms a work out, so those content to stay on the boat say goodbye. There’s more than one way to travel up the Noosa River through the Noosa Everglades.

As the splashing paddles fade into the distance, suddenly all is serene again on the Noosa Everglades cruise. Tannins seeping from the trees darken the water. This makes it ideal for reflecting the fluffy white clouds overhead between the flowering lily pads.

Noosa everglades cruise lily pads — Lily pads on the Noosa River, as seen on a Noosa Everglades cruise. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions.

The Everglades Ecosafaris cruise chunters deep into the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. It works either as a canoeing trip for those who want to paddle part of the way, or an ordinary cruise.

Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into

Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.

Noosa Everglades cruise: Noosa River birdlife

Travelling along the Noosa River, the slow glide is punctuated by appearances from the local birdlife.

First come the pelicans. One always stands guard while the others are asleep. One pelican stretches tall on a nearby boat. Others glide towards the water, graceful until they land, at which point they look like hapless clowns.

In the massive osprey nest on other side, the same pair of ospreys have been resting for around 27 years. The cable ferry runs nearby, and that’s part of what keeps the area so quiet. No bridge connects to Noosa’s ‘north shore’ – you have to take the Noosa North Shore Ferry – which that keeps the developers well away.

There are also ducks, white egrets and darters, which use their long necks to effectively spear the fish they’re hunting with their beaks. Then a cormorant follows the boat, hoping fish will be churned up in the wake.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

Noosa Everglades cruise: Harry’s Hut

The region became a national park in 1975, and most of the remnants from before that time are now gone. Forest has regrown to replace most of the logging camps, and Harry’s Hut further upstream was the last one standing. Now, there are a few information boards there, plus some tent sites and open-to-all barbecues.

It’s also where the big goannas like to hang out. They snuffle along the leafy floor, clearly intent on sharing everyone’s food.

The question is whether to go for a swim or not. Bull sharks have been caught in the river, but not this far up. Snakes can also be seen swimming across, but they can’t do any harm while in the water.

Again, the water is murky due to the tannins seeping in. But it turns out what this is what makes the Noosa Everglades far more pleasant than their Florida counterpart. Mosquitos don’t like the water, so they don’t show up. There’s no buzzing, no bites and no worries.

If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?

The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.

Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.

The drive from Brisbane to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast takes just under two hours. Stop there on the way north to Hervey Bay, and stay in one of Noosa’s caravan parks if you wish. Other river activities in Noosa include stand-up paddle-boarding. But you might prefer to take a walk from Hastings Street to see koalas in Noosa National Park, especially in September when the Noosa weather is at its best.