The waterways of the Sunshine Coast are now more accessible for people with disabilities, with six new canoes for Saltwater Eco Tours.
Written by Sheree Strange, Travel Without Limits, 2025
Indigenous tourism company Saltwater Eco Tours has won awards for their guided canoe tours of the waterways of the Sunshine Coast, and now they’re making another splash with a new range of wheelchair accessible vessels.
Wheelchair users and other travellers with limited mobility can now participate in twice-weekly small group tours of Mooloolah River, departing from The Wharf, Mooloolaba. Each 90-minute tour is led by a First Nations tour guide, and the region’s rich culture and history is woven into the journey through storytelling.
“When we came up with the idea for guided canoe tours, we wanted to ensure that everyone could take part,” says Simon Thornalley (founder of Saltwater Eco Tours). “To achieve that, we offer an accessibility hoist for access in and out of our canoes, along with adaptive seating and adaptive paddles.”
“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.”
It’s the first tour of its kind to be offered on the Sunshine Coast, and Saltwater Eco Tours has already seen a flood of interest. Tours are currently scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays from 8AM to 10AM, and private group bookings are available on Wednesdays.
To book your own accessible canoe tour, visit the Saltwater Eco Tours