Fraser Island
Categories: holidays, australia
Date: 10 April 2007 11:16:02
Wow. And wow again. Words cannot describe Fraser Island adequately: if you get the chance to experience it, go, go, go! 108 photos to bore you with. If you have any questions on any of them, or on the island itself, let me know and I'll try and answer them.
The basics: Fraser Island, in the Batjala Aboriginal Language K'Gari, is the largest sand island in the world - 1,630 km²: it is 175 km north to south with a maximum width of 25 km. Its highest point is 260 m. It was added to the World Heritage listing in 1992. It is truly an amazing habitat, and I had to keep reminding myself that all of the wonderful flora present were growing in sand. Truly amazing. The island is losing one metre of sand per year on its western side, but gaining five metres, yes, five metres, on its eastern side. I reached the island via catamaran from Hervey Bay Marina: there is also a barge you can take if you want to take a vehicle. It took about 40 minutes by catamaran to reach Kingfisher Bay on Fraser Island.
Kingfisher Bay Resort, where I stayed, was a wonderful place. Several years ago there was a fatal dingo attack on a little boy: since then fences have been put up around the resort to keep the dingoes out -- they used to roam around the hotel lobby, restaurants and even guests' rooms. The resort is truly a great place to stay: wonderful restaurants (I had seafood buffets, as well as delicious main meals, for dinner; and a very nice non-alcoholic chocolate/coffee cocktail named the Virgin Monk!); a great programme of free events (talks and slideshows on the island; morning, afternoon and evening walks and talks with rangers); reasonably priced hire of equipment for water sports, as well as activities on the water at a fair price (I did a morning canoe through the mangroves); a number of pools; close access to the beach; and wonderful surrounds. The hotel rooms themselves have been made from wood and do blend in well to the environment. A number of animals (birds, lizards, frogs...) have made their home in the bush and lakes in the resort, so there is the constant sound of wildlife.
The big day trip was an 8-hour trip, on a 4WD bus, around the island, stopping off at a number of highlights: Eli Creek; the wreck of the SS Maheno; a number of rock formations; Central Station Rainforest [so called as there were once trains to transport logged timber]; and the beautiful Lake MacKenzie, the sand on the beach around which is almost 100% pure silica. Dingoes are often sighted there, but we did not see any. Perhaps next time -- and there will be a next time: I plan to return. I also took the chance to take a short flight over the island, seeing it from the air: the weather turned and the rain and wind came, which made for a very interesting, and bumpy, flight at times: but it was amazing to see the island from the air.
On the other days, I certainly kept myself busy: I took an early morning bird walk and tour; took an an evening walk tour; joined a walk with some researches from Sunshine Coast uni who were investigating the growth cycle of the banksia; walked along the beach; went bushwalking; swam in the pool; sat on my verandah reading, and just listening to the sounds of nature; and ate, and drank, well. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the other guests equally as gregarious. And, despite the activity, or perhaps because of it, it was relaxing, so very relaxing. I felt as if I had been away for a week, or more; not four days.
Thanks be to God: for a wonderful thirtieth, and for His wonderful creation.