Sunshine Coast cruise operator, Saltwater Eco Tours, has added new canoe tours to its products, including pioneering equipment to enable wheelchair users and individuals with mobility challenges to participate in the tours.
The guided tours operate twice weekly and offer six double canoes all themed with their own unique Aboriginal designs.
The 90-minute small-group tours depart from The Wharf Mooloolaba and glide through the serene waters of the Mooloolah River, surrounded by the sounds of nature, and led by a First Nations tour guide, with the region’s rich culture and history woven into the journey through story telling.
Saltwater Eco Tours Indigenous founder Simon Thornalley believes that nature and adventure should be accessible to everyone.
“When we came up with the idea for guided canoe tours we wanted to ensure that everyone could take participate,” Thornalley said. “To achieve that, we offer an accessibility hoist for access in and out of our canoes, along with adaptive seating and adaptive paddles, making it easier for wheelchair users and individuals with mobility challenges to participate in our tours.
“We’ve already had considerable interest in the Accessible Canoe Tours, which are a first-of-its-kind on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a really liberating experience for many accessible challenged people and it’s wonderful to see the joy on their faces when they are lifted into place in the canoe and take off on the water.
“The Mooloolah River is ideal for canoeists of all abilities as it is generally very still, and we have identified some attractive places to visit where we can explore the ecology and also enjoy morning tea.”
The tours are scheduled for Thursday and Sundays from 8am – 10am and cost $120 per person, inclusive of all equipment and morning tea. The tours are suitable for everyone 12 years and above.
Private group bookings are also available on Wednesdays from 8am – 10am.
