A must see destination in Australia (Fraser Island)

Member Name: aylawarner

Product:	Fraser Island
Date:	08/12/08 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: amazing lakes, sand dunes, brilliant camping experience

Disadvantages: get dirty and smelly but that really doesn't matter when you're having such a great time!

Fraser Island is a must see destination in Australia. You can get to the island from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach which on the Sunshine Coast just above Brisbane, although Hervey Bay is closer and offers a larger variety of tours to choose from. Different tours are available - you can either go on a guided tour where a guide drives you round and does most of the stuff for you or there is the self drive tour which I have to say I think is the better choice. On the self drive tour you are in a group of 10-12 people and are left to do everything by yourself. Although this might sound a bit daunting it really was one of the best things I ever did. If you are 21 or over and hold a driving license you are able to drive the van but if you'd prefer not to you don't have to. The road are bumping paths through the forest or the long beach which is the main road. You are given everything you need such as camping equipment and cooking utensils and before you leave you are given maps and an itinerary and talked through what you should do so you are not left completely in the lurch.

We did a 3 day 2 night trip and yet we still didn't have enough time to do everything we wanted there are so many amazing things to do. There are a lot of freshwater lakes, most of which there is quite a walk to get to, but every one is well worth it. Every time you see a new lake you will be even more awed by the next one every time. Lake Wabby has the hardest walk, through some forest and then over some sand dunes. It's an amazing experience when you're walking across the sand - you can't see anything else around you at some points and it feels as if you're walking in a huge desert. Although the walk is very tiring, when you reach the lake it is all worth it. The lake is down a steep hill, which you're not meant to roll or run down but, boys being boys, the ones in our group had so much fun running and rolling down into the water. This lake isn't very clear and so you can't really see what's in the water so you might get a shock if something brushes up against your leg or you see something swimming in the water but don't worry it's only the catfish that live in this lake! From Indian Head, where you can climb the cliff and stand up high above the water, you can view all the tiger sharks that swim in the sea. This is the one and only disadvantage about Fraser Island that you can't swim in the sea at any time of year as there are tiger sharks all around the island. But the lakes make up for that anyway.

Lake McKenzie is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The lake is in the centre of Fraser Island and you have to walk through the trees to get to it. When you come out of the trees into the open area where the lake is everyone just stops and stares because it is so amazing. There is just this huge bright blue lake surrounded by trees with a small island in the middle that you can swim to. The only thing wrong with it is that, because it is such a sight, there are always quite a lot of people sunbathing around the lake, but that still doesn't ruin the experience.

There are just 2 resorts on the island but the camping experience is much better. You put your tent up just before dark each night (before the dingoes come out!) and cook dinner over a small put-up stove. Don't let the stories about the dingoes scare you - they are harmless animals that have been made out to be vicious just so you leave them alone. There are a lot of them on the island and you will get some come sniffing around when you're cooking food so make sure you don't leave anything unattended but they're just a gorgeous dog looking for some food. People have been bitten by them before but that's usually because they've teased them or frustrated them. If they come near you just shoo them away like you would any other animal.

As you're falling asleep in your tent after dinner and having some drinks around a small fire, the sound of the waves a few meters away from you, along with the howls of the dingoes in the distance is an experience you will get nowhere else.

Summary: A definite place to visit in Oz even if it's out of your way