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Fraser Island, lying off
the Queensland coast in the northern section of
Brisbane, is a amazing island built of sand and
a popular tourist attraction in Australia where you
can stay at one of the many Fraser Island hotels
or Fraser Island resort during your Fraser Island
travel. There are beaches and dunes of golden sand
along its shores, and in places the one hundred
and twenty four kilometers long island has
cliffs of yellow, red and brown formed of sand
and carved by the elements into spires and
pinnacles which creates an astonishing view
besides the cheap Fraser Island accommodation. As
the largest sand island in the world, this
unique island forms the Great Sandy Region
together with Cooloola. You are advised to join
one of the many Fraser Island tours to enable
you to appreciate this beautiful island. You can
buy a Fraser Island map to walk along the
stunning Fraser Island beach. Fraser Island takes
its name from the woman who brought it to the
world's attention. Eliza Fraser was among a group
of shipwrecked Europeans who struggled to the shore
and after being rescued two months later, her
accounts of her experiences on the island have been
the subject of a film and several books.
Photo: Fraser Island Australia
A varied canopy of
vegetation can be seen behind the beaches and
cliffs. Sand piled up to two hundred and forty
meters supports dense and sometimes luxuriant
forest. Piccabeen palms and paperbark trees can
be seen growing in wetter areas together with
cypress pines, tall blackbutts, hoop pines and
kauri pines in the surroundings. Fraser Island
formed million of years ago when mountains on
the mainland to the south were eaten away by
wind and rain. Swept into the ocean were fine
debris and were subsequently carried northwards
by currents and then started to accumulate on
the ocean floor. So, when sea level falls, the
sand became dry land and was blown into massive
dunes. When sea level rises, more sand are
brought in by ocean currents. After the Ice
Ages, plants started to grow on the sand and
when they died, they formed a layer of humus in
which larger plants could put down roots, and
therefore stabilizing the dunes and this is the
reason that makes your Fraser Island travel
unforgettable.
 There is a ferry
which takes passengers across to the island and
once you are there, a four wheel drive is
required in order to move around on the island
which is the best way to admire this sand island.
You can relax at the numerous campsites found
here that have excellent views but driving along
the beach and on the sand roads is recommended.
The high rainfall on Fraser Photo: Lake Wabby
Island supports a cycle
of growth and decay on the sands. Arrow-straight
satinay trees and scribbly gum trees can be seen
growing on the island's shrubby heathlands.
Fraser Island fame also came about about its
magnificent softwoods. When loggers started to come
here, the Aborigines who lived here, the Butchulla
people, suffered and later moved to the
mainland. The Aborigines call this place K'gari
meaning paradise.
 There are over forty
lakes found among Fraser Island's forests and
scrublands. Although this stunning island is
made up of sand, it is far from being a giant,
free-draining sandcastle. Under the island the
sand has cemented together with humus and
minerals to develop a watertight pan that traps
the island's plentiful rainfall. Beautiful lakes
such as Lake Wabby are created when the ground
surface drops below this water table and some of
the cleanest freshwater lakes are found here on
the island. Lake McKenzie, near Eurong, is a
popular spot for swimming. Surrounding the lake
on three sides are spectacular looking forested
dunes while the fourth is a huge wall of
wind-blown sand which is advancing into the
water. Seen on the upper section of the dunes
are Fraser Island's many perched lakes where
rainwater is trapped in depressions by an
impermeable bowl of bonded sand, humus and
minerals. The lakes and streams found here
provide watering holes for animals such as
the wild horses called brumbies and wild dogs
known as dingoes. Bird lovers will surely
enjoy the different species and varities of
birds found here such as rare birds such as the
pelicans, sea eagles, kingfishers and lorikeets.
Classified under the UNESCO World Heritage List
in 1992, Fraser Island has become one of the top
tourist destinations in Australia and its beauty
and charm will mesmerize you forever. Your Fraser
Island holiday will never be complete if you do
not take part in the many Fraser Island camping
activities and make sure you join the cheap guided
tours at the Hervey Bay Fraser Island. If you
are looking for bargains and cheap Fraser Island
accommodation, try to ask around for cheap
Fraser Island hotels or cheap Fraser Island
resort. The Kingfisher resort Fraser Island has
always a favorite among Fraser Island visitors.
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