WELL TRAVELLED
STAR ATTRACTION
A World Heritage-listed wilderness with resort-style comforts, Fraser Island is the perfect place to go wild – or go Hawaiian.
WORDS BROOKE LOWTHER AS A CHILD, my parents used to say to my sisters and I, if we looked up to the night sky, we may just see a shooting star (usually they would explain that we would only see one if we were very, very quiet). Ever since, I have frequently searched for them and maybe only twice have I ever seen a shooting star. This being said, I often wondered if it was because I have become so busy with life, being a single parent and working full time in both a career and as a mother that looking down at my mobile device was the reason I missed what was going on above me – and even right in front of me. I never took the time to look up. You may think, ‘what do stars have to do with Fraser Island?’. I am going to tell you … everything. Camping on a beach and waking up to the sound of waves was always my idea of a romantic dream. It may not have turned out exactly how I imagined when I went camping on Fraser, however, it was very close. I was aware that Fraser Island is one of the world's most unusual islands. Not only is it the largest sand island in the world – 123 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide – but it's the only place on Earth where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes 200 metres high. It also has half the world's perched lakes – lakes formed when depressions in dunes fill permanently with rainwater.
64 covemagazine.com.au
– Issue 83
Arriving at Fraser by 4WD was an experience within itself, lowering the air in the tyres, getting on the barge and grabbing the permit. I allowed my partner to do all of this manly organising and he took charge like a true alpha male. One thing I was scared of was the dingoes, however, I never saw one the entire trip. All roads on Fraser Island, which are made of soft sand, are 4WD only. A number of tours are available, or you can hire your own set of wheels on the island (I heard that you can also try hiring a 4WD in Hervey Bay). If you haven't driven on sand before, the friendly folk at Aussie Trax 4WD hire at Kingfisher Village will give you a quick lesson before you set out. Most people head straight to the vast sandy highway otherwise known as 75 Mile Beach on the eastern side of the island, but also worth doing is the inland Central Lakes scenic drive which takes around two hours. Highlights include Pile Valley’s impressive stand of tall, straight Satinay trees, Lake McKenzie, and Lake Wabby lookout for a view of Lake Wabby and Stonetool Sandblow. Lake McKenzie was my pick … I floated around the lake on a giant blow-up tyre for a least two hours before the sunset. At this point, my partner and I were very waterlogged, however, the freshwater lake gave us a feeling of cleanliness and purity. As we made it back to our campsite that night, we had talked about lying under the stars and looking up to the night sky.
We had packed fun dress up Hawaiian themed costumes (which we do often) and were ready for a fun evening together. My partner and I are super competitive, so the person who saw a shooting star first, – or at all – would not have to make dinner the following evening. The race was on. Suddenly I saw one. Jumping up and screaming, I won. Then five minutes after, another one, then he saw one … After six hours of chatting, laughing and looking at the sky, we saw 16 shooting stars. After the first three, I had run out of wishes, so I kept making the same one over and over … what a magical experience. I can see how the idea of staying at one of the many resorts on Fraser Island, like Kingfisher Bay Resort or Eurong Beach Resort would appeal – all beautiful and four stars. And the eco retreats and beachfront units are a treat. But camping for me had Brooke Lowther written all over it. To lay on a rug and watch the sunrise, seeing shooting stars by the dozens and really getting to know my partner better was simply perfect. I will be heading back to Fraser Island very soon.
