Flat Water Trips within 2.5 hours drive from Brisbane:
There are many interesting and scenic flat water venues out there waiting to be explored. Just peruse maps of the areas that interest you and get paddling. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Baroon Pocket Dam (Lake Baroon)
Access:
(1) Northern Recreation Area: Turn west from the Maleny-Montville Road (immediately south of Montville) and follow Western Avenue and Narrows Road to the spillway, lookout and lakeside parklands.
(2) Southern Recreation Area: Follow North Maleny Road (becomes Baroon Pocket Road) north from Maleny until you reach the lake. Don’t forget to take note of the gate opening hours as you pass through.
Details: Lake Baroon is a remarkably pretty impoundment set amid mountains clad largely with temperate and semi-tropical rainforest. Although not a large lake, paddlers who take the time to fully explore its shoreline will be amply rewarded with sweeping mountain views, lush shoreline vegetation and interesting bays and inlets. Several of these inlets drain small feeder creeks with tumbling cascades that spill onto the lake catchment after rain. Stay well clear of the dam wall, spillway and water intake tower though as these areas are strictly out of bounds to boaters. Both recreation areas offer the usual picnic/BBQ/toilet facilities as well as boat ramps for ease of canoeing access. The Southern Recreation Area provides arguably the more scenic mountain and lake vistas, with playground facilities adding to its family-friendly appeal. Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Borumba Dam (Lake Borumba)
Access: Continue west for 13kms from the village of Imbil. As you approach the dam reserve, a camping area with good (ie family friendly) facilities is passed on the right. The road ends at a boat ramp and picnic area not far from the dam wall. Imbil Forest Drive used to provide a scenic alternative route to the Dam, however as this (unsealed) road is no longer signposted it is recommended that drivers seek local advice on its condition before using it.
Details: Lake Borumba is a popular venue for power boats, water skiers and wake boarders (especially at weekends) and canoeists should exercise caution around these craft. Forest covered hills surround the lake and it is not uncommon to spot wild deer and other wildlife along its shoreline in the quieter parts. During the cooler winter months, paddlers who venture up the western (Kingaham Creek) arm of the dam before dawn may be rewarded with an almost ethereal experience as a seemingly impenetrable mist rises eerily through the ghostly grey tree limbs of the flooded forest near the upper end of the catchment. This is a very scenic lake for canoeing and you will probably find that one day is just not enough time to fully appreciate all its beauty. More experienced paddlers wanting something a bit more challenging might consider a trip down Yabba Creek (see the White Water Trips section). Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Access:
(1) About 3.2km after Uki on the Murwillumbah Kyogle Road turn left into Clarrie Hall Dam Road (just before the Doon Doon Creek bridge crossing). The road ends at a small parking area from which a short dirt track leads down to the get in point.
(2) About 11km after Uki on the Murwillumbah Kyogle Road turn left into Doon Doon Road and follow the signs for a further 7km (turning left into Commissioners Creek Road) to Crams Farm Recreation Area.
Details: The catchment of Clarrie Hall Dam holds back the waters of Doon Doon Creek and, while not particularly large, it is an interesting area to explore. Around the dam wall the hills are heavily wooded but this slowly changes to more open rural land as you proceed toward the top end of the catchment. The main arm of the dam veers in a westerly direction and ends at Crams Farm (a day-use reserve with family-friendly facilities), while an easterly arm runs into a flooded dead forest with lush vegetation and plenty of wildlife – take solid footwear if you want to explore the creeks that feed into this arm. Use this link for latest access information, dam levels and alerts.
Access: From Elanda Point it is just over 4.4km across Lake Cootharaba to the QNPWS Information Centre at Kinaba. A few hundred metres further on veer left into the mouth of Kin Kin Creek.
Details: For those starting at Elanda Point, this is not the most straightforward paddle simply because of the unpredictable nature of the crossing of Lake Cootharaba. Depending on local wind and tidal conditions it is not unusual for the lake to be smooth for the trip across but then get quite rough for the afternoon return trip. The relative shallowness of the lake only accentuates this problem as “compressed water rebound” actually adds to a lack of control in the shallow water. So why do this paddle at all you might ask? Well, when you see the spectacular dense coastal rainforest along the creek banks you will understand why. From the creek mouth you can paddle upstream for nearly 5km before having to turn back. This trip is certainly worth doing for the scenery – however make sure you plan ahead and have the skills to cope if conditions on the lake change for the worse. It is possible to avoid paddling across the lake by starting your trip at Harrys Hut (at the end of Harrys Hut Road off the Cooloola Way), however this will extend the trip to the creek mouth by an extra 1.9km each way.
Maroon Dam (Lake Maroon)
Access: From the Boonah Rathdowney Road (21km south of Boonah) turn into Maroon Dam Road where it is 2.5km to the boat ramp at H.G. Slatter Park.
