The Noosa Everglades wind north from the river through a chain of shallow lakes — Cooroibah, Cootharaba, and the Upper Noosa River — into a pristine paperbark-fringed waterway that forms part of the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve. The water is dark, stained by tannins from the surrounding tea-trees, and so still that the reflections are mirror-perfect on a windless day.
Access is from Tewantin or Boreen Point. Guided kayak tours and small boat tours operate daily and are by far the easiest way to see the system; ambitious paddlers can spend two or three days camping along the river. It is some of the most peaceful, beautiful water in southeast Queensland — bring insect repellent and a wide hat.