Noosa River boating rules: speed zones, jet skis, lakes and anchoring

Noosa River speed limits: 6 knots near the shore, 20 knots in parts of the lower river

The busiest shores, bays and creeks of the lower river are 6 knots. MSQ's schedule of speed limits sets a permanent 6 knot limit for Noosa Inlet and for a band 60 metres out from the shore, running from Little Woods Bay past Munna Point to near the Lake Doonella entrance and the Hilton Terrace bridge at Noosaville. All of Little Woods Bay, Woods Bay, Weyba Creek, Keyser Channel, Eenie Creek and the canals off them are 6 knots too.

The same limit covers the channel between Makepeace and Sheep islands and the Tewantin shore, the channel between Goat Island and Noosa North Shore, Johns Landing, Lake Doonella, and Wooroi, Cooroibah and Cooloothin creeks. Upstream, it's 6 knots from the north end of Lake Cootharaba, Kin Kin Creek included.

The open stretch of the lower river, downstream of Sheep Island and outside those 6 knot areas, is listed at 20 knots. These zones started as stage 1 of MSQ's Noosa River reforms in September 2023. Watch for the speed signs on the water as you move between zones.

Holiday speed limits: 6 knots below Gympie Terrace in summer and at Easter

During the summer and Easter holidays, the Noosa River below the T Boat Jetty at Noosaville drops to 6 knots. MSQ's schedule applies the holiday limit to all waters of the Noosa River and Noosa Inlet, and the creeks flowing into them, downstream of the T Boat Jetty on Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, out to the river mouth. Lake Weyba is left out.

The dates are fixed. Summer runs from 1 December to 31 January. Easter covers Good Friday to Easter Monday plus the Easter school holidays set by the Department of Education.

So the 20 knot water below the T Boat Jetty becomes a 6 knot stretch for two months over summer. If you're heading out in December or January, plan your trip times around the slower speed.

MSQ notes the schedule is uncontrolled once downloaded, so check the online version before each season.

Jet skis on the Noosa River: banned, apart from passing through

You can't ride a private jet ski on the Noosa River. Schedule 5 of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 makes the river and its adjoining waters a marine zone where a personal watercraft must not be operated. The zone takes in Lake Cootharaba, Lake Cooroibah, Doonella Lake and Lake Weyba.

Limited transit is allowed through parts of the lower river, Weyba Creek and connected canals.

Commercial hire jet skis are exempt inside the gazetted commercial PWC area. For the full transit rules and state-wide jet ski limits, read our Queensland jet ski rules guide.

Wave jumping, skiing and airboats: the other marine zone rules

The marine zone has rules for every boat, not just jet skis. Schedule 5 says a ship must not be operated in the zone to freestyle, surf or wave jump. Hovercraft and airboats can't be used there at all, and aircraft can't take off or land on the water.

Waterskiing has a time window in two areas at Tewantin. One runs past Makepeace and Sheep islands. The other sits further upstream on the river. In those two areas, you can only ski between 8am and 5pm.

The usual towing rules still apply on top. The driver needs a licence, an observer aged 13 or more watches the skier, and the skier wears a lifejacket. Our Queensland boating rules guide covers those, plus the state-wide distance rules near swimmers, moored boats and jetties.

The regulation describes the ski areas by coordinates. If you're unsure where one starts, ask MSQ before you tow.

Lake Weyba, Doonella, Cooroibah and Cootharaba: what applies on the lakes

All four lakes sit inside the Noosa River marine zone, so the jet ski ban and the wave jumping ban apply on each one. They're also inside the 28-day anchoring limit for boats over 5 metres.

Speed limits differ by lake. MSQ's schedule lists Lake Doonella at 6 knots and Lake Weyba at 20 knots. Lake Weyba is also left out of the holiday limit, so it stays at its listed speed over summer and Easter. Weyba Creek, the link from the river, is 6 knots.

Lake Cooroibah and Lake Cootharaba don't have their own entry in the Noosa section of the schedule. The upper river is 6 knots from the north end of Lake Cootharaba, and Cooroibah Creek and Cooloothin Creek are both 6 knots.

On any lake, the state-wide rules still apply, including the 6 knot limit within 30 metres of swimmers and moored boats. Watch for posted speed signs as you cross from the river onto a lake.

Anchoring on the Noosa River: 28 days a year for boats over 5 metres

Since 1 January 2026, a boat over 5 metres can anchor on the Noosa River system for a maximum of 28 days per financial year. Once it reaches 28 days, it can't come back to anchor until the next financial year. That's from MSQ's community media alert of 29 September 2025.

The limit covers every waterway and tributary in the system: Noosa Sound, Lake Weyba, Lake Doonella, Lake Cooroibah, Lake Cootharaba, the Noosa River Everglades and the connected creeks.

MSQ's alert of 14 January 2026 confirmed the limit is now in force. Long-term storage of boats at anchor is no longer allowed. Boats on MSQ registered moorings aren't affected, and MSQ says the number of moorings stays at 119, with no new ones planned.

For a day trip in a tinny or a small runabout this rarely matters. It matters if you're planning a week on the Everglades in a cruiser, because every day at anchor counts toward the 28.

No-anchoring areas: 60 metres off the busy shores for boats over 5 metres

On top of the 28-day limit, boats over 5 metres can't anchor in MSQ's no-anchoring zones, 60 metres off the shore along the busiest parts of the lower river. MSQ's January 2026 alert lists them along the southern foreshore, Woods Bay, Little Woods Bay, Noosa Sound and the northern shoreline of the Noosa River. MSQ's 2024 statement set this along the southern shore from Lake Doonella to the Garth Prowd Bridge from 15 July 2024. Boats in the zone can't anchor or ground, but they can come in to drop off and pick up passengers.

MSQ's anchoring map S18-65 adds Woods Bay and the Dog Beach area from 24 February 2025, and Little Woods Bay in Noosa Sound from 24 March 2025. Each is marked as a restricted anchorage area for all ships over 5 metres, 60 metres from the high water mark.

In 2024, MSQ allowed, on a trial basis, boats 5 metres or less, including tenders, to anchor in the southern shore zone to reach shops and services. Check MSQ's current map before you drop anchor, because the zones are drawn on it. For anchoring technique, see the anchoring guide listed below.

Learning the Noosa River at our Noosaville venue

If you're new to boating, the easiest way to learn these rules is on the water itself. Our trainers teach on the Noosa River every week from our Noosaville venue, so you'll see the signs, channel markers and busy shoreline zones in person.

Our Boat Licence course is priced from $329: one day on the water, all equipment provided and online theory included. Queensland requires a recreational marine licence to drive a boat with an engine over 4.5 kilowatts on your own.

You can't ride a private jet ski on the Noosa River, but if you plan to ride elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast, the Boat & Jet Ski Combo covers both licence courses in a single day.

Pick a date on our course dates page or read more about our Noosa venue. Training delivered by Australian Boating College, RTO #3399.