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Fraser IslandFraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992. Fraser Island is located off the east coast of Australia approximately 200 kilometres north of Brisbane, Queensland. With Cooloola, the island forms the Great Sandy Region, stretching 175 km north to south, varying in width up to 25km, with the highest elevation of 260 metres. The Fraser Island area is protected in the name of Great Sandy National Park. The island is reached by ferry and a four wheel drive vehicle is a requirement. There are plenty of available campsites with awesome views of the ocean and migrating whales. There are also restricted areas where the land is left to rehabilitate. Tour buses do travel the island but the true fun is renting a four wheeler and driving on the beach and on the sand roads. The fresh water lakes on Fraser Island are some of the cleanest lakes in the world. The most popular is Lake McKenzie which is inland from the small town of Eurong. It is where many a tourist stops for a restful swim. It is a "perched" lake sitting on top of compact sand and vegetable matter. The beach sand is nearly pure silica and is good for washing hair, teeth, jewelry, and defoliating the skin. The lakes have very little nurturance and is slightly acidic. Sunscreen and soaps are a form of pollution. Also urine will change the color of the water thus embarrassing anyone who did not use the convenient restrooms. Eli creek is a popular place to swim on the east coast of the island, as the water is fresh and cool year round. There is a boardwalk that is good for a short walk through the bush. Some cell phones will work south of Eli creek. Dingoes are common on the island. These animals are some of the last remaining pure dingoes so dogs are not allowed on the island. Tourists are warned not to feed the dingoes. There are also repeated assurances that dingoes will not attack humans unless provoked; however, in 2001 a boy wandered away from his family and was killed by a dingo. Since he was alone at the time the exact circumstances of the attack may never be known. The original name of the island is 'K'gari' by the Butchulla people. It means paradise. The arrival of European settlers to the area was an overwhelming disaster for the Butchulla people. There are currently no aboriginal tribes living on Fraser Island. The name Fraser Island comes from Eliza Fraser. Captain James Fraser and his wife, Eliza Fraser, were shipwrecked on the island. The name of the ship was the Stirling Castle. Captain Fraser died but Eliza did make it off the island. Since then Eliza made money traveling around England and Australia telling her story of the events that had transpired while the Stirling Castles officers were on the island. She is known to have told several versions of the story so it is unknown which version is the most accurate.
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