Lake Cootharaba – Ah ... The Serenity!
Wayne Kampe.

TUCKED away between the bright lights of the Sunshine Coast and the magnificent Great Sandy National Park is Lake Cootharaba. It's quite large, yet shallow, is almost totally surrounded by coastal wallum and tea tree forests and is a great place to enjoy quiet water sports, wildlife and, yes ... some fishing.

WILDLIFE EN ROUTE

Access to the lake is via the town of Pomona. This little town is situated a couple of kilometres east of the Bruce Highway and the well-signed turn-off is almost halfway between the towns of Nambour and Gympie.

Once in Pomona, the signposts to Lake Cootharaba, as well as the main camping areas at Boreen and Elanda Points, are quite prominent. A quite reasonable road links Pomona and the lake.

My usual wildlife warning, ‘Watch the 'roos!’, will be tailored to caution against deer strike as well. These fellows are in the area and a friend of mine nearly skittled a big stag in mid-bound.

ELANDA POINT

At Lake Cootharaba, there are two camping areas which we will look at in turn. Elanda Point is the first. To get to Elanda Point, look for the sign, right where the Pomona Road nears the lake, and take the turn to the left. This camping ground and boat hire facility is towards the northern end of the lake, and is virtually within paddling distance of the Noosa River entrance, a few kilometres away.

Adjoining The Lake

Elanda Point camping ground could best be described as a large expanse of lawned area adjoining the lake. Tall trees provide excellent shade and, in all, this is a very well set out camping area in an attractive wildlife-enriched setting. There are kangaroos hopping about, colourful parrots screeching in the tea trees and cheeky currawongs that will not hesitate to come down and share a sandwich with you if it's left unguarded.

Water Craft For Hire

There are a fair number of powered sites, a vast number of un-powered sites and, if one is so inclined, the opportunity to hire a very good range of water craft, such as kayaks, canoes, wave skis, sail cats and windsurfers. Small outboard craft are available as well, if one wishes to indulge in some fishing, or exploratory boating. More on this aspect a little later. Bookings for all water craft are made in the office at Elanda Point. Hire can range from one day to more, as required.

Amenities

At Elanda Point, I found the amenities to be clean and the general layout of the camping ground was spic and span. Firewood is available, at a nominal fee, to fuel the good number of barbecues on site. In this camp ground, there is no shortage of signs to indicate what is required of campers, either.

Great Sandy National Park

The Elanda Point Canoe Company, which operates the camp grounds, can also arrange transport throughout the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park, either by vehicle throughout the Park, or by boat along the beautiful Noosa River. Guided water tours are available, from five days to a half day in duration, and can be arranged through the canoe hire business.

As bush walking is a very popular pastime in the Great Sandy National Park, many folk opt to camp and just make their way along the well-marked trails, at a pace that suits their lifestyle. Easy, gentle, walking in shaded surrounds, rich in our native flora and fauna, is the drawcard for visitors. Information boards are set up to advise of the walking trails and estimated duration of the walks.

Camping Costs

Note that the regulations at the camp grounds require that no private boats or canoes can be launched from that venue, from Monday to Friday, except during holiday times or weekends. Camping costs are very modest, at $7 per person for the first night and $5 thereafter. The contact number for Elanda Point is (07) 5485 3165.

BOREEN POINT

The Noosa Shire Council also has a camping ground at Lake Cootharaba, located at Boreen Point. Instead of turning left where the road from Pomona strikes the lake, one turns right and the sign shows the way to the camping grounds.

Brilliant Sailing

Boreen Point camping grounds have been going for a long time. I camped there as a kid forty years ago when I sailed a Sabot and, as an aside, I'll point out that the lake is just brilliant for sailing. There is always a lee shore where one can dodge waves, yet really make the best of the breeze to fill the sails and make the rigging hum.

A Relaxed Setting

Shaded camp sites are the norm here and the lake is right alongside the camp grounds, mere metres away. This is a very laid back camp ground indeed and, as one enters, there are information boards setting out contact numbers for bookings and costs. The impression I gained from my visit is that the whole place seems to have 'relaxation' stamped on every aspect of it.

The Grounds

These camping grounds are quite clean and nearly all sites share the vista of the picturesque lake as a backdrop. A series of well-formed, sandy tracks wind throughout the camping area and any reasonable family sedan would have no problem accessing sites.
Boating is popular here and a lot of small craft were sitting on their trailers in the various camp sites. Launching a small boat straight into the lake would be no problem at all, the edges are firm, sandy, and clear of obstructions. By the look of things, a fair few permanent residents have decided to make the place home, which is testimony to it's appeal.

Pomona & Cooroy Nearby

Due to the nature of this very quiet area, there are no shops or other facilities nearby. Camp ground kiosks can supply basic necessities, but Pomona is the nearest town for stocking up on fuel, tackle, groceries and other foodstuffs. The town of Cooroy is only a few minutes drive from Pomona and is larger again, so either town would be worth a visit for medical or other professional assistance. Telephone number for Boreen Point camping grounds is (07) 5485 3244.

FISHING

Bass Territory

Lake Cootharaba is a mainly brackish body of water. Although quite clear at times, it can run to some colour if the Noosa River, feeding the lake, is lifting in flood. Many varieties of fish live in the lake but, without doubt, it's bass, good old Australian bass, that are the most sought after. I can recall catching them on prawns as a kid when sailing but, today, we mainly chase them with lures and flies. The upper portion of the lake, the so-called 'Everglades' area, where the river really expands, as well as the Noosa River proper, are bass territory of note.

Summer is the best time to pursue these fish and many anglers combine fishing and an up-river boating trip just to enjoy the unique peace and serenity of the Noosa River's tea-tree stained waters and overhanging foliage. Just on dark, the river will fire up, the clinging silence shattered by loud pops and chopping sounds of displaced water as the bass home in on surface tucker.

Yes, it is a long way different from chasing bass in the impoundment situation, but a lot of anglers don't at all mind the difference, choosing to target bass in snags and water-side cover with lures or surface flies, rather than utilising a sounder – as is done in the dams to locate fish prior to dropping down an ice jig, spinnerbait, weighed rubber tail or lead-eyed fly, to see if the fish are just holding or actually feeding.

I see Lake Cootharaba as a very quiet, peaceful sort of destination for the traveller. Large caravans, smaller camper vans or good old tents all have a place here and, if a small car-topper boat is part of the 'round-Australia rig, then so much the better. Don't miss out on a run up the Noosa River!