If you love any of the following: hiding behind a ship wreck and hiking to a lighthouse, swimming in some of the world’s cleanest lakes and watching whales, beaches and bikinis, comfort food and sunsets, beer and moonlight, nature walks and 4WD driving circuits in the sand, rain forest and parabolic sand dunes, dawn and dusk fishing, a carvery restaurant that also serves Balmain Bugs, the words pristine and paradise, or any combination of the aforementioned items, then plan a vacation to Fraser Island, a journal worthy and photogenic destination location. The earliest known name of Fraser Island is “K’gari”, given by the indigenous Butchulla tribe, interpreted as paradise.
Located along the east coast of Australia, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It has the world’s only sandy rainforest, an eucalyptus woodland, and a mangrove forest. Separated from Australia by a sand passage estuary, the island is surrounded by waters that are inhabited by dolphins, whales, island-bred sea turtles, and a variety of sport fish. During warm months, an occasional salt-water crocodile can be photographed.
Fraser Island’s white sand beach, 75 miles long and touched by crystal clear blue waters, seems to go on forever and allows individual solitude seekers, or couples seeking solitude, the space and time for thinking, painting, or the sharing of a romantic moment at sunset. Fraser Island’s landscapes are eye-catching. Beachcombers never run out of beach. Visitors interested in hiking, nature, and wild life will find many exploring and viewing opportunities. Many visitors travel to the island to get a glimpse of the dwindling dingo population.
There are no asphalt highways to or on Fraser Island. For those with a motorhome hire, you get to Fraser Island via a barge. For 4WD enthusiasts, Fraser Island is half way to heaven. The small island community provides rental 4WD vehicles. An assortment of tour packages is available. You can tour by air, by land, and by sea. Whale watching boats carry underwater viewing cameras. Hydrophones are installed for listening to live underwater sounds of the male humpbacks.
After a long day of backpacking, 4WD adventures, fishing, and aerial tours, the signature restaurant Seabelle, located in KingfisherBay resort, provides world-class dining. It is the perfect place to indulge in the tastes of modern Australian cuisine. The Seabelle’s menu is filled with bush tucker flavors: homegrown herbs and spices, native vegetables, and native meats. At Seabelle, the cuisine is crafted with seasonal local produce and fresh seafood. For meats, you can enjoy salt-water crocodile, Hervey Bay scallops, virtually fat-free kangaroo stakes, and the richly flavored emu. By the way, a Balmain Bug is not really a bug, but a species of lobster.
How unique, beautiful, and enchanting is Fraser Island? In 1992 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. That means it was classified as a place of special cultural and physical significance; its natural importance is meaningful to all of humanity. Moreover, National Geographic Magazine turned Fraser Island into a feature article in their September, 2010 edition. If you want to vacation in a location that is picturesque, you can’t get a higher recommendation than that.
This article was written by D. Carter on behalf of Discovery motorhome rental in Australia. Image by safaris
