Exploring unbelievable K’gari (Fraser Island)

By Logan Tilley, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to venture back up the East Coast of Australia to Rainbow Beach with my family who had flown over to visit and see some of the sights of the country. However, this trip was far and away the highlight of it all. The trip started with a pickup from a convoy of 4X4s led by a single tour guide. The rest of the vehicles were driven in rotation by other people on the tour, making it that much more interactive. This particular tour was a three-day, two-night immersive experience and I would not have wanted to experience this incredible place any other way.

K’gari is famous for being the world’s largest sand island while still containing dense rainforests, endless beaches, and massive fresh and saltwater lakes. There is so much to do that just a day trip would not have been enough for us to fully take in the wonders that it had to offer. The company we went with was called Drop Bear and I could not recommend it enough. The accommodation provided was excellent and all meals were provided to a pretty high standard. Our guide, Luke, was outstanding, bringing a chill and friendly vibe to the trip which created an environment where everyone could become friends. We had no fixed itinerary to allow for changes in the weather and how busy certain hotspots were, making everything a lot more personal and enjoyable.

We navigated off-roading through dense forests past a shipwreck along the iconic 75-mile beach, which was a spectacular experience itself, to reach stunning perch lakes. The tour guide provides activities to enjoy at the lakes such as balls for sports and even paddleboards, though my poor balance proved insurmountable in my attempt to actually get anywhere on it. The group of people we had with us added even more to this experience, as everyone was so friendly and just as excited to be there as we were.

Of course, not only is the natural beauty a draw, but the island is also spotted with Dingoes, a species of wild dogs that roam around the area. They look friendly and cute enough to pet but rest assured the million signs around the island telling you not to get close to them was enough to let me know everything I needed to. But of course that didn’t stop us getting maybe a little too close to take some pictures with these guys.

Luckily enough, we were able to get off the island and out of the region just in time to be unaffected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred which was just rolling in. Seeing the damage it caused on the news in the next few days made me feel that much luckier for the timing of it and the people that we got to meet and become friends with on our trip. This is definitely an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life and I could not recommend it any more doing it this way.