Fraser Island is considered the largest sand island of the world. This paradisiacal
island is located at eastern Australia around 300 Kilometers north Brisbane (approximately
3 hours and half by car). It is about 124 Kilometers long and between 7 and 25 Kilometers
wide; its area is 163000 hectares (402610 acres). Fraser Island is a unique luxurious
combination of the Australian rich natural heritage.
This natural paradise has a maritime subtropical climate, with rainfalls (approximately
1800 mm per year) mainly from December to May. In summer the temperature usually
reach 30ºC (86ºF); nevertheless in winter the temperatures fluctuate between 14ºC
(57ºF) and 21ºC (70ºF), being July, the coldest period of the year.
The largest beach of Fraser Island runs 75 miles (120.6 Kilometers) along the east
coast of the island and is one of the most wonderful beaches of the world. This
marvelous place encompasses an amazing variety of landscapes, long surf beaches,
nice cliffs, dense rainforests, beautiful freshwater lakes perched high up in its
dunes, great basalt headlands and salt pans with eerie mangrove forests. Fraser
Island has also many amazing landmarks such as the Maheno Wreck, the wonderful Champagna
Pools, the zone of Ely Creek or the Indian Head (a nice place where it can see sharks
in the surf).
The beaches and forests of Fraser Island are the habitat of a great variety of wildlife,
including 230 species of birds (the largest and most varied bird community of Australia)
such as sea eagles, osprey, kites, peregrine falcons gulls, cockatoos, terns, honeyeaters
or the endangered grand parrots . Besides, the island is also home of
the main population
of dingoes (an Australian feral dog) of the world.
Unfortunately the number of dingoes
is decreasing in the island because of the threat of humans, who have killed many
dingoes the last years, because they believe that these animals can be dangerous
for the people. There are also other mammals such as possums, swamp wallabies, sugar
gliders, flying foxes, echidnas and obviously kangaroos.
In addition to, the Island owns over 100 dune lakes, which are some of the cleanest
freshwater lakes of the world. Probably, the most famous of these lakes is the McKenzie
lake, a perched lake located at top of a sand and vegetable matter. This nice place
occupies 150 hectares and has a wonderful beach composed by nearly pure silica sand.
It is along with Eli Creek (the largest creek on the eastern coast of the island)
the two major symbols of the wonderful Fraser Island.
History
Scientists believe that the Fraser Island was developed over a period of around
800 000 years. Formerly, this amazing Island was called Great Sandy and was occupied
by the aborigine Butchulla tribe, who called the island K’gari that means “paradise”
in the native language. The aboriginal Australians occupied the island since 5000
years ago. There was a stable population of 400 to 600 inhabitants in the island
until arrival of the Europeans in the XVIII century.
Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island
Unfortunately, like in many other parts of the world; the European arrival to this
zone (in 1836) signified the annihilation for the native people (the Butchulla tribe).
The captain
James Cook and Mathew Flinders sailed around the island at the end of
the XVIII century; nevertheless, the first British that officially arrived to this
Island were the Captain James Fraser and his wife Eliza Fraser. They arrived to
the island, because of the Stirling Castle’s shipwreck. The Captain Fraser died in the island; but, his wife survived and was rescued. She returned to England and
told her story; therefore, the island has now the name of Eliza and James Fraser.
British exploited the great forest richness of the island, like a source of wood.
The exploitation of the forests was initiated in 1863 by the American Jack Piggott
and continued until 1991. The Fraser Island has also several rich deposits of rutile,
zircon, monazite and ilmenite, but these mining deposits were exploited only since
1950s; however, the mining activities in the island lasted only until 1977, because
of an environmental campaign.
The Island was listed as World Heritage site in 1992 and is also part of the natural
and cultural heritage of the Queensland State; therefore, currently, it is one of
the most visited destinations of Australia. The Island can be reached by ferry from
Hervey bay or by plane since the Maroochydore Airport of Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
Fraser Island is currently one of the
best places in Australia to take vacations.