When translated from the language of the locals, Fraser is translated as "Kgari-rai". Indeed, there are not many places in the world with sandy beaches, clear water flowery meadows and blue skies above. Why not heaven?

Most recently, Fraser Island was recognized as the largest sandy place in the world. Coastline extends for a distance of 110 kilometers. The main highlight of the island was its sand dunes. Some of them reach a height of up to 250 meters. In combination with emerald forests, they are very similar to snow.

The name of the island was given by a family of Europeans, wrecked at its shores. It cannot be said that at that time the relations between the population of the island and civilized Europeans were hostile. And of course, few people were happy with such an addition. For a long time, the Frasers were even held captive by local residents.

In 1992, the island was added to the World Heritage List and a nature reserve was created on its territory. But regardless of these important events in Fraser's life, the island was always popular with tourists.

It is surprising that, despite the ocean surrounding on all sides, the island is replete with fresh water. Scientists have nicknamed them "hanging", due to the fact that they seem to hang between the salty ocean water. In general, 100 such reservoirs were counted on the island. The most famous was Lake Mackenzie. It's all because of its extraordinary beauty and fresh waters. The lake is fed only with moisture from precipitation, and the water in it is practically distilled, which affects its animal composition. It is completely devoid of organisms, even germs and bacteria. But most importantly, it is surrounded by a white sandy beach.

The largest freshwater lake is called Boemingen, and it extends over 200 hectares. Despite the tropical hot climate, the water here is always pleasantly cool. This lake has become famous among tourists. Numerous eucalyptus trees growing on the coast give a special zest. There is also a small rainforest nearby.

Throughout the history of the island, the population has constantly changed. Currently, just over 400 people live on Fraser, of which only 11 are descendants of the aborigines who hold the Fraser family captive. After that crash, some time passed and colonialists poured onto the island to establish settlements here. Naturally locals opposed this, and the war began. There were much more Europeans, so the natives were almost completely exterminated. Today the island is tourist place with numerous parks, hotels, entertainment programs etc. You can get here by plane, but the best option there will be a barge crossing with your car.

Fraser Island is very different from the continent of Australia, primarily for its comfortable warm climate. That is why it has such a rich flora and fauna. Due to the wide variety of vegetation, the island is rich in animals. Turtles can be found in fresh water bodies, bats in the forest, as well as endemics - kangaroos, opossums, etc. To get closer to the animals, tourists are invited to take a canoe tour. Well, how can you do without birds. The island is simply a paradise for bird watchers. More than 350 species live here, including rare specimens.

Since Fraser Island is considered entirely tourist center, in addition to excursions and relaxing on the beach, there is a wide range of sports and extreme entertainment: surfing, bodyboarding and many others. Some even come here just to ride around the island on a yacht and look at the marine life.

Well, of course, if you don’t want to think over the route yourself, you can use different excursion tours. Each of them necessarily includes a visit to the Happy Valley, where the remains of a liner washed ashore during the First World War are located.

Since there are a lot of tourists, the population is very worried about ecological situation on the island. Therefore, in our time there is an active promotion of tourism under open sky in tents or campsites. It is assumed that in this way it will be possible to preserve the well-being of the environment.

This is the second week of our trip to Australia. Having explored the Western part of Australia and then, having got acquainted with Sydney and its main attractions, we flew north to the town of Hervey Bay, located almost in the center of the East Coast. From there we crossed by ferry to the famous Fraser Island and for the first acquaintance flew around it by helicopter.

The island is famous for being the largest sand island in the world. We will spend three days on it and see how the Australians meet New Year. Tourists arriving on the island settle down there overnight in different ways. Some of them, who, as a rule, have rented jeeps on the mainland, prefer to travel in these vehicles and live in campsites. For those who love comfort, there are several different hotels on the island. We stayed in one of the largest and most comfortable - Kingfisher Bay Resort. It had two pools which was great as swimming in the ocean is not pleasant due to the poor muddy shore.

The hotel administration did everything so that tourists would not get bored and offered tourists several excursions. The most worthless - to see the "night" and "morning" animals. Their cost is 5 AUD, the duration is an hour and a half. Bought on the "night". The guide walked with us after dinner through the wild territory of the hotel without even going beyond it (the hotel is surrounded by a metal fence from wild Dingo dogs). She showed some spider bugs and on that everyone went to sleep.

We didn’t go on the morning tour (they didn’t return the money to us), because we had to get up at 4 in the morning. And what to watch? Can you surprise us with some spiders? Birdsong could be heard in the thick foliage from the window of the room. In general, there are no special animals on the island. So, one little thing - different mice.

