Our first stop on our six month ‘wild oz’ adventure around Australia led us to the secluded Elanda Point, Lake Cootharaba. What we were looking for was the perfect place to launch our boat and ease into living on the road but what we found is a destination that boasts expansive waterways, narrow rivers, and untouched beauty only located 20 minutes drive north of Noosa Heads.
We had heard about the ‘Noosa Everglades’ but no words could describe the natural beauty that this untouched part of Queensland had on offer! You heard that right ‘Everglades’ – one of only two everglade systems on Earth (second to the well-known Everglades National Park in Florida), it truly is a natural spectacle waiting for you to explore!
With over 60kms of river and lake systems the Noosa Everglades boast the name ‘River Mirrors’ because of the stunning reflections in the water and is home to magnificent flora and fauna.
The Everglades can be explored guided or self guided; we opted for ‘self-guided’ in our 3m 8hp tinny. My trusty ‘skipper’ Jordan ensured we safely navigated the shallow waterways whilst enjoying the scenery.
#DYK the Noosa Everglades are relatively untouched, with 65% of its catchment in National Park and falls within the Noosa Biosphere Reserve which was declared by UNESCO in 2007.
A hidden Eco Camp nessled on Elanda Point is where we have spent the last three days. Habitat Noosa is a gorgeous lake side camp ground with easy access to the beatuiful Noosa Everglades. It is home to a large eastern grey kangaroo population and offers an accessible wilderness experience like no other! We stayed in their ‘un-powered’ sites directly on the lake, the mornings were glass and in the evening we could hear the Teewah Beach crashing in the background. Facilities were 5* and we couldn’t fault anything with the grounds.
A ‘Must Do’ in the Noosa region is head up to Mt Tinbeerwah to catch the sunset. Only a short 250m walk up from the carpark and you have uninterrupted views of the Noosa River, Lake Cootharaba and the Scenic Rim. We couldn’t think of a better way to end our 3 nights in Noosa, now onto Rainbow Beach!
Amy & Jordan
WildozTravellers xx