Multi-award-winning Sunshine Coast cruise operator, Saltwater Eco Tours, is behind the ground-breaking move.
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 are led by a First Nations tour guide, with the region’s rich culture and history woven into the journey through story telling.
“When we came up with the idea for guided canoe tours we wanted to ensure that everyone could take participate,” said Simon Thornalley, Saltwater Eco Tours’ Indigenous founder.
“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.”
The tours are scheduled for Thursday and Sundays and cost $120 per person, inclusive of all equipment and morning tea. The tours are suitable for everyone 12 years and above and private group bookings are also available.
“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,” added Simon.
“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.”