True, there are also the famous Dingo wild dogs on the island, but we never managed to see them. True, I remember that in the years of my youth there was a film of the same name by Julius Karasik about pure, but bitter first teenage love.

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Dingoes are like domestic dogs. Actually, they are secondarily feral domestic dogs. But they are not tame at all, and therefore you need to be careful when meeting with them. We were advised to follow the basic rules of behavior - do not go outside the hotel alone and do not feed anyone (for this a fine of 1500 aud!), Do not run away and do not turn your back on them, but wait until they leave. In general, they advised not to go outside the hotel alone, day or night.

After the helicopter flight, the other most educational excursion offered a trip on a four-wheel drive 4WD bus through the most interesting places islands (70 AUD/person).

Overland tour of Fraser Island

Early in the morning we gather at four-wheel drive buses and distribute to cars. Each car is driven by two people - the driver and the guide, who change in turn. The guide is constantly talking, throwing in figures and facts from the history of the development of the island. It turns out before European colonization Australia, the island was inhabited by several thousand natives of the Butchulla tribe and in their language it was called K`gari. Which in translation into ours meant "Paradise".

And his modern name associated with the name of Captain Fraser, whose ship "Stirling Castle" was wrecked here in 1836. The captain, along with the crew, were killed and eaten by the natives, and his wife Eliza was taken prisoner. After her release by runaway convicts, from whom she also suffered, Eliza ended her life in a psychiatric hospital from everything she had experienced ...

This case for a long time gave rise to enmity and aggressiveness in the relationship between Europeans and aborigines. Such is sad story was on this island.

Regarding the formation of numerous lakes on the sandy island, the guide noted that all lakes are replenished by rainfall, which falls up to 1,500 millimeters per year. Water flowing out of lakes or seeping through sand forms streams (here they are called Creek), which, draining, disappear into the ocean.

The bus makes its way along a broken sandy road, made many years ago by timber trucks. Now this road has gone into the sand for more than a meter. Once upon a time, wood was cut down on the island and wood was delivered to the continent. On both sides of the road there is a dense forest cover. And if two cars meet on such a road, then the drivers look at who is more comfortable to slide onto specially made patches or turn back even 100 meters. Everyone disperses politely and thanks those who gave way. The "steepness" of wheelbarrows does not count here.

After half an hour of such a ride, after driving about 10 km, we stop at Lake McKenzie. Exactly this famous lake islands. A large turquoise spot against the backdrop of green jungle. Crystal clear water! I saw the same clear water only on the famous Shatsky Lakes in Ukraine.

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And although it is large, people hang out only on one beach. Everyone lies in the coastal zone of the water on the white sand and go crazy. Almost no one swims. It feels like taking a bath. The lake is deep - it can be seen from the dark blue of the water about 20 meters from the shore, but no one was already visible there.

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All the women are in bikinis, and the men are all in long, knee-length and below, underpants. In swimming trunks, customary in our countries, no one bathes. We also had to pull on the same pants, otherwise, they say, they may perceive us incorrectly by our orientation. To be honest, it’s an uncomfortable form of clothing for swimming (I completely forgot - they don’t swim!). I'm not talking about leaving the water in this form in cold or windy weather. Various inflammations are 100% guaranteed. Fortunately, it is hot here, and the water was +30.

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After an hour of relaxation on the lake and tea and coffee with traditional Australian buns and cookies prepared by our attendants, we drive further inland. After a few kilometers we arrived at the Central station - former base lumberjacks. Now here is a scientific station for the study of the flora and fauna of the island.

A short excursion with a story about these places. Usually the forest does not grow well on sand. But here, thanks to the abundance of moisture, there is a lot of greenery. Fraser Island is one of the few places on earth where lush forests have grown among the sand.

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Indeed, once the forest was so dense that for 100 years lumberjacks were in charge here. Some trees, such as syncarpia, were even harvested for the construction of the Suez Canal.

We pass through a dense forest with its prehistoric ferns and huge silk trees along the clean Wangulba Creek.

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Here we saw how tourists are loved in Australia. And not only healthy, but also with the so-called. " handicapped". There are no disabled people in Australia - there are just people whose physical abilities are somehow limited - someone does not see, someone does not hear or does not walk. Think! Everyone is just happy to see such a person and help him!

Here, in the forest, there were signs and descriptions of trees everywhere!, made in Braille for the blind! This is what Australians care about people!

