Fraser Island, about three-and-a-half hours from Brisbane in Queensland, is one big sandy dune more than a million years in the making. The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island is so much more than just a huge sand dune, it's the only place on the planet where rainforest grows on sand, it sustains a unique natural environment, and it's a place of exceptional beauty.
Fraser Island is a year-round magnet for four wheel drivers. There are few places in Australia as diverse and beautiful as Fraser Island, so it's a great way to see everything the island has to offer. There are 15,000 kms of sand tracks linking lakes, beach and rainforest to put your vehicle through its paces and to test your driving skills! If you don't own a 4WD then you can hire one! The beach on Fraser is considered a road and the general road rules apply, so keep to the left and don't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There is a slight difference to the usual road travel though, because even before turning the ignition key, drivers should check tide times. The best time to travel is around low tide and you should avoid two hours either side of high tide. Food, gas refills, ice and fuel are available at Happy Valley, Eurong, Cathedral Beach, Orchid Beach and Kingfisher Bay.
Fishing is an extremely popular activity on Fraser Island and tailor is plentiful from right off the beach. The other big attraction of Fraser is its natural beauty. Fraser Island has over 100 freshwater lakes and numerous streams, including half of the world's perched dune lakes. Perched means they are sitting high on sand. Lake McKenzie, with has clear blue waters and white sandy shores, covers more than 150 hectares and is over five metres in depth. Perched high in a sand dune, it is 100 metres above sea level. Another incredible natural wonder on the island is Lake Argyle, holding 28 times the water of Sydney Harbour and extremely pure.
Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village is a fully-integrated, large-scale ecotourism resort which opened in 1992, setting benchmarks in ecotourism which have been used by ecotourism ventures worldwide. The resort is designed to give people an enjoyable nature-based tourism experience on Fraser Island while creating minimal impact on the environment. The resort was designed and built to integrate with Fraser Island's superb natural environment by building on piles above the ground, not to impose upon it by carving a building platform out of the sand dunes. Kingfisher Bay Resort provides the perfect base from which to explore Fraser Island. Rangers guide four-wheel-drive coach tours and conduct small private tours or you can hire your own vehicle and explore Fraser Island yourself.
Further information
Kingfisher Bay Resort Hotel
Two night 'Experience Package', from $299 per person twin share, includes breakfast.
Telephone: 07 4120 3333
Website: www.kingfisherbay.com
Return Vehicle Barge transfers from River Heads are $115 for a vehicle and four people.
Queensland Parks Vehicle Permits for driving on Fraser Island are available at Kingfisher Bay Resort reception for $33.45.
