Fraser Island

Fraser Island is a giant sand island famous for its dingos, wildlife, native birds, rainforests, creeks, lakes, fishing, and scenery.


Overview:
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island. It is World Heritage Listed and has become an eco tourism venue now that its timber and sand mining industries have been abandoned.

Fraser Island attained its World Heritage Listing in December 1992 in recognition of the island's exceptional sand dune systems, its rainforests on sand, and its beautiful freshwater lakes. But in the twenty-first century the future of the island is in some doubt.

The western shores of the island form a boundary of the Port of Maryborough, once a major immigrant and industrial port encompassing much of the area now marketed by tourism authorities as the Fraser Coast. The island is not renowned as a shopping destination, but does lend its name to the Fraser Coast Commerce Plaza which promotes the region's businesses online.



Tourist Attractions:
Eco tourists flock to Fraser Island to see its variety of beaches, its many lakes and creeks, towering rainforest, and native wildlife . Guided eco tours by four wheel drive vehicle are available from several operators based in the city of Hervey Bay. But many visitors prefer to self-drive, in a four wheel drive vehicle of their own, or in a hired one.

Three days is about the time most visitors find necessary to see all the tourist attractions, but there are also one day tours to the most popular spots for people unable to spend longer. For those really pressed for time, a couple of hours spent in a light plane can give a bird's eye view of the island and the bay.

Accommodation:
Accommodation for visitors is limited, and is often full during popular holiday periods so booking is essential. Backpackers accommodation, resort standard accommodation, and private house rental is all available.


Fishing:
Many visitors come mainly for the fishing, especially along the ocean beaches of the eastern coast. A big fishing competition is an annual event here, running for a whole week.
Real Estate:
Although Fraser Island is thought of as a World Heritage Listed Australian National Park, privately owned real estate does exist here! You will find no real estate agent's offices on the island itself, but

Hervey Bay:
Fraser Island is one of the land masses that actually forms Hervey Bay and within that, Platypus Bay, which becomes a playground for migrating humpback whales between July and November each year. The waters of the bay teem with marine wildlife, and Hervey Bay City, starting point for many eco expeditions to Fraser Island, has heaps of tourist attractions of its own.