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After a few kilometers, another stop. We crossed the island and arrived on its Pacific side - in Eurong Beach Resort. There is a hotel, a shop, a car repair shop and a small airstrip for connecting small planes to the mainland. By the way, they can also land on the surf.

After lunch, we get back into our cars and drive out onto the ocean surf. There is a barrier at the exit, and a grate is laid along the ground with strings of wire stretched over it under the electric. electric shock - this is from wild dogs Dingo. The entire territory of this hotel, as well as ours, is surrounded by a high mesh fence.

The oceanfront is amazing! Amazing spectacle! A strong wind raises whirlwinds of sand, and they mix with the foam that breaks from the oncoming waves. The mist of the ocean surf hangs in the air. And then thousands of kilometers Pacific Ocean! Leaving cars are visible along the surf. A real training ground for thrill-seekers! In both directions - to the left and to the right - a sandy strip 70-80 meters wide goes and hides far beyond the horizon.

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However, it is too early for lovers of high speeds to rejoice - on the coast regularly, especially at low tide, there are policemen with radar pistols and catch everyone for exceeding the limit of 80 km / h. Moreover, they measure alcohol at the same time. Fines as on the mainland - for exceeding the limit even by 1 km - a fine of $ 133 + 1 penalty point! For exceeding 20 km - a fine of $ 333 + 4 penalty points, for exceeding 40 km - $ 933 + 8 penalty points. Each fine is entered into the computer and the policeman can clearly see how many times this driver violated the rules.

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Exceeding 40 km / h is considered "outrageous" and for this, rights (including foreign ones) are taken away right in the middle of the bush. Moreover, the unpleasant thing is that if there is no satellite or he does not have rights, the car is arrested and delivered to the rental office on a truck, which is paid by you. Maybe that's why, having driven hundreds of kilometers on the roads of Australia, we have not seen a single, even the smallest, accident!

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We were lucky - the weather was great. Our route was towards the northern tip of the island. To the right, the ocean rolled steadily long turquoise waves, but almost all the way, and we drove about 50 km, there was not a soul on its shore.

Only occasionally, near small streams flowing from the forest, there were parking lots with tents and jeeps in the shade of trees. Single daredevils who want to plunge into the ocean went into it no deeper than knee-deep. Everywhere, when driving along the coast, left-hand traffic was observed.

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To meet us, right along the surf, moving away from the oncoming waves and, as if playing with them, jeeps raced. On the way back, our driver did the same. An hour later, having traveled about 50-60 km, we stopped approximately in the middle of the island at Colored Sands - colored sands and turned back.

Along the way, in two places, the line of the beach was crossed by stone ridges. These were weathered Pinnacles of the type we saw in Western Australia. Of course, they were not so interesting and similar to the phalluses of the Pinnacle desert. But they are interesting in their own way. We drove around them from above, and on the way back - when the ocean receded - we calmly drove along the sandy surf itself.

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While we were standing, a small airplane flew over us, almost touching the roof of the bus, and deftly landed on the sandy surf.

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There were a couple of the same aircraft and their handsome pilots in snow-white shorts and shirts with ornate epaulettes offered everyone who wanted to fly over the island. Well, we flew yesterday and saw everything.

On the way back, we stopped to inspect the remains of the Maheno ship that sank in 1936. The hull of the ship is corroded to the limit by rust. Frames sticking out of the sand look like the ribs of a whale thrown ashore. Everyone wants to be photographed against this background.

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Fraser is owned by the State of Queensland world's largest sand island which is located off the east coast of Australia. The natives of the island called this piece of land "K'gari", which literally translates as "paradise".

in 1992 included in the list world heritage UNESCO. This is not surprising, because the dunes of this unique natural monument formed over 400,000 years ago. There are forty lakes with fresh water on the territory of Fraser, as well as the famous Hanging Lakes.

This amazingly beautiful island Australia was named after the married couple Eliza and James Fraser, whose ship was wrecked off the coast of the island in 1836.

Today, the story of a woman named Eliza, who survived the death of a newborn child and husband, and was also captured by the natives, excites the minds of travelers around the world who go to this island for unforgettable experience.

For a long time, the natives and Europeans were at enmity, dividing the Fraser territory. Today, the island is a peaceful place, the main focus of which is conservation of pristine nature and tourism.

Flora and fauna

To the east, the Fraser coast, where the island faces the ocean, its territory is covered white sandy beaches.

A mangrove forest grows in the west of the island, and virgin equatorial forests have been preserved in the northern part.