Details: This venue is included here not so much for the attractiveness of its shoreline or surrounding vegetation (which is pleasant but unremarkable), but for its sweeping panoramic views of the Great Dividing Range from Main Range through to Wilsons Peak, Mt Barney and Mt Maroon. When there is enough water in the dam the major watercourse (Burnett Creek), as well as some other small feeder creeks and the flooded forest area toward the upper part of the catchment can also provide some enjoyable opportunities for exploration. Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Moogerah Dam (Lake Moogerah)
Access: Follow the signs from the Cunningham Highway (just past Aratula) to Lake Moogerah Road and then turn into the entrance to A.G. Muller Park. A boat ramp, surrounded by gently sloping grassland and a caravan park, is about 12.5km from the highway turnoff.
Details: Lake Moogerah sits in the shadow of Mt Edwards and also has excellent mountain views from Main Range down to Mt Roberts and across to Mt Barney and Mt Maroon. For a bit of variety a full days activity could combine a walk up the mountain in the morning with a paddle on the lake in the afternoon. Although the surrounding vegetation is pleasant and it is interesting to explore some of the feeder creeks, the best feature of the lake is the small gorge section directly across from the boat ramp where Sandy Creek drops over a waterfall several metres high directly onto the catchment. Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Access:
(1) Boreen Point on Lake Cootharaba (off Louis Bazzo Drive via Pomona).
(2) Elanda Point on Lake Cootharaba (off Boreen Road via Pomona).
(3) Harrys Hut at the end of Harrys Hut Road off the Cooloola Way (check conditions after heavy rain as parts of Harrys Hut Road can get boggy).
Details: The beauty, tranquillity and relative isolation of this venue make it probably the best known canoe camping destination in south east Queensland. There is no denying the appeal of the lush and often dense riverside vegetation and the deep reflections created in the tannin-stained water. Most trips on the upper Noosa River start from Harrys Hut and it makes a good base camp from which to explore both the 20.7km upstream (past fifteen cleared bush campsites) to Teewah Creek junction and the 5km downstream through the fascinating Noosa Everglades to Lake Cootharaba. Don’t forget that the up-river sites must be pre-booked through the Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service. For added variety you can combine paddling with other activities like hiking – there are numerous scenic walks through heath land and rainforest as well as out to various significant coastal features including the Sand Patch and Red Canyon. If you intend camping at one of the upper sites it is certainly worth exploring the obstructed but spectacular Teewah Creek – it is best navigated using shorter touring kayaks though as some turns in this narrow creek are quite sharp. With little discernible flow for much of the year, the river is generally safe for well-prepared beginners. However care needs to be taken if you intend crossing Lake Cootharaba – see Kin Kin Creek details above. Expect to have to make several visits to the Noosa River and Cooloola region to fully appreciate all that the area has to offer.
Somerset Dam (Lake Somerset)
Access:
(1) the public boat ramp at The Spit off the Esk Kilcoy Road.
(2) the public boat ramp off Kirkleagh Road via the Esk Kilcoy Road.
(3) the public boat ramp off Westvale Road – about 3.2km south of the Neurum Road turnoff at Villeneuve. Note: the last 1.5km of Westvale Road to the boat ramp turnoff is unsealed.
Details: When the dam is nearly full it is possible to paddle about 37km from The Spit boat ramp to a point on the Stanley River (above the Neurum Road bridge) where the water catchment peters out. The forested hills around the shoreline are pleasant enough, but the biggest attraction for canoeists is the potential for exploration of the country along the Stanley River and a number of other small inlets and creeks that feed the catchment. It is not advisable to attempt the flowing waters of the Stanley River between Peachester and the D’Aguilar Highway crossing near Woodford as the frequency of fallen trees along this stretch mean that river conditions vary broadly between “badly obstructed” and “the stuff of nightmares”. Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Access: Turn off the old Bruce Highway into Wappa Falls Road (which becomes Cane Road) about 1km south of Yandina. After a further 4.5km turn into Wappa Dam reserve and put in at the end of a dirt track leading off to the left just before a stand of pine trees.
Details: This is an excellent exploratory opportunity for those wanting a scenic paddle but who only have a few hours to spare. The dam catchment is quite small and can be easily explored in well under two hours. The two main arms of the dam both have notable features – the first is a beautiful little creek lined with dense sub-tropical rainforest that flows into the southern arm; the second is where the South Maroochy River spills over a waterfall beside a natural cave into a magnificent granite gorge that forms the western arm. These features, along with the scenic shoreline around the main body of the catchment, make for a truly spectacular paddle that should rate highly on any “must do” list. In recent years, however, water hyacinth infestation has often made it difficult to access the best parts by canoe. Even after being flushed out by rain the hyacinth tends to regrow at an alarming rate and it seems the best time to explore this venue is as soon as is safely practical after heavy local rains. Use these links to check for current access restrictions and conditions or to view up to date water storage and level data.
Update: In 2009 operational control of this dam passed to SEQWater, however that organization does not acknowledge the informal access that canoeists used to enjoy. Despite a recreation review being undertaken in 2014, no recreational access is currently permitted to the waters of Wappa Dam. However this trip report will be left here as a reminder to the general paddling community of the need to be more vocal about our views if we want right of access to some of our more interesting and scenic water assets.
Trip information on these pages is constantly being added and updated. Check back periodically for new paddling suggestions. Visitors are invited to contribute trip reports, suggestions, enhancements, photographs, corrections, updates or just general comments. All submissions will be evaluated but inclusion is not guaranteed.