 About
Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island,
and Australia's largest off-shore island, being 124
km long and 5.25km wide. It can be reached by commercial
ferry or plane operated by tourist companies based on
the mainland. The island is readily accessible from
Brisbane by plane or road, or by barge or ferry from
Hervey Bay, Inskip Point (Rainbow Beach) or Mary River
Heads on the mainland. The ferry takes 30 minutes from
the Hervey Bay.
Fraser's beaches are particularly attractive for those
with 4WD vehicles, but the island is large enough to
provide plenty of room for everyone. 4WD vehicles can
be hired through Getabout Oz. A light plane trip can
give a good overview of the island and bay. (The beach
is the airstrip.) The sandy straits between the mainland
and Fraser island are ideal for sailing, and also attract
hundreds of anglers for the tailor season. Camping and
vehicle permits are required.
 Scenically,
Fraser Island features seemingly endless miles of beaches
and sand dunes, long stretches of mangroves, exceptionally
clear-water creeks, cliffs of coloured sands, tall unspoilt
rainforests - and half the world's perched freshwater
dune lakes. This combination of sand-dunes, tropical
rainforests and lakes makes its 160 000 hectares an
exceptional and memorable place to visit.
Accommodation
Accommodation
is limited, and varies from beach camping, backpacker's
accommodation, private house rental and resort standard
accommodation. Booking is essential. On the ocean side,
there is accommodation at Happy Valley, Eurong, Dilli
Village and Cathedral Beacj Camping Park. Korawinga
Lodge at Eurong has time-share units. All these holiday
centres have family accommodation. Day tours leave Hervey
Bay and Rainbow Beach. For further information, the
Queensland Parks and Wildlife can be contacted.
Landscapes on Fraser Island
- The long stretches of beaches are unique, the most
notable being Seventy-Five Mile Beach.
 There
are 72 differently-coloured sands on the island, the
best being seen along a 35km stretch of beach called
Happy Valley.- There are over 40 lakes on the island, each with
its individual features, and all above sea level.
- Sand blows are an added attraction worth seeing,
caused by the sand being shifted by the sea breezes.
The Knife Blade is the largest of these blows.
- The shipwreck Maheno is easily seen on the beach
just south of the Knife Blade.
- The western coast of Fraser Island is fringed by
mangroves backed by 30 000-year-old cypress pines.
- Along the eastern coastline are sand dunes that
have been blown into shapes with such names as The
Cathedrals and The Pinnacles.
- Rocky headlands provide excellent views.
- The coastal creeks have water that has taken about
70 years to works its way through the dunes and underground
aquifers.
- There are cliffs and gorges in shades of orange,
red, yellow and pure white.
- Other features are great basalt headlands and saltpans
with eerie mangrove forests.
Interesting Facts about Fraser
Island
 Scientists
believe Fraser Island developed over 800 000 years,
its sand coming from Northern NSW, washed into the sea
by the big rivers in that area, and carried north by
strong sea currents.
The rainforests grow in sand, but survive on the nutrients
supplied from the breakdown of other plants. Some of
the giant satinay and brush box trees are over 1000
years old.
The island attained World Heritage Listing in December
1992 because of its sand dune systems, rainforests growing
on sand, and the amazing clarity of the water in its
streams. (You can look at a stream and see only the
creek bed because the water is so clear.)
Fraser's vegetation is not all tall forest, as the
Wallum heath lands occupy a lot of the lowlands. Here
you can see scribbly gums (the scribbles on the bark
are caused by an insect), and the Wallum Banksia. (Banksias
are named after Sir Joseph Banks, the botanist on Captain
Cook's ship Endeavour.)
The sand of Fraser Island goes down to a depth 30-60
meters below sea level. The dune systems dates back
30 000 years and are the oldest in the world.
Groundwater is stored in huge reserves of about 10-20
million megalitres within the sandmass. Six million
litres of this is stored above sea level.
Some of Fraser Island's 40 lakes are estimated to be
over 300 000 years old.
