Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rent four-wheel-drives, offer camping and accommodated four-wheel-drive
packages; rent camping gear; organize Vehicle Access Permits, barge bookings,
camping permits, and secure storage for your car; and pick you up free from the
airport, coach terminal, or your hotel.
Four-wheel-drives transfer by Fraser Venture barge ( & 07/4125 4444 ),
which runs three times a day from River Heads, 17km (11 miles) south of Uran-
gan Boat Harbour. The round-trip fare for vehicle and driver is A$82 (US$53),
plus A$5.50 (US$3.60) per extra passenger. It is a good idea to book a place for
the 45-minute crossing.
Kingfisher Bay 4WD Hire ( & 07/4120 3366 ) within Kingfisher Bay Resort
(see below) rents four-wheel-drives for A$195 (US$127) a day, plus a A$30
(US$20) Fraser Island driving permit and a A$2,000 (US$1,300) security
deposit (by credit card) held until return of the vehicle in the same condition as
hired. They allow 1-day rentals. Book well in advance. Fraser Island Taxi Ser-
vice ( & 07/4127 9188 ) is another option for getting around, and they use four-
wheel-drives, of course. It's based at Eurong on the island's eastern side. A typical
fare, from Kingfisher Bay Resort across the island to go fishing on 75-Mile
Beach, for example, is A$65 (US$42). The taxi seats five.
VISITOR INFORMATION Contact the Hervey Bay Tourism Bureau,
Urraween Road at Maryborough-Hervey Bay road, Pialba (P.O. Box 8, Hervey
Bay, QLD 4655; & 1800/811 728 in Australia, or 07/4124 2912; www.hervey
baytourism.com.au). A better source for Web-connected travelers is www.
hervey.com.au. The Marina Kiosk ( & 07/4128 9800 ) at Urangan Boat Harbour
is a one-stop booking and information agency for all Fraser-related travel. Several
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service information offices are on the island.
There are no towns and very few facilities, food stores, or services on the
island, so if you're camping, take all supplies with you.
ECOEXPLORING THE ISLAND
Fraser's turquoise lakes and tea-colored “perched” lakes in the dunes are among
the island's biggest attractions. The brilliant blue Lake McKenzie is absolutely
beautiful; a swim here may be the highlight of your visit. Lake Birrabeen is
another popular swimming spot. Don't miss a refreshing swim in the fast-flowing
clear shallows of Eli Creek. Wade up the creek for a mile or two and let the cur-
rent carry you back down. You should also take the boardwalk through a ver-
dant forest of palms and ferns along the banks of Wanggoolba Creek.
Don't swim at 75-Mile Beach, which hugs the eastern edge of the island—
there are dangerously strong currents and a healthy shark population to contend
with. Instead, swim in the Champagne Pools (also called the Aquarium)—
pockets of soft sand protected from the worst of the waves by rocks. The bub-
bling seawater turns the pools into miniature spas. The pools are just north
Please Don't Feed the Dingoes
The dingoes that roam the island are emboldened by visitors who have—
sometimes deliberately and sometimes unwittingly—fed them over the
years. These dangerous wild animals have been responsible for one death
and several serious attacks in recent years. Do not feed them, and keep
your distance. There are fines of up to A$3,000 (US$1,950) for feeding
dingoes on Fraser Island.
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