Adrenaline On Fraser Island

Launching from the starting point, the car rockets through the muddy tracks narrowly avoiding its competitors and screeches round the corner almost toppling over and down the sharp faced cliff edge. No, this isn’t commentary from Silverstone but a mild re-encounter of an exhilarating ride through Fraser Island in a 4×4.

Just a short 45-minute ferry trip from Hervey Bay, Fraser, the world’s largest sand island covering a total of 160,000 hectares, opens up a new world of adventure where everything you do is potentially life threatening, making the whole experience much more exciting.

Whether you sign up for a self-drive or guided tour, your days on Fraser Island will be stimulating and your nights will be spent creeping your way past dingoes as you try to find the camp toilet in the dark.

Fraser Island got its name from Eliza Fraser who was shipwrecked on the island with her husband. The aboriginals know it as K’gari meaning paradise which accurately describes the island’s beauty.

As ever the aborigines were forced off the island by fearsome white men wanting to cut down the trees for timber. Luckily, the butchering was stopped so that visitors can see Fraser in all its glory.

A blanket of subtropical rainforest containing flying foxes, possums, snakes, turtles and wallabies covers the sandy island, making it one of the world’s natural wonders.

As much as its forests are a haven for wildlife, its seas are a breeding ground for tiger sharks. These nasty man-eating beasts have been sighted in waters only three metres deep so swimming in the sea isn’t advised, however with more than 100 freshwater lakes on the island there are more than enough alternatives to keep you happy and refreshed.

One of the most popular lakes just east of Kingfisher Bay is the stunning Lake McKenzie. Surrounded by fine talcum-like white sand and lush greenery, this lake is also known as the ‘Window’ due to its spectacular opportunities for a swim and snorkel.

Directly east of Lake McKenzie is Lake Wabby, another great swimming spot well worth the one-and-a-half hour walk to get to. The best part about the walk is when you run down a giant sand dune to get to the lake. Believe me, this dune is steep and many people have broken their legs in the process. It’s a risk you have to take because if you do make it down unhurt it’s a brilliant experience.

Aside from the lakes, the next biggest attraction is the Maheno Shipwreck. Built in 1905 as a luxury passenger steam ship, the 400-foot vessel was one of the gems of the merchant marine. After 9 years of panache and service to the upper crust she was sent to do service in the First World War which basically battered the life out of the ol’ girl who was eventually swept to shore on Fraser by a cyclone when on her way to a scrapyard in Japan. Now the rusting heap of metal is almost as popular as the Titanic.

As interesting as all the sights and natural wonders of the island are, my favourite part of the trip has to be the experience of cruising down the famous 75 Mile Beach in a 4×4.

Fraser Island is an extreme sport which left me with an incurable adrenaline rush and wanting to return for more.

You can drive a 4×4, swim in Lake McKenzie, spot dingoes and camp on the beach on Fraser Island with Drop Bear Adventures.

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By Alexandra Gouevia