Sandy Fraser Island. Fraser Island is an exotic holiday and an unforgettable experience. The largest sand island in the world

Fraser Island

Fraser Island Fraser Island or Great Sandy Island) itself is one of the attractions of Australia. This large island, consisting entirely of sand, has no analogues in the world. In 1992 he was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.

The island's area is 1840 square kilometers and is geographically part of the state of Queensland. Fraser Island stretches along the coast of the Coral Sea. Scientists claim that the island was formed by huge sand dunes that formed more than four hundred years ago.

Among the local aborigines, the name of the island originally sounded like Kagri, which translated into Russian means “Paradise”. It was renamed in the last century; today’s name is similar to the name of Captain Fraser, who crashed his ship not far from the island.

Fraser photo

For several years, Captain Fraser and his wife lived on the island with the rest of the surviving crew. In 1840, European colonialists came to the island and formed a new settlement. A war broke out between the Aborigines and Europeans, during which almost all local population was exterminated. Today, only 400 people live on the island, eleven of them are surviving descendants of the Aboriginal people.

The whole nature of Fraser Island is unusual and attractive. For example, here you can see high sand dunes rising almost 150 meters. One of the main natural attractions of the island is its sandy lakes, there are more than forty of them here. Basically, these are small lakes from which streams flow into the Coral Sea.

There are also several large lakes, for example Lake Boemingen. The area of this lake occupies more than 200 hectares. A small river called Ely Creek also flows through the island. Tourists visiting the island always wonder why the lakes and rivers are not absorbed into the sand? The fact is that at the bottom of these lakes there is a dense “bed” of peat, which forces them to remain on the surface. This is truly a unique phenomenon.

Tourists are attracted to Fraser Island primarily by its magnificent sandy beaches. They are surrounded by exotic vegetation, which can also be considered a local attraction.

Near the beach there are small groves of palm trees and eucalyptus trees, and if you go inland, you can find untouched tropical forest with thickets of lianas and eucalyptus trees. The record-breaking eucalyptus grows in this forest; its height is 70 meters. This eucalyptus gave rise to declaring the forest on the island a protected zone. In this reserve you can observe more than eight hundred species of tropical plants, as well as animals inhabiting these places.

The island is home to wild Dingo dogs, although their numbers are decreasing year after year. This happens because they interbreed with domestic dogs, and the purity of the species disappears. In this regard, on the island local residents It was forbidden to have dogs.

As for other representatives of the animal world, here you can find such exotic animals as possums, echidnas, fruit bats, or flying foxes. There are still horses on the island that were once brought here by Europeans, however, they are all wild.

Among the reptiles on the island, there are combed crocodiles, many different lizards and snakes. One of the rarest animals here is the marsupial wallaby. This is a type of kangaroo that is smaller in size.

The coastal waters of the island are home to tiger sharks, humpback whales, dugongs, dolphins and many rare species of jellyfish and fish. Among the rare bird species, it is worth noting the ground parrot, honeycreepers, kingfishers, seagulls, and cockatoos.

Fraser is one of the resort islands of Australia; it consists entirely of sand, and this is its uniqueness.

Located along east coast across the channel from Hervey Bay.

In the Aboriginal language Fraser is called "Kgari-rai".

This is true - wide and clean sandy beaches, rainforests and flowering heather meadows under a clear blue sky suggest just such a comparison.

Fraser is considered the world's largest sand island. It stretches for more than 110 km in length, up to 23 km in width, and the sand dunes of the island are its attraction. The height of these natural structures reach almost 250 meters. In addition, they are absolutely white and against the green background of the forests covering the island they look almost like snow.

Fraser got its name thanks to a couple of Europeans who were shipwrecked off the shores of this lost in warm waters. Pacific Ocean islands. It must be said that in those days - 1836 - relations between the aborigines and Europeans were quite aggressive, so local tribes were not too happy about such a neighborhood. As a result, the Fraser couple were held captive by the Aborigines for some time. In 1992, Fraser became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and received the status nature reserve. Despite this, it is very popular among tourists and travelers.

Surprisingly, this island, washed on all sides by the salty ocean, has quite a lot of fresh lakes. They are called “hanging” because they seem to hang between the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean. There are more than 100 of them. One of them is Lake Mackenzie, located in the forests 100 meters above sea level. This is the most beautiful fresh lake. The water in it is formed only from precipitation. It is almost distilled, so no freshwater organisms can live in it. But around the lake snow-white beach from the purest quartz sand.

And the largest of them is Boemingen, which is approximately 200 hectares in size. The water in the lake is cool and fresh, which is in sharp contrast to the Australian climate - for the most part hot. This is why Boemingen is so popular among tourists.

Palm trees, mangroves and bamboo, and tropical rain forest also grow on the shore of the lake.

