| Fraser Island,
situated adjacent to Hervey Bay, Queensland is the largest sand island in
the world.
Fraser Island, named after shipwreck victim Eliza Fraser this World
Heritage listed sub tropical island has a truly amazing array of natural
wonders including beautiful rainforests, pristine lakes, endless surf
beaches, immense sand blows, cliffs of coloured sands, crystal clear
streams and vast stretches of mangroves.
The Island is 125km long and over 160,000 hectares in area. It was
formed during the ice age when the prevailing winds transported the vast
quantities of sand from New South Wales and deposited it along the coast
of Queensland forming the island as we know it today.
In this fragile eco system the rainforest consists of huge satinay and
brush box, kauri pines, piccabeen palms and the rare angiopteris fern
which is one of the largest ferns in the world. All this growing in pure
sand ! There are some wonderful walking tracks through these areas to
enable visitors to appreciate the unique beauty of the island.
There are a number of lakes on the island each with their own
individual character - from lakes stained red with tannin to others with
pure white sand and crystal clear water. Swimming in these lakes is
memorable experience.
Fraser is also home to over 200 species of birds along with a variety
of mammals, wallabies, snakes, possums, turtles and flying foxes.
Now listed as a World Heritage site, Fraser joins the ranks of the
Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Kakadu National Parks as being of universal
significance as the largest coastal dune system and sand island in the
world and for its special environments. As a precious part of Queensland's
natural and cultural heritage, it is protected for all to appreciate,
enjoy and respect.
PRISTINE LAKES AND CRYSTAL
CREEKS
If sand is the key to how
Fraser Island was formed, then water has been the reason it has become so
special. The combination of environments, particularly the rainforests,
have established through Fraser's wealth of freshwater sources.
CREEKS
Crystal clear creeks and
streams flow through the cool, shady forests and out into the sheltered
waters of Hervey Bay on the western side of the island. Along the ocean
shore, hundreds of streams punctuate the smooth, sandy beach. But of all
the creeks and streams on Fraser, two stand out as exceptional. Wanggoolba
Creek at Central Station flows silently over white sand along the floor of
a thick rainforest. A major port of call for visitors, Wanggoolba's
creekside walkways pass the angiopteris ferns, an ancient species boasting
the largest single fern fronds in the world. Eli Creek on the eastern side
of the island, is the largest of the freshwater streams flowing into the
ocean. Eli is popular with visitors and walkways allow you to appreciate
its beauty. Stop for a while and spot the kingfishers as they dart amongst
the pandanus and casuarinas.
LAKES
It would be hard to imagine
lakes clearer than those on Fraser Island. The water is so pure that the
40 or so lakes support relatively little life. There are three types of
lakes on Fraser, window, barrage and perched lakes. Window lakes occur
when the ground drops below the water table. The fine white sandy base
acts as filters, giving the water its clarity. There are several window
lakes including Yankee Jack, Ocean lake and Lake Wabby. Lake Wabby is also
termed a barrage lake, which is formed by the damming action of a sandblow
blocking the waters on a natural spring. Wabby is relatively close to the
ocean side of the island and unlike the other lakes it supports several
varieties of fish. It is also a good example of the sandblow phenomena,
gradually encroaching on the deep green waters of Wabby as the sandblow
makes its gradual progress westward across the island.
Swimmers in the lake should not run and dive off the sandblow - the
water is very shallow close to the edge of the lake. Perched lakes occur
above the water table. Saucer-shaped depressions with a hard, impervious
base of organic matter and sand, form a catchment for the rain eventually
creating the lake. The peat-like base generally stains the water the
colour of tea. In the northern half of the island, Lake Bowarrady is the
highest of the perched lakes being some 120 metres above sea level. In the
southern part of the island there is Lake Birrabeen and the popular Lake
McKenzie. Lake Boomajin approximately 190 hectares in area is the world's
largest perched dune lake.
ENVIRONMENTAL CODE
To maintain the natural beauty
of the lakes on the island, please ensure you observe the following
guidelines:
- Do not pollute waterways with soaps or detergents.
- Power boats and vehicles are not permitted in the lakes.
- Do not feed dingoes or other native annals.
- Boil all water taken from natural sources on the island.
- Respect the peace of the other visitors.
- Take only photos. Leave only footprints.
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