Spending Summer On Fraser Island

To find out just what it’s like on Fraser Island during the summer, we put our questions to Hana White, the First Lady of Drop Bear Adventures.

What is the best thing about Fraser Island in the summer?

For me, nothing beats a good swim on a hot summer’s day, so I would have to say the freshwater lakes. The cool, crystal-clear freshwater is the perfect temperature in the summer. It’s lovely and lukewarm, so you can dive right in and stay in there until you’re all pruned up!

What are the swimming opportunities like?

Fraser Island is home to more than half of the world’s perch dune lakes. Although you can’t get to all of them on the island (unless you are up for some serious bush bashing), you still have over 10 of them. There are also beautiful freshwater creeks pumping out thousands of gallons of water every hour on the beach, so you’re never short of a swimming spot on Fraser Island.

Where’s the best place to relax on the island?

That’s a little trickier to answer as the island itself is so relaxing, but if I had to choose my favourite hammock spot, of course, it would be the front garden at the Drop Bear Beachcamp. I love finding a shady spot with ocean views and knowing I’m close to all the benefits a fridge brings on a hot summer’s day.

What wildlife can we expect?

Summer is when most wildlife comes out to play. Typically, you can expect to see goannas, eagles, turtles, snakes, spiders, all sorts of crabs, a whole load of birds, echidnas (the Aussie version of a hedgehog) and, of course, our famous dingo. We also spot lots of marine life such as dolphins, manta rays, Humpback Whales and sharks. It’s a wildlife frenzy on Fraser.

Is there much travel time between attractions?

Lots of people don’t realise how big the island is and you soon realise when you’re in Australia that it takes some time to get anywhere. The same rule applies on Fraser Island. This is why I believe you can’t spend anything less than 2 days on the island. Although it does take some time to explore the island, it’s so beautiful and 4WDriving is so much fun that time still passes you by too quickly.

What are the rules of 75 Mile Beach?

75 Mile Beach is a registered road so all the road rules apply. Its an 80km speed limit for the most part and 40km in front of the beach villages. The roads can be very smooth and easy to drive; the inland tracks however are a different story. They have a 30km speed limit but you can’t ever really do more than half of that if you want a comfortable ride.

What’s your favourite place on Fraser Island?

My favourite place without a doubt is Sandy Cape. Only a few lucky people make it up to the tip of the island every year. It’s a bit tricky to get to, but once you’re there, you couldn’t feel further away from everything and that’s its charm. Totally cut off from any creature comforts but surrounded by untouched beaches and piercing blue waters. I’ve been lucky enough to go there four times in my five years on Fraser and one of those visits I shared with close friends and family as I said “I do”.

Drop Bear Adventures run tours of Fraser Island throughout the year. Find out more at www.dropbearadventures.com.au