See all the beauty of flora and fauna islands can be led by a forester. Tourists have the opportunity to watch electric stingrays and predators while walking.

Fauna of Fraser Island especially interesting. So, on land there is a wild dog Dingo, and freshwater turtles live in well-warmed shallow lakes.

Also on Fraser Island lives more than 350 types exotic birds, including 18 species of birds of prey. A great needle-footed owl, ground parrot, sharks, dolphins and other representatives of the fauna of the island can be seen during a walk along Indian Head.

It is important to know! From August to October, humpback whales can be seen migrating on Fraser Island.

Also found on the island:

• sugar flying opossum;
• flying foxes;
• kangaroo;
• wallaby;
• echidnas;
• the bats;
• exotic bright frogs;
• opossums and other animals.

hanging lakes

The Fraser Hanging Lakes is an Australian landmark that really is unique of a kind. Fresh lakes, which are called "hanging" here, surround the waters of the ocean on all sides.

Interestingly, as such, these lakes do not receive nutrition from glaciers or rivers, so they seem to hang above the salty water surrounding them. The Hanging Lakes of Fraser Island today are under significant threat due to pollution caused by a large flow of tourists.

Note to tourists

The peculiarity of Fraser Island is that the history and centuries-old climatic changes of this territory can be traced through wild flowers and huge sand dunes.

Hills, notches and fishing tackle on trees formed by domestic waste of aboriginal people, as well as places where the first people stopped impress everyone who visits this piece of land for the first time.

In the Arched Rocks, tourists have the opportunity to look at sacred place for women called Lunar Piglet, where they gave birth to children, as well as the location where the ancient ancestors of the natives played the didgeridoo.

The saturation of the history of this island will be enhanced by a visit to an abandoned pier called Mackenzie. Initially, this place connected lumberjacks with the continent, and during the Second World War it was used by the famous Zed assault squad.

Explorers from all over the world in the Happy Valley of Fraser Island are a must will attract the wreckage of the steamer "Makhino", which was built in 1905 and served as a trans Tasmanian passenger ship, and then became a floating hospital and was washed ashore during a cyclone.

After visiting important historical sites islands, you can rent a room in an environmentally friendly boarding house, where tourists are offered wellness massages, cocktails and fine dining local cuisine. You can also spend the night in secluded houses overlooking the coast.

In addition to boarding houses and houses, the island offers tourists a number of cottages, hotels and hotels with ocean views. Some travelers spend the night in tents.

Attention! Not everywhere on Fayser Island you can put up a tent. Permitted locations are the territory of the Cathedral Beach, parking near Lake Mackenzie, Bumanzhin, Waddy Point, Dundubara, Watumba, as well as the territory of the village of Dilli and the tourist camp at the Central parking lot.

Fraser Island is real paradise Australian territory, which offers tourists not only to plunge into the atmosphere of an unusual unique nature and the animal world, but also to trace the history of not only this place, but also evolution in general. There are traces of primitive people living here, which everyone can see with their own eyes.

In addition, Fraser is an island that is popular with travelers who prefer a relaxed holiday. white sand beaches, hundreds of freshwater lakes with clear and turquoise water, tropical forest and protected species of Australian fauna attract lovers every year exotic vacation from different parts of the earth.

We are offering to you watch video about the unique sandy Fraser Island:

Fraser Island is located along south coast Queensland, Australia, approximately 200 kilometers north of Brisbane. Stretching 120 kilometers in length and approximately 24 kilometers at its widest point, it is considered to be the largest sand island in the world.

The island has exceptional natural beauty with rainforests, woodland, eucalyptus trees, mangrove forests and peat swamps, dunes and coastal heathlands. The region has over 250 kilometers of clear sandy beaches with long, unbroken stretches of ocean, including more than 40 kilometers of strikingly colored cliffs. Inland are the majestic remnants of a tall rainforest growing on high dunes is a phenomenon unique in the world. Half of the world's freshwater dune lakes are on Fraser Island. The world's largest unconfined aquifer on a sandy island was also found here.


The sand on Fraser Island has accumulated over approximately 750,000 years on a volcanic base that provides natural drainage for precipitation. These dunes move across the island, often covering forests and other vegetation. The rate at which the dunes move each year depends on factors such as the strength of the wind, the amount of humidity, and actually the plants themselves in the sand. These dunes gradually stop moving when they reach areas sheltered from the winds.

