Top 10 Surprising Facts about Fraser Island

Fraser Island from the Indian Head By Sensenmann – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Surprising Facts about Fraser Island

Glorified as the world’s largest sand island and a place of exceptional beauty Fraser Island is nothing short of a fairytale place.  It boasts long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly colored sand cliffs, its majestic tall rainforests, and numerous freshwater lakes of crystal-clear waters.

But how much is known of this magnificent island? Here are the top 10 surprising facts you didn’t know about Fraser Island!

1. The island is known for the dingoes

Fraser Island is known for the famous dingoes that inhabit it. They are classified as the purest breed of the dingo. The island is officially protected by the law and the Dingo Conservation society. Furthermore, the island prohibits domestic dogs from entering to prevent cross-breeding.

Originally the dingoes were introduced to Australia by South East Asian Seafarers. At the time, Fraser Island was only a couple of kilometers from the mainland as it had just cut off. The dingoes were able to swim to the island and live peacefully among the Indigenous cultures.

2. It is registered as a world heritage site

The North End of 75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island By (WT-en) StuartEdwards at English Wikivoyage – Wikimedia Commons

Located off the east coast of Queensland the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding natural universal values.

Moreover, it features complex dune systems that are still evolving, and an array of rare and unique features in this sand environment, including dune lakes and tall rainforests.

3. Fraser Island was used in WWII

During WWII, Fraser Island was used as a secret training base for commando troops. It was deemed perfect for both jungle and amphibious training. The island saw more than 900 Allied soldiers put through a grueling regime.

Soldiers trained daily from early in the morning stretching through too late at night. The training included 8kilometer runs in full uniform across to Lake McKenzie and back.

4. Great lookout spot for humpback watching

Watching southern right whales at Fraser island By Leonardo Lanza – Wikimedia

There have been some mass whale strandings – ten sperm whales on a Hervey Bay beach in the late 1960s, and a couple of years ago a school of pilot whales came ashore near the Maheno shipwreck on Fraser Island’s surf beach – as well as individual strandings of humpback, minke and melon head whales.

Visitors can have half-day or full-day whale watch trips from Fraser Island and Hervey Bay on the mainland. Now, some twenty commercial vessels take around 80,000 people whale watching each season. As many as 40 whales can often be seen at any one time. Fraser Island acts as a perfect natural barrier against the ocean swells of the Pacific Ocean.

5. Has many incredible lakes

Fraser Island is home to over 100 freshwater lakes. Some famous ones like the stunning Lake McKenzie and arguably even more awe-inspiring Lake Birabeen, as well as countless freshwater streams and tributaries.

The island receives an average of around 1600mm of rainfall annually. Lake Boomanjin is one of the island’s prettier sights which is the largest perched lake in the world at 190 hectares. Another perched lake is Lake McKenzie, Fraser’s most popular tourist spot. The water in McKenzie is so pure that it is unsuitable for many sea life to live in.

6. The original name for Fraser Island is K’gari

A view of the beach from Indian Head, on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia By Rhain – Wikimedia

The Indigenous Butchulla people who named it occupied Fraser Island for over 5,000 years. They named the island K’gari, meaning paradise. In 1836, the ship Stirling Castle sunk just off of the island, while the captain and his wife, James and Eliza Fraser, managed to escape on a lifeboat, along with other ship’s crew.

 Captain Fraser died on the island and Eliza was stranded there for six weeks, being taken hostage by the indigenous tribes. She successfully integrated herself into the Indigenous culture and society. After her rescue, the Butchulla people named the island after her.

7. It’s the world’s largest sand island

Measuring 123 kilometers long and approximately 20 kilometers wide, Fraser Island is classified as the world’s largest sand island. It beats out North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island. It is the product of accumulated sand deposits over the last 750,000 years.

Generally, sand is not an ideal environment for plant life to flourish. However, the sand on Fraser contains mycorrhizal fungi. This fungus provides nutrients for the perfect atmosphere for plants to grow. The oldest trees on the island are aged at around 1,200 years old!

8. There are more than 200 species of birds found here

Swallow on Fraser Island By Annette Teng – Wikimedia Commons

Fraser Island is home to more than 230 species of bird including pelicans, white-breasted sea eagles, kingfishers, ospreys, peregrine falcons, and the ground parrot. So far, just over 350 species of birds have been found on Fraser. A large portion of these birds is classified as rare or vulnerable.

The island is home to nocturnal birds, birds of prey, and wading birds. Fraser Island has become popular for birdwatching among tourists who visit the island. Birds come as far as Japan, Alaska, and Siberia to the island yearly. Moreover, Fraser has around 19 different flying foxes visiting the island regularly. With fruit bats and insectivorous bats, making up the majority.

9. It is home to numerous san dunes

Fraser island is covered with massive dunes. Most dunes average between 100 and 200 meters tall. The largest one clocks in at an impressive 244 meters! These dunes have been shaped and molded for thousands of years.

Most of them are made up of quartz (silica), and other minerals such as zircon. Many tourists get to tour the dunes for an epic day of sandboarding.

10. Maheno Shipwreck is found here

The Maheno ship wreck on Fraser Island is a landmark tourist By Mary Jo Gomez-Jacksonattraction – Wikimedia Commons

Fraser Island acts as a living museum of sunken ships. There are more than twenty-three wrecks recorded within its waters between 1856 and 1935. It’s an understatement to say it has a fascinating history and plenty of stories to dig into.

The Maheno shipwreck is perhaps one of the most popular on the island. It was beached near The Pinnacles. The survivors attempted to fix the boat but were unsuccessful, hence the abandoned shipwreck. Today, the Maheno shipwreck acts as one of the most popular tourist attractions to those visiting Fraser Island.