About

YOUR LOCATION

Fraser Island is a giant sandmass stretching 123km along the southern coast of Queensland. Fraser Island was World Heritage listed in 1992. The listing recognises the island’s internationally significant natural features. Fraser Island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world, being composed almost entirely of siliceous sand. The only areas of hard rock are volcanic headlands at Indian Head and Waddy Point on the east coast.

For several million years, sand, that has been washed to the sea from the northern New South Wales river systems has moved northwards up the south Queensland coast by the ocean waves and currents. As well as forming the famous beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, the regions best known tourist localities, this sand has created a number of major land masses at various locations along the coast line. Today these areas are regions of exceptional natural beauty, with wide golden ocean beaches, spectacular coloured sands and magnificent freshwater lakes. There are five sand-masses in the broad south-east Queensland region and Fraser Island is the largest.

The island also consists of sand blows that form when strong onshore winds break through the vegetation cover, driving sand from the eroding dunes. They engulf forests in their path at rates of up to one meter each year. New sand blows can also form when the stabilising plant cover is damaged by fire and wind.

There are some amazing freshwater dune lakes formed in unique shapes and colour. Lake Boomanjin, the world’s largest perched lake (200ha) and Boomerang Lakes, one of the world’s highest (120m above sea level) are on Fraser Island. Perched lakes such as Lake Birrabeen and Lake McKenzie (Boorangooa) are the most common type of lake. They developed when a saucer-shaped hard pan of organic debris, sand and peat formed in a depression between dunes. Water collects, slowly filtering to the water-table below.

Barrage lakes form when a mobile sand dune dams a watercourse, usually in younger dunes close to the coast. Window lakes generally at low elevations form where the ground surface drops below the water-table level and fills with groundwater. All freshwater lakes are low in nutrients and support few plants and animals. Most lakes have only two or three fish species.

Hammerstone Sandblow and Lake Wabby

HOW TO GET THERE

As there is no bridge from the mainland, access to Fraser Island is via vehicular barges, aircraft, cruise vessels, private boats or on a commercial tour. Roads on Fraser Island are mainly sandy tracks and beaches which can only be negotiated by four-wheel drive vehicles.

There are two vehicle access routes to Fraser Island, from the south via Rainbow Beach and from the west via Hervey Bay. Rainbow Beach can be reached using a varity of routes, the main two being through Gympie, and from Noosa along Teewah Beach. Hervey Bay lies on the coast about 30km north-east of Maryborough. Only four-wheel drives should be taken to Fraser Island.

Rainbow Beach: From Rainbow Beach township, you can travel to Inskip Point by driving the road which leads north from near the centre of the town. You can also travel the beach but only from a turnoff along this road. From Inskip Point, vehicular barges run back and forth to Fraser’s southern beach, just west of Hook Point. The trip only takes about fifteen minutes. The Manta Ray barge service can be contacted on 07 5486 3935 or 0418 872 599.

Hervey Bay: South of Hervey Bay ‘Fraser Island Barges’ leave from River Heads at the mouth of the Mary River to either the outlet of Wanggoolba Creek or Kingfisher Bay Resort which are on Fraser Island’s west coast. This crossing usually takes about forty-five minutes. The Fraser Island Barges can be contacted on 1800 227 437 or +61 7 4194 9300. Another barge service is available from Hervey Bay. This service leaves Urangan Boat Harbour to both Moon Point and Urang Creek. Kingfisher Bay Ferry can be contacted on 1800 227 437.

Aircraft: Flying to Fraser Island is another option. Aircraft are available from  Air Fraser Island.  Air Fraser Island specialises in beach landings on the beaches of fabulous World Heritage listed Fraser Island. Air Fraser Island operates GA8 Airvans for the majority of the beach operations. These high winged , large windowed aircraft provide the ideal platform to enjoy the wonders and magnificent views that Fraser Island can offer from the sky.

Ocean Lake

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES

Hiring of four-wheel drives can be done from either the mainland or the island. Delivery is available at Orchid Beach airstrip or at Hervey Bay; Rainbow Beach; Noosa or Brisbane.
• To hire from Brisbane, contact Australian 4WD Hire  on 1300 360 339 or +61 7 5527 6191
• At Rainbow Beach, contact Rainbow Beach 4X4 Hire 66 Rainbow Beach Rd. Rainbow Beach on +61 7 5486 8300 or +61 404 692 383

Also, you can fly direct to the airstrip at Orchid Beach using charter flights available from Hervey Bay; Maryborough; Sunshine Coast or Brisbane. Orchid Beach is only a thirty minute flight from Maryborough or Hervey Bay airports and are serviced by:-
•  Air Fraser Island leaving from Hervey Bay or the Sunshine Coast and can be contacted on 1300 172 706