The young dunes along the eastern beaches are covered with grass and other coastal plants adapted to the harsh salt and wind conditions. In the sheltered central areas of the island, where the dunes are stable and there are more nutrients to grow, diverse plant communities and rainforests thrive.


Unlike many dunes, plant life is abundant here due to the natural fungi found in the sand. They release nutrients in a form that can be absorbed by vegetation. Fraser Island is home to a small number of mammal species, as well as a wide range of birds, reptiles and amphibians, including the saltwater crocodile. The island is part of the Fraser Coast region of the Great Sandy National Park.


Fraser Island has been inhabited by humans for as long as 5,000 years. The explorer James Cook sailed here in May 1770. Matthew Flinders landed near the northernmost point of the island in 1802. For a short period the island was known as Great Sand Island. He became known as Fraser because of the story of shipwreck survivor Eliza Fraser. Today the island is a popular destination for tourism, one of the most prominent natural

Where is Fraser Island located?

Fraser Island it is the largest and most famous sand island in the world. This is Paradise Island is located in Eastern Australia about 300 kilometers north of Brisbane (approximately 3 hours by car). Fraser Island stretches for 124 kilometers with a width of 7 to 25 km. Its area is 163,000 hectares. Fraser Island is a unique, luxurious, rich Australian natural heritage.

Climate of Fraser Island

Fraser Island is a natural paradise and has a maritime subtropical climate with rainfall of 1800 mm per year, mainly from December to May. In summer temperatures reach up to 30 ° C, however, winter temperatures range from 14 to 21 ° C and July is the coldest period of the year.

Beaches and recreation of Fraser Island

Most big beach to the Fraser Islands is about 120 kilometers along its east coast. This beach is one of the most magnificent beaches in the world. This is amazing place includes an amazing variety of scenery: long surf beaches, pleasing cliffs, dense rainforests, beautiful lakes with fresh water, huge basalt capes and salt lakes with eerie mangrove forests. There are also many amazing sights on Fraser Island, such as the remains of the Maheno Wreck, beautiful pools, the Eli Creek Zone or the Indian Head ( a good place where you can see sharks in the surf).

Fauna of Fraser Island

The beaches and forests of Fraser Island are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including 230 bird species (Australia's largest and most diverse bird communities), such as sea eagles, ospreys, kites, falcons, gulls, cockatoos, terns, honeyeaters or endangered parrots. In addition, Fraser Island is home to the wild dog Dingo. Unfortunately, due to the threat of people on the island, the number of Dingo dogs is declining from year to year. People killed many dogs believing that these animals could be a danger to people. There are also other mammals such as opossums, swamp wallabies, sugar gliders, flying foxes, echidnas and kangaroos.

Lake on Fraser Island

In addition, there are over 100 lakes on Fraser Island. Which are one of the cleanest freshwater lakes in the world. Perhaps the most famous of these lakes is Lake. The lake is located on top of a sand dune. This is perfect place which extends over 150 hectares. There is beautiful beach, consisting of almost pure quartz sand. This place, along with the largest creek on east coast islands, are the two main symbols and place , beautiful island Fraser.

History of Fraser Island

Scientists believe Fraser Island has been inhabited for 800,000 years. Previously, this amazing island was called the "Great Sandy Island" and was occupied by the natives. They, in turn, called this island "Kigari", which means "paradise" in their native language. Aboriginal Australians have occupied this island since 5,000 years ago. On the island before the arrival of Europeans in the XVIII century, there were from 400 to 600 inhabitants.

Unfortunately, like many other parts of the world, the arrival of Europeans in Fraser Island in 1836 resulted in the death of the local population. Captain James Cook and Matthew Flinders sailed around this island in the late 18th century. However, the first British to officially arrive on the island were Captain James Fraser and his wife, Eliza Fraser. They arrived on the island because they were shipwrecked. Captain Fraser died on the island, however, his wife survived and was rescued. She returned to England and told the story, so the island is now called Eliza and James Fraser.

The British took advantage of the wealth of the island, timber. They cut down forests, which was started in 1863 by American Jack Peggotty and continued until 1991. Fraser Island has several rich deposits such as rutile, zircon, monazite and ilmenite. These developments began to be operated in 1950. However, due to environmental action, mining activity on Fraser Island only lasted until 1977.

Fraser Island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. And it is part of the natural and cultural heritage Australia. Therefore, Fraser Island is currently the most visited place in Australia. The island can be reached by ferry from Hervey Bay or by plane from Maroochydore Airport from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Fraser Island currently, is for recreation, one of the best places in Australia.