Today, the indigenous population of the island is only 400 people, 11 of whom are descendants of the very tribes that held the Fraser couple captive. It should be noted that a few years after the captivity of the shipwrecked Europeans, colonialists from European countries came to Fraser and formed many new settlements. Of course, the natives were against such intervention, and a war broke out. The unequal enemy forces simply destroyed the small and weakly armed army of the Australian tribes. Almost the entire local population was destroyed. Now Fraser is just a place of entertainment for tourists, where tourist complex: hotel, motel, swimming pool, bar, shop and cafe. You can get to the island by small plane, but it is better to rent a car on the mainland and cross on a barge. Having your own wheels, you can get to know the island much better.

Fraser differs from the rest of Australia in its milder climate, the island's nature is rich and varied thanks to a large number moisture. The western part of the island is home to mangroves and swamps, the east is a string of beautiful sandy beaches, and the northern part of Fraser is national park Great Sandy.

Because the vegetable world Fraser is quite diverse, and the animals live there are very different. For example, several species of turtles are found in fresh lakes. In the forest you can see bats and foxes, as well as representatives of classic Australian fauna: possums and wallabies, echidnas and dingoes. To observe animals in natural environment habitats, tourists are offered canoe trips. In addition to the wildlife, it is not difficult to spot electric rays, sharks and dolphins in the waters surrounding the boat. The migration routes of humpback whales swimming in the island also pass by Fraser Island - these animals can be observed from August to October.

The world of birds will also not disappoint ornithology lovers. The Fraser is home to approximately 354 species of birds, 18 of which are considered raptors. You can also see such rare birds as the spiny-legged owl and the ground parrot.

Since the tourism infrastructure of Fraser is quite developed, tourists, in addition to comfortable beach holiday, a variety of sports entertainment is offered, some of which are extreme. For example, surfing or bodyboarding sand dunes followed by a noisy dive into the lake. To the program active entertainment also includes a 4WD ride along the coast, where you can admire the Cathedral Rocks - amazing and majestic piles colorful sand. Mini planes fly over miles of beaches, and small boats float tourists down the rushing Ely Creek straight to the ocean. Many travelers come to Fraser Island just to go sailing and observe marine life in their natural environment.

Sightseeing tours on the island usually include Happy Valley, where the wreck of the Makhino ship is located. This hulk was built in 1905 and served first as a transatlantic liner and later, during the First World War, as a floating hospital. The ship was later driven ashore on Fraser Beach during a cyclone.

To preserve the island's ecosystem, the population of Fraser actively promotes wild or green tourism, which involves overnight stays and living under open air or in a tent and moving around the island in an off-road jeep. This way of traveling allows you to admire untouched beauty nature of Fraser, without harming the ecology of one of the most amazing islands in the world.

Flora and fauna

The western coast of the island is occupied by mangrove forests and swamps, and the eastern coast, facing the ocean, is white sand beach about 100 km long. The northern Fraser region retains intact equatorial rainforests. Interesting and animal world islands. Small, well-warmed lakes are home to freshwater turtles, and the wild dog Dingo is found on land. And this is not all the flora and fauna of Fraser Island.

Guided by a ranger, tourists can observe raptors and electric rays during a canoe trip, and on the island itself, more than 354 species of birds. These people live here rare species birds like the ground parrot, the great spine-footed owl, and 18 species of birds of prey. While sailing, you can see dugongs, turtles, dolphins and sharks. While walking the beaches and Indian Head, you can witness the migration of humpback whales from August to October. And when you go on a night journey, you will meet a bat, a flying fox, a sugar glider and a frog. On the island you should also definitely get acquainted with the life of kangaroos, wallabies, possums and echidnas.

Island name

This charming island got its name from the married couple James and Eliza Fraser. In 1836, the ship Stirling Castle, captained by James Fraser, was wrecked off the coast of the island, and the surviving sailors went ashore. Relations between the Aborigines and Europeans were hostile and even aggressive. And today travelers listen with interest to the exciting story about the strong woman Eliza, who survived the death of her husband and newborn child and was captured by the aborigines.

For tourists

On Fraser Island, history is literally in the air. Wild flowers can trace 700 thousand years of evolution, and huge sand dunes can trace centuries of climate change. Travelers will be interested in seeing with their own eyes the hills formed by the household waste of primitive people, fishing gear, notches on trees and sites that are at least 5 thousand years old.

Having visited the colored Arch Rocks, you will see the place where the men - the ancestors of the Aboriginal people played the didgeridoo to the migrating humpback whales, as well as the Moon Piglet - sacred place for women, where they gave birth to children. What awaits true explorers in Happy Valley is the wreck of the steamship Makhino, built in 1905 and serving as a luxury trans-Tasman passenger ship, later as a floating hospital during the First World War, and then washed ashore during a cyclone. Visit the abandoned MacKenzie Landing, which originally served as a connection between loggers and the mainland and was used by the famous Z Force during World War II. So, step by step, the rich history of the island will be revealed.

