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By Glenn Murray | Advertising Copywriter,
Website Copywriter, Article
PR Specialist *
For all its conveniences, modern
living leaves a lot to be desired. We spend our days enduring the
ever-increasing pressures of work, the city’s oppressive
unfriendliness, the daily commuter grind and the aggressive reality of
impatient road-ragers.
Is something missing?
Unfortunately, work is a reality for
most of us. So too is city and suburban living, dreary weather,
pollution, traffic… But it doesn’t have to be all there is to life. Try
something that puts you in touch with who you really are. Try something
elemental. Try something that soothes your soul.
Try Fraser Island.
Fraser Island isn’t just an island
paradise. It’s a unique and luxurious combination of Australia’s rich
natural heritage, its earthy roots, its wholesome majesty, and its
refreshingly simple essentials. It’s a chance to touch the fine sands,
to drift in the temperate water, to bask in the sun that seems all
yours… It’s your chance to partake of a life that most Australians have
forgotten.
Spend a week on and in turquoise
waters, a week without shoes with the sand between your toes, a week
fishing and perhaps living off your catch. Your perspective can’t help
but change.
It’s not a mere fleeting appreciation.
It’s something you take with you.
Fraser can help remind you that you’re
not your job. How important are the forms and the filing, the meetings
and memorandums? You can learn a lot about yourself when you take away
all the things that don’t matter.
And really… is there any better way to
experience this epiphany than in paradise?
Fraser Island certainly is a paradise,
no matter which way you look at it. At the southern end of the Great
Barrier Reef, and a short boat ride from Hervey Bay in South-East
Queensland, Fraser is 124 km from tip to toe and 16 km across the
middle. At 163,000 hectares, it’s the world’s biggest sand island.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s all
just sand. Not by a long shot! The whole island is laced with crystal
clear fresh water streams, and deep midnight blue fresh water lakes. In
fact, with over 40 fresh water lakes – it’s home to half of the world’s
known ‘perched’ lakes. It also boasts a dazzling diversity of plants
and animals (including Australia’s purest strain of dingo), and an
amazing variety of spectacular landscapes, from 120 km of non-stop
tropical beach to dense and towering rainforest, weathered headland to
ochre gorge, inspiring cliffs to wandering dunes, eerie mangroves to
wind-blown salt pans.
What’s more, you have your choice of
accommodation, so you can choose your own level of ‘communion with
nature’. From 4½ star luxury resorts to rental retreats to
motels and units, right through to the good ‘ole campsite. Whether
you’re a sucker for a bit of pampering, or you’re perfectly at home
with a tent and a campfire on the beach, Fraser is a great provider.
And great accommodation is just the
start… The island boasts average temperatures of 29°c in summer and
22°c in winter, so it’s no surprise that outdoor activities feature
prominently on the agenda. Adrenalin addicts and dedicated sunbathers
alike will appreciate the vast range available. From sunrise to sunset
(and beyond), there’s always something for everyone. The only problem
is choosing! Fishing, 4-wheel-driving, eating, sailing, bird-watching,
bush-walking, swimming, eating, whale & dolphin-watching, shipwreck
exploration, eating, beauty therapy, massage, lazing in the sun,
eating, beach volleyball, tennis, cricket, eating, canoeing,
sailboarding, snorkelling, eating… And needless to say, a few quiet
drinks might make their way onto the agenda as well…
With so much to offer, it’s no
surprise that the Fraser Island was originally known as K’gari – or
‘Paradise’ – by local Aboriginal peoples.
Fraser Island certainly is “paradise
for everyone”!
Four Wheel Driving
Being a sand island, the only mode of
land transport is 4WD. Of course, for many visitors, that’s the main
attraction. 4WD enthusiasts from all around the world visit Fraser
Island to pit themselves and their vehicles against the rugged terrain
found all over the island. From the hard-packed seashore to the
shifting dune to the forests of the interior, Fraser Island is the
ideal 4WD location.
Don’t be scared though – it’s not all
about extreme driving for experts! Whether you’re an novice, or you
just prefer a more leisured pace of life, you’ll find a much more
sedate satisfaction in one of the many organised 4WD tours offered
around the island. Or if you just want to get out on your own, you can
hire a 4WD for a day, and indulge in a bit of quiet exploring.
No matter which option you choose,
though, there are a few ‘ground rules’ you should observe. Remember the
dangers of driving on the beach. The further you adventure from the
shoreline, the softer the sand. The softer the sand, the more likely
you are to get into trouble. Generally speaking, keep your speed down,
and remember you’re in a World Heritage listed environment… so be
careful.
Fishing
No island holiday would be complete
without a lazy day or two spent fishing. Beach fishing is the big
drawcard for Fraser Island. And with 150 km of ocean beach to choose
from, why wouldn’t it be? Middle Rocks, Sandy Cape, Waddy Point, and
Seventy Five Mile Beach are just a few of the choice locations
available for you to finally get the better of ‘the one that got away’.
