The beauty of Fraser Island

Did you know that that Australia has the largest sand island in the world? Where you can find the purest strain of dingos, fresh water lakes just begging for your to dive into and an abundance of hikes and tracks to explore. All this and more to discover when you Roam at Home.

Located off the coast of Queensland and accessible from Hervey Bay, Fraser Island offers up some of the most diverse environments and unique experiences.

Known by its traditional name of K’gari, Fraser Island is now a heritage listed area. The some 1,840 km2 is home to a diverse range of landscapes including pristine rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths.

Where to stay

You can only access the island by 4WD and camping requires a permit along with the vehicle. Alternatively, you can stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Located on the Western side of the island on the bayside, Kingfisher Bay Resort is a 4 star Eco Resort, offering a choice of Self-Contained Villas & Resort Rooms. It sits in harmony amongst its surroundings, and has one of the best spots on the island to catch the sunset.

From the resort, take a guided bush walk where you can learn about the flora and fauna before arriving at the lookout on the bayside. The staff are so passionate about the island, and full of knowledge. This shows on their tours which include birdwatching tours, eco tours and rays and sharks discovery sessions.

Exploring Fraser Island

As the islands roads are all off road and sand 4WDing, you need to jump on a day tour like the Beauty Spots Tour, taking in the best Fraser Island has to offer.

First stop is Eli Creek. The largest creek on the eastern beach of Fraser Island, Eli Creek is fast flowing as it pours up to four million litres of clear, fresh water into the ocean every hour. There is a boardwalk that follows the creek inland through banksia and pandanus. You can see why this place is a popular picnic and swimming spot, where you can float down the swiftly flowing creek from the bridge at the far end of the boardwalk.

From Eli Creek, the tour takes you along the ocean side beach to the Maheno shipwreck and the coloured sands of The Pinnacles. The Maheno is a great piece of Australian history laying on the coastline on Fraser Island. While there are a few wrecks on the island, The Maheno is by far the most. Driven ashore just north of Happy Valley during a cyclone in 1935, the once a well-known trans-Tasman liner, was bound for a Japanese wrecking yard when she met her stormy end. Today, in her final resting place, the hull lies slowly deteriorating in the harsh salt environment, about 10 kilometres north of Happy Valley.

Lunch stop is at Eurong Village before heading inland to Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek. Central Station is the remains of Fraser Island’s past. Originally established as a forestry camp when there was logging on world heritage listed Fraser Island, today Central Station’s beautiful rainforest is protected, with towering trees. There is a display explaining the development of the island from the past. A short walk through the rainforest will lead you along a boardwalk around Wanggoolba Creek.

Last stop on the tour is Lake Mackenzie. The awe-inspiring beauty of Lake McKenzie makes it probably the most visited natural site on the island. A ‘perched’ lake, meaning it contains only rainwater, the sand here is pure, white silica and is not only beautiful to look at but feels soft to walk on. The different shades of blues are stunning, you just have to brave the cold as it can get chilly.

For more on Fraser Island visit www.visitfrasercoast.com and Kingfisher Bay Resort visit www.kingfisherbay.com

Kate Webster is a world traveller, ocean lover and conservation warrior who is determined to make every moment count for not only herself but the world around her. This has inspired Kate to translate those moments and share them through her storytelling. A dedicated David Attenborough and Jane Goodall fan, Kate has delved into the world of wildlife and conservation travel to bring awareness.

kate@capturedtravel.com