Fraser Island is world renowned as the largest all sand island on the planet. We are fortunate to have it virtually on our doorstep, it's only a 45 min ferry trip to get there from the harbour at Hervey Bay. This is Lake Wabby with a sand dune encroaching from the east coast of the island.
A group of young international tourists board riding the dune into Lake Wabby.
Walking the dune from Lake Wabby to the coast.
Phew, almost there!
Typical of the dry land forest on Fraser Island.
There are many pristine, crystal clear streams on Fraser Island. It rains somewhere on the Island every day of the year.
A forest walk and another clear stream.
This is part of a rain forest walk. One of many.
The rain forest is full of fallen trees like this one, covered in moss.
A rain squall over the Sandy Straits. The straits separates Fraser Island from the mainland.
One of the crystal clear blue water lakes on Fraser Island. This one is Lake McKenzie. The beach is extremely fine, white silica sand. The sand is great for cleaning jewellery and revitalising your skin. So they tell me.
Another of the blue lakes, this one is Lake Birrabeen, with the same fine white silica sand.
The eastern surf beach facing the southern Pacific Ocean. Wandering along the beach is Australia's native wild dog, the Dingo.
The ocean in this vicinity can be very harsh. This is the wreck of the Maheno, blown onto the coast July 1935. There is not much of it left now.
A close-up view of the hulk.
And an internal view. Nothing much remaining here.
Eli Creek. Great for relaxing tired legs.
Eli Creek meets the surf beach. Tourist coaches abound.
Small aircraft land on this stretch of beach as well. Almost the entire length of the eastern coastline is drivable by 4wd vehicles, some 130 km or approx. 80 miles. The entire island is navigable by 4wd only via sand tracks.
Fraser Island was inhabited, pre white settlement, by the Butchulla Tribe of the Australian Aborigine. Evidence of their habitation is visible in many places. Here is a scar in the bark of this gum tree where many years ago bark was removed to create a crude canoe.
These trees are termed "scar trees". Bark has been removed to indicate the land boundaries of particular family units.
This is one of the dining rooms at Kingfisher Resort for visitors who are staying on Fraser Island.
This is the reception and sitting room at Kingfisher Resort.
This is the entry to Kingfisher Resort.
This is The Sand Bar Restaurant for day visitors to Fraser Island.
The pool area at The Sand Bar Restaurant.
The arrival/departure pier for the ferry that travels to the boat harbour at Hervey Bay.
This is a rather large posting, I know, but there is so much to show. I guess I could have split it up into smaller posts. I think I'll do that next time. This extensive array of natural lagoons, with the aid of human assistance, as quantities of sand were extracted from the lagoons for filters at the local waste water treatment plant, extends over several acres, in the range of 6-10 acres I would guess.
Late one afternoon, recently, I walked around the circumference of the lagoon system and took photographs of points of interest. There is prolific bird life around the lagoons but that was not my point of interest this day.
In these early photographs you will notice that the lagoons are wide and open, but this will change as I walk further around.
There is a "Friends of the Arkara Lagoons" group that voluntarily maintains and enhances the flora of the lagoons. This in turn enhances all the bird life in the area.
We are starting to arrive at the thicker forested part now and the sun-light will diminish.
Each area of the lagoons is very different, some open areas are habitat for water lillies.
There is abundant life in the water too. Fishing is banned. I'd wager that there are many fresh water crayfish lurking in these lagoons.
There are probably pythons in the trees, but I have never seen any.
A small patch of sun-light filtering through the tree canopies.
Around every bend there is another view.
All beautiful in there own way.
The flow of water is probably not frequent here.
Room only for one tree here.
It looks like you could walk on this water, but I wouldn't try it!
Quiet and still but the water is still very clear.
Soon be back into daylight again.
Black Swans reside here in the lagoons, the grey coloured juvenile, from last season's hatchlings, is still with the parent birds.
Both parent swans with two additional juveniles. With a duck in the background.
Back to the open area again, almost back to the beginning.
People live around the lagoons but I was able to take all these photographs plus many more and there is no view of any homes.
We have completed the circuit now. I am so fortunate to live in this area, from this vantage point to my home is less than one mile. That is why I wanted to share it all with you.
These orchid varieties were showing their beautiful blooms on the day I visited The Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens Orchid House. I am not a botanist or even a basic gardener for that matter, therefore I do not know the names of these beauties. But they certainly are impressive.