After all the amazing discoveries, you can stay in an environmentally friendly boarding house and treat yourself to a wellness massage, exotic cocktails and gourmet dishes, or enjoy the privacy of a house overlooking the coast. The island has many hotels and individual cottages with magnificent views of the ocean and surrounding area. And for a complete reconnection with nature, you can pitch a tent in one of following places: in the tourist camp at the Central parking lot, near lakes Bumanzhin, McKenzie, Dundubara, Waddy Point, Watumba, the village of Dilli, on Cathedral Beach or on the east beach.

Having been on Fraser Island for at least a day, no one has any doubt why it is called “paradise”. Hundreds of freshwater lakes with turquoise and clear waters, ancient tropical forests, snow-white quartz beaches - all this creates a unique magical landscape, looking at which you can forget about everything.

Fraser Island is located in Queensland, north of Brisbane, and is 123 kilometers long. sand spit, separated from the mainland wide strait. You can get there only on a double-decker ferry, from the upper deck of which you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the world's largest sand island. To preserve the nature of the island, it was created here, covering its entire territory. There are no permanent settlements on the island. In 1992 it was inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List.

The island got its name from the captain of the British cargo ship Mobile Castle, which was wrecked at the northern tip of the island in 1836. Local aborigines from the Badtjala tribe rescued the captain and tried to do everything possible to cure him. But, despite their efforts, the captain soon died. His wife lived with her rescuers for about six months, after which she was found in good health by the British and taken home.

And the island owes its formation to the ocean waves and their tidal regime. By the way, it is the last factor that is felt first when driving along the ocean coast. Under the wheels it is absolutely smooth, without the slightest potholes or ruts, but not an asphalt road, but a sandy road. Or rather, not even a road, but simply a wide, several tens of meters long shore. Closer to the ocean there is sand with water, and closer to the center of the island it is dry and crumbling. Tidal fluctuations in the ocean, as is known, occur twice a day -. And most importantly, every day has its own schedule. And to make it easier, tourists are given special leaflets indicating the time and height of the maximum and minimum sea level marks.

Another treasure of the Fraser, unique not only in shape and color, but also in composition and animal population, are fresh lakes lying among the dunes. There are more than 40 of them, which is half of all inland lakes on the planet! Among them are the world's largest lake of this type in size - Bumanyin (200 hectares) and the highest - Boomerang (120 m above sea level). All lakes are completely different. Some are surrounded by dense forests with rich undergrowth, for example a lake, where tourists especially like to come around Christmas. On the shores of other lakes, on the contrary, there are areas of bare dune sand. However, both are poor in nutrients, hence life.

A lot of surprising things can be found, if desired, right next to the path on seemingly bare ground. From time to time you notice small green circles, two centimeters in diameter. If you carefully pick up one of them with a knife, it will rise and turn out to be... a lid that hinges back, as if on a good “hinge,” and closes the entrance to the house of a hunting spider with smooth inner walls. Most likely, you won’t find the spider in the house: sensing that the “prey” is too large, it will quickly crawl through the “back door” into the hole, further into the ground, before prudently slamming the “door”.

King parrots and yellow-tailed black cockatoos can be found in the treetops. An emerald pigeon feeds on fallen fruit on the ground. The brush-tailed glider and sugar glider also live here (although you can only see them on a specially organized night excursion).

Dingoes, these amazingly beautiful lean dogs of red color, with white paws and a narrow “fox” muzzle, are found everywhere. These dogs are very attractive, and their puppies, like any puppies, are also very touching. Therefore, the simple human desire of tourists to give the dingo something from their supplies in response to their pleading look is understandable. Some dogs constantly live in the vicinity of tourist sites and have already forgotten how to get their own food. Such dingoes, if they are denied a handout, become aggressive and can even bite. They become especially demanding during the period of feeding puppies, i.e. in winter (in Australia this is June - August). It is for this reason that they cause concern to the rangers. The most aggressive dogs have to be caught and destroyed.

In this regard, at all tourist stops (and several thousand of them come here every year - mainly in the Australian summer) special posters are hung: “Bt§oe8”. They inform visitors about the importance of conserving the dingo population on Fraser Island. After all, in all of this, this is practically the only absolutely pure community of dingoes that have no contact with domestic dogs. It also explains why feeding dingoes is so dangerous: dangerous for visitors.

Catching aggressive dogs is part of the rangers' job national park. They are also responsible for all information and environmental services. In addition, they must be able to provide first medical care and, if necessary, quickly evacuate the victim. Rangers regularly monitor the condition of the sites and ensure that tourists comply with the established rules of conduct. They are engaged in supplying campsites with firewood, showing slide films in the evenings, holding various holidays, etc., etc. In short, the Fraser Island rangers are as wonderful a landmark of this corner of Australia’s nature as its yellow dunes and coffee rocks, tree ferns and blooming orchids, emerald doves and the wild dingo.