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Fraser Island
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Fraser Island, Batjala K'Gari, is the largest sand island in the world at 1630 km². It is located along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, approximately 300 km north of Brisbane. Its length is about 120 km. It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992. It is administered by the Fraser Coast Regional Council. Fraser Island has over 100 dune lakes, as well as the second highest concentration of lakes in Australia after Tasmania. The freshwater lakes on Fraser Island are some of the cleanest lakes in the world. A popular tourist area is Lake McKenzie which is located inland from the small town of Eurong. It is a "perched" lake sitting on top of compact sand and vegetable matter 100 metres above sea level. Lake McKenzie has an area of 150 hectares and is just over five metres in depth. The beach sand of Lake McKenzie is nearly pure silica and it is possible to wash hair, teeth, jewelry, and exfoliate one's skin. The lakes have very few nutrients and pH varies, though sunscreen and soaps are a problem as a form of pollution. Eli Creek is the largest creek on the east coast of the island with a flow of 80 million litres per day. There is a boardwalk for visitors to reach the top of the creek and swim or ride down the creek if they wish. Central Station remains as a popular tourism destination on the island. The station is surrounded by bushwalking tracks to enable full appreciation of the variety of plants living on the island. Some of the rarest ferns grow along the rainforest near the station. With year-round south-easterly wind, huge sand dunes on the island move at the rate of 1 - 2 metres a year, burying away everything on the way, thus making sand on the island extremely rich with nutrients. Sand is constantly washed ashore from as far as New South Wales. The 75 mile beachThis runs along most of the east coast of Fraser Island. While it may not be the best place for swimming due to dangerous currents and plentiful Tiger sharks, it is extremely beautiful and has a number of excellent highlights such as Champagne Pools, Indian Head (from where you can often see the sharks in the surf), the Maheno Wreck and Eli Creek. Ely Creek is strikingly clear and has its own unique and varied wild life. The beach also acts as both a highway and a runway. The hard packed sand below the high tide mark can make for quite smooth driving, but care must be taken with speed; there are many deep wash outs and you can suddenly find yourself driving vertically into one if you're going too fast. Aircraft often land on the beach and if you can afford it, this mode of travel is a great way to see the entire island in a short space of time, with the obligatory beach landing, of course. The highway rules state that vehicles must give way to aircraft if they are oncoming.
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Fraser Island Cooldingo ___ guided tour |
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2 or 3 days guided tours - ex Brisbane or Hervey Bay 18 - 35s |
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3 day / 2 night $359 quad $409 twin/double3 day / 2 night $289 quad $339 twin/double |
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Fraser Island Beaches Backpackers -- self drive tour |
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3 day / 2 night $150ppfeaturing base camp3 day / 2 night $175ppfeaturing base camp PLUS 2 nights accommodation at Beaches BackpackerGet Cosy @ base camp $15pp |
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Rainbow Beach at Pippies Beachhouse -- self drive tour |
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3 day / 2 night $169pp |
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Fraser Island Kookaburra Backpaker -- self drive tour |
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3 day / 2 night Camping Safari $135ppmore details... |
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