{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox river | name = Noosa River | image = Noosa-river.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = | source1_location = [[Como Escarpment]] | mouth_location = Pacific Ocean | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Australia | subdivision_type2 = [[States and territories of Australia|State]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Queensland]] | length = | source1_elevation = | mouth_elevation = | discharge1_avg = | basin_size_km2 = 854 | basin_size_ref = <ref name="anra"/> }} The '''Noosa River''' is a [[river]] situated in [[South East Queensland]]. The catchment starts in the Como Escarpment near Mount Elliott in the coastal [[Great Sandy National Park]] and meanders south through a lakes district around [[Tewantin, Queensland|Tewantin]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=weyba|title=Noosa Integrated Catchment Association - the Noosa River Catchment|url=https://noosariver.com.au/|access-date=2021-01-28|website=Noosa Integrated Catchment Association|language=en-US}}</ref>
Lakes situated on the river include [[Lake Cooloola]], [[Lake Como, Noosa river|Lake Como]], [[Lake Cootharaba]], [[Lake Cooroibah]] and [[Lake Weyba]]. The catchment is mostly covered by [[sand dune]]s and has two major tributaries—Kin Kin Creek and Teewah Creek.<ref name="anra">{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/basin-noosa-river.html |title=Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Noosa River |access-date=2009-05-20 |work=Australian Natural Resources Atlas |publisher=[[Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004200546/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/basin-noosa-river.html |archive-date=4 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Noosa River enters the [[Coral Sea]] between [[Noosa Heads, Queensland|Noosa Heads]] and [[Noosa North Shore, Queensland|Noosa North Shore]]. Substantial residential development has encroached into areas previously occupied by the changing river path. The river is noted for its populations of migratory birdlife.<ref name="birds">{{cite web |url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/may/01/birds-return-noosa-river-mouth/ |title=Birds return to Noosa River |access-date=2008-05-14 |work=Sunshine Coast Daily }}</ref>
==History== [[File:Pelecanus conspicillatus.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Pelican on the banks of the Noosa River]] Logging along the river began in 1864. The logs were transported north to a sawmill near [[Maryborough, Queensland|Maryborough]] until 1870 when a sawmill was built on Lake Cootharaba.<ref name="xqnp">{{cite book |title=Explore Queensland's National Parks |year=2008 |publisher=Explore Australia Publishing |location=Prahran, Victoria |isbn=978-1-74117-245-4 |pages=24 }}</ref>
[[Richard Branson]] purchased [[Makepeace Island]] on the river in May 2003. Noosa Council scaled down his plans for a luxury resort on the river.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/virgin-tycoon-presses-on-with-luxury-island-resort/2008/04/27/1208743316381.html |title=Virgin tycoon presses on with luxury island resort |access-date=2008-05-14 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2008-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502141426/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/virgin-tycoon-presses-on-with-luxury-island-resort/2008/04/27/1208743316381.html |archive-date=2 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Lazing about on Upper Noosa River in a canoe, 2022.jpg|thumb|Lazing about on Upper Noosa River in a canoe, 2022]] Several kilometres of beach to the north of the mouth were a popular destination for four-wheel driving, until Sunshine Coast Regional Council placed restrictions on them in May 2007.<ref name="birds" />
Chemical [[contamination]] has been the suspected cause of a fish [[mutation]] resulting in [[polycephaly|two-headed]] [[fish larva]]e found in the Noosa River.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24905243-1248,00.html |title=Two-headed fish larvae blamed on farm chemicals in Noosa River |author=Brian Williams and Sophie Elsworth |access-date=2009-05-20 |date=2009-01-13 |publisher=[[News Limited]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225192108/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24905243-1248,00.html |archive-date=25 February 2009 }}</ref> Government investigations into the problem began in 2007. A final scientific report into the cause of the spawning was delayed in 2010 because of the potential to prejudice ongoing civil court proceedings involving the hatchery and a nearby [[macadamia]] nut farm.<ref name="bt">{{cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/twoheaded-fish-report-kept-under-wraps-20100722-10mw8.html |title=Two-headed fish report kept under wraps |author=Marrisa Calligeros |access-date=24 August 2010 |date=23 July 2010 |work=[[Brisbane Times]] |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725005425/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/twoheaded-fish-report-kept-under-wraps-20100722-10mw8.html |archive-date=25 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Until the 1960s the Noosa beach and river entrance were in a state of dynamic equilibrium. The beach was wide and usable and it recovered quickly from the occasional extreme storm events such as cyclones. From the mid-1960s rapid development on the beachfront including building a rockwall along the beach created instability. The beach became narrow and often non existent at high tide. At this time the river entered the sea at the present day Noosa Woods. In 1978 a training wall was built to relocate the river entrance to the northwest where it is today.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/pdf/CRC/61-noosa.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=22 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401053801/http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/pdf/CRC/61-noosa.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Attractions == [[File:Noosa_Ferry_on_Noosa_River_approching_Noosaville,_Queensland_01.jpg|alt=|thumb|180px|The [[Noosa River Ferry]] approaching Noosaville, 2019]] The Noosa Ferry operates along the Noosa River from [[Noosa Heads, Queensland|Noosa Heads]] via [[Noosaville, Queensland|Noosaville]] to [[Tewantin]] with timetabled regular services and tourist cruises.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://noosamarina.com.au/noosa-marina-river-ferry-service/|title=Ferry|website=Noosa Marina|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316201837/https://noosamarina.com.au/noosa-marina-river-ferry-service/|archive-date=16 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
Noosa River & Canal Cruises offers tourist cruises on the Noosa River and its canals departing Noosaville and Noosa Heads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noosariverandcanalcruises.com.au/|title=Home - Noosa River & Canal Cruises|website=www.noosariverandcanalcruises.com.au|access-date=2020-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313145616/https://www.noosariverandcanalcruises.com.au/|archive-date=13 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Queensland}} *[[List of rivers of Australia]] *[[Noosa River Ferry]] *[[Great Sandy National Park]]
==References== {{Commons category}} {{Reflist}}
{{Rivers of Queensland}} {{Authority control}}
{{Coord|26|21|S|153|04|E|display=title|region:AU_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}
[[Category:Rivers of Queensland]] [[Category:Geography of Sunshine Coast, Queensland]]