All about Fraser Island
Pure Sand. Pristine Beaches. Lush Rainforests. Charming Lakes. – All the beautiful things that nature can whip up on one magical island is found in the World Heritage Fraser Island. Holding the largest sand island in the world of 1,840 km, this paradise cannot be missed out on any traveller’s diary.
Where is it?
Situated in the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, it is about 120 kilometres in length created by 800,000 years of long shore drift. It is a place inhabited by the Indigenous Australians. Coming to the island can be done via two ferry routes, either from Hervey Bay or from Inskip Point.
How to Get There
Coming from Hervey Bay, the next and most important thing to remember is to get 4wd hires, or tour buses when travelling Fraser Island. The road is all sand. It’s both an adventure and a challenging journey to take. Your vehicle and the driver/tour guide must be up for it. One minute you’ll be cruising along when suddenly the earth turns to water and you start to spin out.
There are recommended guided or tag-along tours for groups, or if you like it exclusive for your group, self-drive safaris. The best travel packages in Fraser Island are the ones that offer 4wd tag-along guided tours coupled with accommodation reservations.
Top Places to See, Best Things to Do
• 120km Beach – the 120km beach runs along the whole east of Fraser Island. Travellers have noted that it has the clearest water of blue. The sand is clean and smooth. It serves both as a highway and runway. There are lots of water sports activities to try in Fraser Island. Usually, the guided tours have included these in their itinerary. Go scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling, etc. Just make sure you hold safety first.
• Lake McKenzie – Sands of nearly pure silica and waters of absolute pureness and clarity are just few of the things that can attest to the magnificence of this popular spot in Fraser Island. You can never truly claim that you’re a world traveller until you’ve set your foot on this wonderful ‘paradise lake’.
• Central Station – With year-round south-easterly wind, huge sand dunes on the island move at the rate of 1 – 2 metres a year. Be amazed with the elegance of its huge sand dunes. It is a popular tourist destination because it is surrounded by bushwalking tracks to enable full appreciation of the variety of plants living on the island.
• Eli Creek – the largest creek on the East Coast part. About 80 million litres of freshwater flow into Eli Creek every day. To reach the top of the creek to swim or ride travellers can use the boardwalk.
• Maheno Creek – A major landmark of Fraser Island is the shipwreck of the S.S. Maheno, built in 1905 in Scotland. A true historical classic, it was used in World War I and even in World War II as a target bombing practice for the RAAF. In 1953, it was being towed from Melbourne until it met a strong cyclone, which lead the ship to the parked on Fraser Island beach.
Discovering its Natural Beauty
Owning one of the most diverse ecologies on planet earth, Fraser Island is regal fusion of rainforests with some 40 freshwater lakes, plus amazing sand dunes of up to 224 metres in height. One can sight its beach shores with whales, dolphins, sharks, and turtles from this elevation.
Its Central Station remains a popular tourism destination on the island. The station is surrounded by bushwalking tracks to enable full appreciation of the variety of plants living on the island. Some of the rarest ferns grow along the rainforest near the station.
Enjoying the Waters
The freshwater lakes are a sight to behold – take note, Fraser Island has the cleanest lakes in the world. The place is proud of the famous Lake McKenzie, located inland from the town of Eurong. It is “perched” on top of compact sand and vegetable matter, about 100 metres above sea level, but is only over five metres in depth.
Another famous tourist destination is the Eli Creek – the largest creek on the East Coast part. About 80 million litres of freshwater flow into Eli Creek every day. To reach the top of the creek to swim or ride, travellers can use the boardwalk.
Fraser Island is one paradise on earth you can’t miss out. If you’re an adventurous backpacker, you can’t go wrong with the beach+sand+lake+rainforest combo! It is Fraser Island if you’re seeking the best out of your travel experience in the land down under.