The famed ‘tailor run’ occurs on the
eastern (ocean) side of the island between July and October each year.
In the angling world, this time – known as ‘tailor season’ – is a much
anticipated event, with huge schools of big fish working the beaches.
But if you can’t make it between late winter and early spring, rest
assured, tailor season is just one date to mark in your calendar. The
western side of Fraser has been known to reward the odd angler with a
fine bag of bream, whiting and flathead.
Angler’s Advice
Pick the fish you’re after, and take
advantage of the handy hints below to make the most of your fishing
trip.
Of course, many more varieties are
there for the taking, including mackerel, tuna, and reef fish. And if
you’re not indisposed to a bit of sea fishing, you can book a berth on
one of the larger boats launched to take advantage of the red emperor,
coral trout, maori cod and parrot to be found off the Continental Shelf
and local reefs.
Water Sports
As you’d expect, Fraser Island plays
host to a vast array of water sports. Whether you’re after a lazy
drifting afternoon – cocktail in hand, or an invigorating workout,
there’s a water sport for you. All fitness levels (and energy levels!)
are catered for.
Ease yourself into the aqua-life with
a refreshing dip at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Surrounded by pure white sandy beaches, the clear blue waters of Lake
McKenzie are without doubt amongst the most idyllic to be found.
Alternatively, exercise your imagination with a visit to the ghostly
shipwreck of the “Maheno”, then submerge yourself in the crystal clear
waters of Eli Creek.
Fraser Island sits on a huge reservoir
of fresh water, and is home to numerous spectacular fresh water lakes,
including some perched high above sea level. You have your choice of
over 40 lakes… Lake Wabby, Champagne Pools, Basin Lake… to name but a
few. Clearly, Fraser Island is amply equipped to pamper even the
fussiest fresh water connoisseur.
For something a little more strenuous,
why not hire paddle ski or canoe and paddle yourself up Dundonga Creek.
It’s generally a 1 hour round trip, so by the time you return, you’ll
be ready to settle back into some more relaxed pastimes.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
Every year from August to October, you can book a berth on a whale
watch cruise. Enjoy a fantastic half day of sun, salt, and ocean
breezes while keeping your eyes peeled for Fraser’s famous migrating
humpbacks.
The annual humpback migration is truly
an awesome spectacle. Family pods take a well earned rest in the waters
west of Fraser Island after travelling 5000 km from the icy waters of
the Antarctic. The sight of a 15 tonne (that’s the weight of 11
elephants!) adult female humpback rearing out of the ocean is
absolutely awe-inspiring.
And don’t worry… if your holiday
doesn’t coincide with the migration, you can still catch a cruise
questing for dolphins, dugongs, turtles and the odd Indo Pacific
Humpback.
Speak to your hotel or resort for
information about organising a whale or dolphin watching cruise.
Alternatively, contact Kingfisher Bay Resort and ask about their tours.
Tips & Reminders
- Access to Fraser Island is via
vehicular barge or catamaran
- 4WDs only on Fraser Island (there
are no paved roads except in resorts)
- Don’t feed or pet the dingoes (or
any other animals)
- No domestic animals allowed
- Most activities on the island can
be enjoyed individually or as part of a booked tour group
- You’ll need permits to 4WD or camp
- 4WDs can be hired on the mainland
or on the island
- Don’t leave food unattended
- All but the hardest sand can be
unpredictable and perilous for a 4WD
- High and low tide gutters around
dawn or dusk are best for fishing
- If four wheel driving, take a good
map and a tyre pressure gauge
For further information about all
aspects of Fraser Island, including accommodation, hire guides, and
barge booking details and timetables, see http://www.boxatrix.com/.
How Much?
- Accommodation - Prices vary
from approximately $4 per night if you’re camping right up to $850 per
night for the VIP room at the 4½ star luxury of Kingfisher Bay
Resort.
- Permits - A 4WD vehicle
permit will cost you $31.85. Camping permits are $4 per person per
night or $16 per family per night. Children under 5 are free. To
purchase a permit or obtain detailed information, call the Queensland
National Parks and Wildlife Service at Rainbow Beach on (07) 5486 3160.
- Vehicular Barge Access -
Barges operate daily from Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach. Tickets start
at $82.20 return per vehicle per driver. Extra vehicle passengers will
cost $5.50 each. Several barges operate with different destinations on
the island. Most require bookings.
- 4WD Hire - Rates start at
around $90 per day for a Suzuki Sierra, up to $130 per day for a
Landrover Defender (depending on the duration of hire).
- Flights to Queensland -
Qantas offers return flights to Hervey Bay via Brisbane from $407
departing Sydney, and from $527 departing Melbourne.
* Glenn Murray is an advertising
copywriter, website copywriter, SEO
copywriter, and article submission and article PR specialist. He
heads copywriting studio, Divine Write, and is a director
of article
PR company, Article PR. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334
6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com.
Visit http://www.DivineWrite.com
or http://www.ArticlePR.com
for further details, a FREE SEO eBook, or more FREE reprint articles.
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