10. Noosa: Self-Guided Water-Bike Tour
The lower reaches of the Noosa River is a diverse waterway that includes breathtaking national parks, quirky jetties, and opulent waterfront houses.
This tour will provide you with the opportunity to experience a bit of each, as you take the world's most efficient water bike for a ride around this amazing waterway.
Taking your abilities and the environmental conditions at the time into account, you'll head out to explore the river and have some fun. The first thing you'll notice is the huge array of birdlife.
Hundreds of Pelicans call this river home, and you'll be sure to gently cycle past a few within minutes. Keep your eyes open for the majestic White Bellied Sea Eagles and Brahminy Kites overhead, or the Great Egret silently fishing in the shallows.
The first part of your tour will take you past Noosaville's iconic jetty strip. You can take in the relaxed atmosphere and appreciate the beautiful parklands, clean beaches, unique jetties, and quirky houseboats.
There's plenty to do along this strip, and seeing it from the water is the best way to do it. Next, you'll cross the river to the north shore where water-front homes give way to a wild national park that is home to mangrove systems, paper bark forests, and towering eucalyptus trees.
This is a great place to try and spot wildlife, as you search the shallows for sting rays and schools of fish, and look into the bush for birds and kangaroos.
From here you really get to explore and tailor the tour to suit you. You can navigate your way between the sand banks and enter a stunning natural area called the Frying Pan.
You may wish to continue further toward the river mouth, or you may choose to pull the bike up onto a secluded beach and stop for a swim and some refreshments. The water is clear, warm, and refreshing toward the river mouth, and can be enjoyed year-round.
Once you've recharged and are ready to head back, simply jump on your bike and head back to the jetty where the tour began.