Fraiser Island

March 17, 2008 – we are off for a day’s adventure to Fraser Island. This is the world’s largest sand island – approximately 80 miles long by 15 miles wide, all made of sand. There is more sand on this island than all of the Sahara Desert, less land mass, but deeper/thicker sand layer. This was not on our original itinerary, but so many people suggested we not miss it; we punted and added a day to make sure we got there. We arose early and caught our shuttle at 6:00 am to Urangan boat harbor where we caught the Kingfisher Bay catamaran for the 35 minute ride to the island. From the pier, we boarded our 4 wheel drive tour bus to see the sights. It was quite a ride, there was no pavement once we left the resort area, you were riding on sand tracks, which were very bumpy, steep and unimproved. It was really like being out in the wild. As we rode along, branches of the trees and bushes were beating on our windows. We were in the middle of more rain forest, amazing to see these tall trees: scribbly bark gums, Kharey pines (no pine needles, but leaves – with huge pinecones), ferns, fox tail sage and many more growing out of the sand. We rode up and over the sand dunes, down to the 75 mile beach. We then took a short airplane ride out over the ocean and then over the interior of island. We saw the massiveness of the rain forest; the trees looked like heads of broccoli poking up out of the sand. We saw many of the fresh water lakes that dot the island. The takeoff and landing off of the beach were amazing, so smooth, such a trill.

We then re-boarded the bus for a visit to Eli Creek, amazing clear fresh water creek that feeds into the Pacific Ocean. We saw the rusted wreck of the Maheno – landed on the shores in 1935, the colorful sand pinnicles and on to lunch. The afternoon we bumped along (I mean BUMPED along) more of the sand tracks, I am sure I would have gotten lost if I was navigating. We stopped and saw Central Station where the big logging community was situated back in the early 1900s. The Satinay trees were logged to line the banks of the Suez Canel. A walk along the Wanggoolba Creek was next; it was a beautiful look at a very important place in the Aboriginal’s life when they were in residence there. Lake McKenzie was our last stop of the day; it is a beautiful fresh water lake – crystal clear waters, with pure white sandy beaches. We had a good time watching the dingoes going up and down the beach, checking people’s bags out, snatching a few that they found interesting, probably had something to eat?

It was another wonderful day, such experiences we are privileged to be having. Stay tuned for our next stop.