Category Archives: Aqua Marine

Feeding ducks as the sun sets over Lake Cootharaba

One of the joys of Aqua Marine is just spending time doing the simple things in life, like feeding ducks as the sun sets over Lake Cootharaba.

My daughters feeding ducks as the sun sets over Lake Cootharaba

The photo was taken near the Boreen Point boat ramp — about 50 metres from Aqua Marine. Normally there are pelicans here, but not on this day.

If you are feeding the ducks, then remember that bread is ‘junk food’ for ducks. We tried feeding them healthier food, like fresh corn, but the ducks did not seem to like it. We reverted to giving them bread, but only in small quantities.

Aqua Marine is available for holiday rental through Boreen Point Real Estate.

New at Aqua Marine

Every time we stay at Aqua Marine, we try to do one or two things to improve the property. This weekend it was time to change some of the items hanging on the walls.

Given the pelicans that can be regularly seen at the local boat ramp across the road from Aqua Marine, we thought this pelican print was appropriate

We framed a Camtas Boating and Recreational Guide map of the Noosa River and Lakes (including Lake Cootharaba) and hung it on the wall of Aqua Marine for reference by guests

A shack by the lake would not be complete without a thermometer / barometer / hygrometer hanging by the front door

Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail

We were staying at Aqua Marine and the weather was not very good for sailing, so we decided to explore the Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail near Pomona.

Getting there

Head south on Reserve Street (the main street that runs north-south through Pomona). After the shops, take the first right into School Street, which turns into Hospital Street. Then turn left into Mountain Street until you see the Mt Cooroora Cark Park signs. The walking trail begins there.

Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail

Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail sign

Mt Cooroora Track climbing risk sign

The sign says to stay on the track and that serious injury or death may result from leaving the track. The track is not recommended for the physically unfit, infants and toddlers, unsupervised children and night climbing.

We were pretty confident that a 1.5 km walk would not take us two hours. We figured that we were young and fit — well, my daughters anyway. By the time we enjoyed the view at the top, the return walk really did take two hours!

The Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail begins with a relatively easy bush walk for the first 15 minutes — this is where the trail starts to head upwards

As the trail climbs, the views become spectacular

Sometimes the Mt Cooroora Hiking Trail requires scrabbling over rocks

The view from the top of Mt Cooroora is spectacular

The views at the top of Mt Cooroora are well worth the effort

Aqua Marine garden

We are progressively planting out the garden at Aqua Marine. When we purchased Aqua Marine, it was badly overgrown. We removed most of the plants and are progressively replanting the garden with local native plants. 

In June 2016 we planted Flax Lilly (Dianella Brevipedunculata) at the front of the property and Mat Rush (Lomandra Hystrix) around the grey water outlet.

We have now planted Mat Rush (Lomandra Longifolia) along the front fence, around the water tank and in the back corner of the garden. We have also planted two Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia Citriodora) at the top of the backyard and three Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ (Grevillea Whiteana) near the water tank.

The plants have been selected from Noosa Shire Council‘s list of plant species (Noosa Planning Scheme Policy  3 — Landscaping Plants and Guidelines) to try to maintain the environmental values of the area.

Mat Rush (Lomandra Longfolia) along the front fence

Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ (Grevillea whiteana) near the water tank

Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) in the back garden

Launching boats from Aqua Marine — Lake Cootharaba

If you are staying at Aqua Marine and bringing your own boat, following are a few places to launch. We have framed a Camtas Boating and Recreational Guide map of the Noosa River and Lakes (including Lake Cootharaba) and hung it on the wall of Aqua Marine for reference by guests.

Danger! If you use the front lawn of Aqua Marine as a rigging area, be aware that there are powerlines and overhanging trees. We just fit the MG14 and Sabre masts under the powerlines in front of the property! Beware!

Aqua Marine is on the northern side of the Boreen Point township so the launching areas are in relation to the house location.

Sandy beach

A small sandy beach (it does not appear to have a name) that is perfect for launching small sailing dinghies and kayaks is about 70 metres east of Aqua Marine.

The beach is protected by bollards so you can not drive a car down to the beach. The bollard spacing is only 1.6 metres wide, limiting the size of boats that can be launched. Our Sabre, Sabot and Minnow fit through the bollards; our MG14 is too wide. Most catamarans would also be too wide.

Rocks are to the south of the beach and a seam of rocks runs south-east from the point about 20 metres into Lake Cootharaba. Make sure you are beyond the rocks before putting your centreboard down! It is possible to walk your boat in between the two groups of rocks, turn left and hop on your boat without touching any rocks. We tend to walk our boats over the seam of rocks and hop on from there — the water is probably waist deep at that point.

Likewise, when returning to shore, make sure you do not leave your centreboard down and sail right up to the beach! My girls have been taught to turn their boats into the wind and hop out before the seam of rocks.

My daughter preparing to sail her Sabot from the sandy beach near Aqua Marine

Boat ramp

The local concrete boat ramp is about 50 metres west of Aqua Marine. The boat ramp is visible from the deck of Aqua Marine providing hours of pleasure watching the huge variety of craft come and go!

If you have a power boat, a large sailing dinghy or trailer-sailer, the boat ramp is the best place to launch. Many large sailing dinghies and catamarans launch from the dirt ramp area beside the concrete ramp. I have also seen people launch from the boat ramp, then spend the day sailing to and from the sandy beach on the other side of Aqua Marine, returning to the boat ramp to pull the boat out of the water.

The concrete boat ramp is at a very shallow angle. At the end of the boat ramp is a large patch of very soft mud where power boat propellers have chewed up the bottom. You can walk either side of the mud patch and be on relatively firm bottom.

A number of large submerged rocks are to the west of the boat ramp — you will often see pelicans standing on some of them! If you follow the channel markers out from the boat ramp you should be fine, but it does stay shallow for quite some distance from shore!

The Boreen Point boat ramp (in the gap in the trees) is diagonally opposite Aqua Marine and can be seen from the front deck

In front of Aqua Marine

Kayaks can be launched directly in front of Aqua Marine, but you will need to carry them down a rocky bank to the lake. The water is more than deep enough for a kayak and there are no underwater hazards that I am aware of once you leave the shore.

Kayaks can be launched directly in front of Aqua Marine, although they have to be carried down a rocky bank before reaching the water

Main Beach

Main Beach is on the southern side of Boreen Point and is where Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club sails from. Main Beach is about 300 metres from Aqua Marine following the road.

When we are sailing with the sailing club, we often roll our boats on their launching dollies along the road to Main Beach. Powerlines cross the road in a couple of places and there are numerous overhanging trees if you are planning to roll your boat down with the mast already up.

A seam of rocks runs parallel to Main Beach — it is marked at either end with underwater obstruction signs. A cluster of rocks is also to the south of the beach, with a number of submerged rocks also to the north of the channel markers at the northern end of the beach. The best idea is to simply launch your boat and wade past the underwater obstruction signs, boarding in waist deep water from there.

Aqua Marine is available for holiday rental through Boreen Point Real Estate.

38th NACRA National Championships 

The 38th NACRA National Championships were held from 30 December 2016 to 6 January 2017 at the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club. Aqua Marine was booked for the regatta, but I took a couple of photos of boats on Main Beach that arrived early.

Early arrivals for the 38th NACRA National Championships

Early arrivals for the 38th NACRA National Championships