It was time to leave the urban vibes behind and get back to what the RedSands life is all about: nature. I’ve set up camp at Habitat Noosa, which is tucked away inside a massive 65-hectare national park right on the edge of the stunning Lake Cootharaba.
This place is the ultimate base camp for the Great Sandy National Park. There are hiking trails everywhere where you can get up close with the local wildlife and dive into the area’s history. But the real reason people come here? It’s the gateway to the Noosa Everglades—one of only two everglades systems on the entire planet.
I jumped on an Everglades Eco Safari, and “unforgettable” doesn’t even do it justice. We glided through what they call the “River of Mirrors.” Because the water is infused with tea tree oil from the surrounding forest, it becomes so dark and still that the reflections of the ancient trees are perfectly symmetrical. It’s like sailing through a kaleidoscope.
This region is a powerhouse of biodiversity, home to a staggering 44% of Australia’s native bird species. Between canoeing through the glassy waterways and taking a dip in that famous tea tree-infused water—which, like Lake Ainsworth, feels amazing on the skin—it was a total sensory overload. The guides were incredible, too, peeling back the layers of history on this ancient landscape as we drifted along.
If you need to hit the “reset” button, this is the place to do it.
