Bucket List Inspiration – K’gari / Fraser Island

This month, we’re highlighting K’gari/Fraser Island, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia. It is 123 km long and 22 km wide at its widest point and is only accessible by boat.

K’gari boasts beautiful long stretches of sandy beaches, rainbow-coloured sands, undulating sand dunes, half of the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes, and majestic remnants of tall rainforest growing on sandy dunes. It is the only place on Earth where subtropical rainforests grow entirely on sand!

K’gari is one of the largest sand islands in the world and has been a World Heritage Site since 1992. To fully experience the island, proper planning is recommended with plenty of time allowed for your trip in order to appreciate its stunning landscapes and beautiful animals!

Wanggoolba Creek is home to the giant King Fern—a relic ancestor from about 200 million years ago, boasting the largest fronds of any fern on Earth (up to 8m long)!

The Valley of the Giants contains trees more than 1,200 years old (some with trunks that are more than 4m wide), all growing in sand.

K’gari is also home to The Maheno shipwreck. The Maheno was built in 1905 and was one of the very first steamers powered by a turbine. Originally, the ship’s regular route took her all the way from Sydney to Auckland. However, during World War One, the Maheno was commissioned as a hospital ship. After the war, the ship was towed to Japan to be scrapped, and while being towed, she was caught in a cyclonic storm. The two chains snapped, sending the Maheno crashing into Fraser Island.

Today, the wreck is slowly deteriorating thanks to the harsh, salty environment, but a visit to K’gari isn’t complete without a photo alongside the famous Maheno!