I'll let the blooms speak for themselves, scroll down and enjoy!
Fraser Island is world renowned as the largest all sand island on the planet. We are fortunate to have it virtually on our doorstep, it's only a 45 min ferry trip to get there from the harbour at Hervey Bay. This is Lake Wabby with a sand dune encroaching from the east coast of the island.
A group of young international tourists board riding the dune into Lake Wabby.
Walking the dune from Lake Wabby to the coast.
Phew, almost there!
Typical of the dry land forest on Fraser Island.
There are many pristine, crystal clear streams on Fraser Island. It rains somewhere on the Island every day of the year.
A forest walk and another clear stream.
This is part of a rain forest walk. One of many.
The rain forest is full of fallen trees like this one, covered in moss.
A rain squall over the Sandy Straits. The straits separates Fraser Island from the mainland.
One of the crystal clear blue water lakes on Fraser Island. This one is Lake McKenzie. The beach is extremely fine, white silica sand. The sand is great for cleaning jewellery and revitalising your skin. So they tell me.
Another of the blue lakes, this one is Lake Birrabeen, with the same fine white silica sand.
The eastern surf beach facing the southern Pacific Ocean. Wandering along the beach is Australia's native wild dog, the Dingo.
The ocean in this vicinity can be very harsh. This is the wreck of the Maheno, blown onto the coast July 1935. There is not much of it left now.
A close-up view of the hulk.
And an internal view. Nothing much remaining here.
Eli Creek. Great for relaxing tired legs.
Eli Creek meets the surf beach. Tourist coaches abound.
Small aircraft land on this stretch of beach as well. Almost the entire length of the eastern coastline is drivable by 4wd vehicles, some 130 km or approx. 80 miles. The entire island is navigable by 4wd only via sand tracks.
Fraser Island was inhabited, pre white settlement, by the Butchulla Tribe of the Australian Aborigine. Evidence of their habitation is visible in many places. Here is a scar in the bark of this gum tree where many years ago bark was removed to create a crude canoe.
These trees are termed "scar trees". Bark has been removed to indicate the land boundaries of particular family units.
This is one of the dining rooms at Kingfisher Resort for visitors who are staying on Fraser Island.
This is the reception and sitting room at Kingfisher Resort.
This is the entry to Kingfisher Resort.
This is The Sand Bar Restaurant for day visitors to Fraser Island.
The pool area at The Sand Bar Restaurant.
The arrival/departure pier for the ferry that travels to the boat harbour at Hervey Bay.
This is a rather large posting, I know, but there is so much to show. I guess I could have split it up into smaller posts. I think I'll do that next time. This extensive array of natural lagoons, with the aid of human assistance, as quantities of sand were extracted from the lagoons for filters at the local waste water treatment plant, extends over several acres, in the range of 6-10 acres I would guess.
Late one afternoon, recently, I walked around the circumference of the lagoon system and took photographs of points of interest. There is prolific bird life around the lagoons but that was not my point of interest this day.
In these early photographs you will notice that the lagoons are wide and open, but this will change as I walk further around.
There is a "Friends of the Arkara Lagoons" group that voluntarily maintains and enhances the flora of the lagoons. This in turn enhances all the bird life in the area.
We are starting to arrive at the thicker forested part now and the sun-light will diminish.
Each area of the lagoons is very different, some open areas are habitat for water lillies.
There is abundant life in the water too. Fishing is banned. I'd wager that there are many fresh water crayfish lurking in these lagoons.
There are probably pythons in the trees, but I have never seen any.
A small patch of sun-light filtering through the tree canopies.
Around every bend there is another view.
All beautiful in there own way.
The flow of water is probably not frequent here.
Room only for one tree here.
It looks like you could walk on this water, but I wouldn't try it!
Quiet and still but the water is still very clear.
Soon be back into daylight again.
Black Swans reside here in the lagoons, the grey coloured juvenile, from last season's hatchlings, is still with the parent birds.
Both parent swans with two additional juveniles. With a duck in the background.
Back to the open area again, almost back to the beginning.
People live around the lagoons but I was able to take all these photographs plus many more and there is no view of any homes.
We have completed the circuit now. I am so fortunate to live in this area, from this vantage point to my home is less than one mile. That is why I wanted to share it all with you.
