Coomera River

Coomera is known for its theme parks, but the Coomera River offers a completely different experience with semi-urban paddling and great fishing.

Coomera River is a large tidal river, and a popular destination for many boating activities. Being the second largest river on the coast, it also has a number of tributaries to explore including Saltwater and Coombabah Creeks as well as the lower Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

What to expect

The bottom section is a wide tidal river with sections of untouched mangroves, especially in the northern branch that is nestled in Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Parks. The remaining lower sections are a mix of built up areas and parks with multiple canals running off either side of the river. The majority of the canals on Hope Island are private. The upper tidal section is a mix of urban areas and parks to the causeway.

Directly above the causeway is a small lake used for ski jumping before the stream starts to flow with a mix of riffles and pools before the river becomes stepper and rockier. The source is found high above in Lamington National Park.

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Paddling Options

There are multiple paddling options from short trips based at one of the put-in locations, to longer trips of the main river itself noting that a full return trip of the tidal section from the Broadwater to the Causeway is 37 km.

Two longer circumnavigation trips are those around Hope Island and Coomera Island. Hope Island is a fairly urban trip along Saltwater Creek and back via the Coomera River, and Coomera Island loop traverses the north and south lower branches of the Coomera River that circumnavigate parts of Moreton Bay National Park with a 4 km leg through The Broadwater.

Both these trips can be done on a low tide, but they are more enjoyable around high tide, particularly when timed to paddle with the flow. Wasp Creek can be paddled at higher tides to shorten the Coomera Island loop slightly.

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Logistics

There are a few put in spots along the river operated by Gold Coast City Council.

The following are likely the better spots to put in, but there are some other locations that you can use too. Parking is not an issue in general but many can get busy during holiday periods.

Most of the ramps are on the southern side of the river and there are none in the lower Northern Branch.

Jabiru Island Boat Ramps on Coombabah Creek is a good alternative close to the river if the other areas are too busy.

Refer to the Distance Table and the Interactive Map for additional details.

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