Fraser Island, Great Sandy National Park

The world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island, was more than a million years in the making. Fraser Island is a World Heritage Area. This complex ecosystem of sand dunes, lakes, soils and forests survives solely on sand, an outstanding global example of continuing biological and geological processes. Most of the island is protected in Great Sandy National Park and managed as a recreation area.

Jagged coloured sand cliffs, stunning sandblows, freshwater lakes, tall forests, wildflower heaths, magnificent rainforests and crystal-clear creeks make Fraser Island a memorable place to visit. More than 40 freshwater lakes — half the world’s perched lakes — nestle among the island’s sand dunes. The island has the most extensive wallum heath remnants in Queensland. Fraser Island and nearby Cooloola are the only places in the world where tall rainforest grows in sand.

The island’s rich forests, heaths and woodlands are a haven for wildlife including migrating birds and rare and threatened animals such as acid frogs, the ground parrot, Illidge’s ant-blue butterfly, the beach stone-curlew and the false water-rat. Fraser Island has possibly the purest dingo population in Australia. More than 600 plant species and around 300 vertebrate animal species live on the island.

People have left their mark on this place. The Butchulla people lived here for at least 5000 years. Scattered among the island’s ever-shifting sands are many reminders of their special connection with this place. More recently, the island has hosted timber-getting, sand mining and tourism industries. But the island’s character is largely unspoilt.