There are about 50 species of fern on Fraser island,
including the angiopteris fern which had the largest
fronds of any fern in the world. It uses water pressure
rather than structural tissue to keep its fronds erect.
The wildflowers are at their best between the months
of August and September.
Seeing the Sights on the Island
The only way to get around the island is by 4wd. There
is a wide range of tracks for driving to the main places
of interest, but you have to be able to drive a 4wd
in varying terrains - mainly sand - after all, Fraser
Island is ALL sand! Getabout Oz has access to
the widest range of 4wd vehicles available, including
tent-top campers. Let us know your travel requirements
and we can advise the right vehicle for your needs.
Consider picking up your 4wd in Brisbane and tour north
through the Glass House Mountains to Gympie and then
on to beautiful Hervey Bay. This is where you get the
vehicle ferry to Fraser Island. You can camp on the
Island or there is accommodation available. There are
also many organised tours of the various sights on the
island. The choice is yours.
Amazing sights such as the Maheno ship wreck await visitors
to Fraser Island.
The Maheno was once a luxury liner, which when on route
to Japan to be scrapped when it was washed ashore on
the eastern beach of Fraser Island during a rare winter
cyclone.
Walking Tracks vary from short walks along creek beds
to a 13km walk between Lake McKenzie and Lake Waddy.
It is recommended walks be taken with an experienced
bush walker, and to always advise park rangers of your
itinerary before setting out.
Maps, and a compass are essential, as is staying on
the tracks, as swamps and thick heath make many areas
inaccessible. The southern area has fresh water in creeks,
but it is harder to find water in the northern areas,
so adequate food and water should be carried.
Comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, water,
food and a compass are needed by bush walkers.
 Fraser
is not snake free, and the local wild dingoes should
not be fed. Insect repellent is needed in summer and
after rain. Roads - All tracks are unsealed, and are
not graded regularly, which means the roads are rough.
Self-drive 4WD vehicles and trail bikes are available
for exploring the island, and can be transported by
ferry from the mainland. Commercial 4WD buses take tourists
on day trips, and there are restaurants, general stores
and basic comfort stops available. There are no towns
on Fraser Island. Accommodation ranges from a resort
to beach camping.
Swimming - There is excellent swimming in the creeks
and lakes. Swimmers should not swim into the surf on
the eastern shore because of the dangerous currents.
Fishing - The island boasts some 200 lakes that provide
excellent spots for fishing. Many visitors come mainly
for the fishing, especially along the ocean beaches
of the eastern coast. A fishing competition is an annual
event here, running for a whole week.
Flora and Fauna
Fraser Island is famous for over 300 species of
birds, and include coastal birds such as dotterals,
pied oyster-catchers, pelicans and terns, and birds
of prey such as brahminy kites, white-breasted sea eagles,
ospreys and peregrine falcons.  The
island's heathlands are home to one of Australia's rarest
bird, the ground parrot, and here you will also find
honey-eaters, kingfishers and cockatoos.
The freshwater wetlands are the habitat of curlews,
jabirus and brolgas.
There are 25 species of mammal, including pure-breed
dingoes, wallabies, possums, flying foxes and echidnas.
Dugong feed on the sea grass, turtles breed on some
island beaches, and tailor spawn annually near rocky
headlands.
Humpback whales from the Antarctica come to the sheltered
waters of Platypus Bay with their new calves on their
return journey south. Between July and August is the
time to see the whales, and licenced tour-operators
operate from Hervey Bay.
Climate
The climate on Fraser Island is categorised as
maritime subtropical with annual mean temperatures ranging
from 14.1C minimum to 28.8C maximum. Rainfall is high,
reaching 1800mm on the highest dunes in the centre of
the island.
More Information
Resorts and stores on the mainland provide information
and booking facilities for day trips, tours and accommodation
on Fraser Island. There are also Information Centres
on the island at Central Station, Eurong National Parks
and Wildlife Office, Waddy Point and Dundabara as well
as at tourist information centres, resorts and stores
on the island. Fuel and ice are available on the island. |
Camper Specials
