Fraser Island
Have you ever heard of Fraser Island? Fraser Island is a heritage-listed island located along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, approximately 200 kilometers north of Brisbane.
To be able to fully enjoy your trip to this spectacular place, you will need a 4WD vehicle. The island itself is knows for a Fraser Highway just along the coast with the waves touching the wheels. It’s fun!
The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1,840 km2. The island offers a lot. Rainforests, eucalyptus woodland, mangrove forests, wallum and peat swamps, sand dunes and coastal heaths. It is made up of sand that has been accumulating for around 750,000 years.
One-day tour with Experience Fraser company
To spend a lovely day at this Island we decided on a day-tour with Experience Fraser company. The 1st step to get to the island is to take the ferry. The ride takes around 40 minutes and then we were told to meet with the guide and the rest of the group on our 4WD bus. The 1st part of the journey is basically just driving through the varried forests of the island and admiring the bus driver skills as the road is way too bumpy. But after the carousel ride it’s time to drive right next to the ocean which is much more pleasant. And Amazing. The beach is very wide and long, no wonder it is called 75-mile beach. The traffic is moderate and you regret this kind of roads are not everywhere, on a mainland.
The Maheno shipwreck
Our first destination is The Maheno shipwreck – the most famous of Fraser Island’s wrecks that has become a landmark attraction. In 1935, this ship was sold to Japan for scrap.The rudders of the boats were removed and it was being towed to Japan. When it reached Queensland Waters, a cyclonic storm snapped the tow chain and the Maheno drifted helplessly onto Fraser Island’s ocean beach.
The Pinnacles – Fraser Island colored sands
The Pinnacles, Fraser Island colored sands are the next attraction of the way. The stunning coloured sands that occur on Fraser Island comprise of 72 different colours, mostly reds and yellows. The colours are caused by the leaching of oxides and the decay of vegetation that coats each grain of sand, causing bands of color
Eli Creek
Third Attraction on the list for the day was getting to Eli Creek, the largest creek on the eastern beach of Fraser Island, that pours up to four million litres of clear, fresh water into the ocean every hour. Eli Creek is a popular picnic and swimming spot. Swimming or floating down the swiftly flowing creek from the bridge at the far end of the boardwalk is an invigorating experience.
The awe-inspiring McKenzie Lake
Finally, the schedule takes us to the awe-inspiring McKenzie Lake which is the highlight of the whole trip, for sure. It’s a ‘perched’ lake, which means it contains only rainwater, no groundwater, is not fed by streams and does not flow to the ocean. The sand and organic matter at the base of the lake form an impervious layer, preventing rainwater from draining away.
The sand here is pure, white silica and is not only beautiful to look at but feels beautifully soft to walk on.The sand acts as a filter, giving the water its clarity and helping to make the water so pure it can support very little life.
The blues and greens of the lake are endlessly fascinating.
The Pile Valley
Last, but not least, the journey takes us to the Pile Valley. A place of silent streams and tall ancient rainforest trees that seem to defy nature by thriving in sand. A place to stop and experience the tranquil nature of Fraser Island.
The cost of a trip
To sum up the whole trip, it’s definitely worth to give it a go! 1-day adventure will cost you from180$-225$ per day, as it requires the 4WD vehicle as well as tickets to enter the Great Sandy National Park and the Fraser Island itself.
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