Stand Up Paddleboarding - Maroochy River Canoe Trail

The Main Points

Location – Maroochy River Canoe Trail, Queensland Australia
SUP – Own Drift Rigid, Frangipani
Cost – Free Access to the water at any of the launch locations on the map
Conditions – Freshwater into brackish and then seawater further downstream
Other users – Swimmers, paddlers, boats, jet ski’s
Entry Point – Can vary depending on launch place
Surrounding amenities/Bathrooms- Upstream the ammenities are within local townships downstream there are more bathroom, shop and cafe facilities along the waters edge in Maroochydore.

Getting There – Take the Bruce Highway north out of Brisbane, approximate travel time is 1 hour. To start from George Best park, take the Yandina exit and follow Ninderry Road on the north side of town.

Map

Current Weather Conditions

Wee Blether

Having grown up on the Sunshine Coast this region is a place that is very near and dear to my heart. There are some views and regions that have been etched in my memory as long as I can remember and yet this was the first time that I have spent any time on the iconic Maroochy River. Having the opportunity to paddle along it’s length was a truly unique experience for me, to be able to see my beloved homeland in a totally new way. One of the things that I really loved about this trip was that even though the Sunshine Coast has evolved from the quiet coastal region that I called home to the buzzing tourist hub that it is today, the river in it’s upper reaches retained some of that tranquility and peace that I remember from so many years ago. It was particularly cool to see things I never knew existed like the lift bridge just down from Dunethin Rock.

There are many places that you can launch from along the trail and as the river is slow flowing which makes it quite manageable for most levels of skill. So far we have completed only the upper reaches as we paddled in both directions.