Lake McKenzie
Clear fresh water in the sand.
Antoine Beauvillain antoinebeauvillain — CC0 · GregTheBusker — CC BY 2.0 · marsupium photography — CC BY-SA 2.0 · marsupium photography — CC BY-SA 2.0 · marsupium photography — CC BY-SA 2.0
K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is the world's largest sand island, covering 1,840 square kilometres about 250 km north of Brisbane in Queensland. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1992, and up to 500,000 people visit each year for its dunes, lakes and forests. The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, and its name means «paradise» in their language. European settlers named it Fraser Island after Captain James Fraser, who was shipwrecked and died here in 1836. On 7 June 2023 it was officially given back its traditional name. It combines huge golden dunes, clear freshwater lakes set in the sand, rainforest growing on sand, and coloured sands above the long eastern beach. Its best known sights include Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby, the wreck of the SS Maheno, beached near Eli Creek since 1935, and Central Station in the heart of the forest. It is 29 km in a straight line from Hervey Bay, reached by ferry, and only four-wheel drives can use its sand tracks, so an organised tour is easiest. Wild dingoes live here, so do not feed or approach them, and keep children close. Do not swim off the eastern beach, and ask where it is safe. Allow two days if you can.
Clear fresh water in the sand.
On the beach since 1935.
Above the eastern beach.
Off Hervey Bay, Queensland
Yes, only four-wheel drives can use the sand tracks, and a tour is easier.
They are wild animals, so do not feed or approach them, and keep children close.