Fraser Island
Kingfisher Bay
Another long drive to Hervey Bay where we parked our car for the ferry to Fraser Island for a 3 night stay. Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island. I was told that there is more sand in the island (both beneath & above sea level) than in the Sahara. Only special 4×4 vehicles are allowed on the island as the tracks are particularly difficult.
We stayed in a very nice central resort with our balcony overlooking a swampy, rainforest area. I would recommend the Kingfisher Bay Resort Hotel. Very much a Back-to-Nature feel to the place.
We took a Beauty Spots day-tour to see different parts of the island on a specially adapted 4WD coach as the sand tracks were in places very steep & bumpy.
We had a long initial drive to the other side of the island, to Eurong which is on the “75-Mile Beach”. There is an airport on the beach as well as the large wreck of the Maheno. We also drove to Eli Creek and the Pinnacles. We visited the abandoned logging centre and had a swim in the freshwater lake, Lake McKenzie. Lake McKenzie’s location is idyllic, a large reef lake with white sand surrounded by tropical trees.
Maheno Shipwreck
The ocean going liner, The Maheno was washed ashore in a cyclone in 1935. The wreck was offered for sale – but no one bought it, so it has remained as a tourist attraction ever since.
Pile Valley Rainforest Circuit guided walk
Epiphytes
Strangler Fig
Lake McKenzie
Fraser Island was such a nice place to explore. In our walks on the island however we didn’t see any dingoes, even though there are supposed to be a large population of them on the island.
McKenzie’s Jetty
Walking on the beach was fascinating seeing the different types of small crabs. We were told the patterns of worm casts that the crabs make are likely to be the source of inspiration for Aborigine dot paintings.
Below Orange Clawed Fiddler Crab & right a Soldier Crab
Welcome Swallow
Sunset over Kingfisher Bay
