Largest sand island with rainforests, lakes, and wildlife in Queensland, Australia.
Fraser Island, a World Heritage Site located along the southeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, is the largest sand island in the world. The island has developed over a period of 800,000 years and is known for its unique ecosystem, including rainforests that grow on sand and a notable lake that is half freshwater, half saltwater.
Fraser Island, known as K'gari to the local Butchulla people, meaning 'paradise', is an area where nature's capabilities can be seen firsthand. The island's 75 Mile Beach serves both as a road and a runway for small planes, offering an uncommon combination as beachgoers and vehicles share the sandy track. The island's colorful sand cliffs, called The Cathedrals, are a spectacle of reds, yellows, and browns, produced by the natural filtering of oxides.
Moving inland, tourists can find crystal-clear freshwater lakes such as Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby. These lakes contrast distinctly with the endless sandy landscape. Thick rainforests with tall Satinay trees flourish in the sandy, nutrient-limited soil.
The wildlife on Fraser Island is varied; dingoes wander, and during the migration period (July to November), humpback whales can be observed off the coast. Bird watchers will appreciate the variety of species found on the island, including the rare ground parrot and the impressive white-bellied sea eagle.
As you explore the island by four-wheel drive or on foot along the walking trails, you'll encounter evidence of its past logging operations and a lighthouse that has been in place since 1870, at Sandy Cape, the island's most northern point.
