Lakes on Fraser Island

These four shots capture two very different lakes on Fraser Island Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby. Lake McKenzie is the dazzling tourist attraction with pure white sand and the water a turquise at the edge and darkening as the lake deepens. A less popular but almost equally lovely lake we visited is Lake Birrabeen which has the attraction of FAR less tourists. Unfortuantely the photos we took do not show the lovely colours which the above shot of Lake McKenzie seems to capture.

We loved Lake Wabby most of all however. It is a shrinking dark green small lake next to an immense yellow sandblow. The sandblow has dammed a creek to form Lake Wabby and the steep sides have made the lake the second deepest on Fraser Island. The force that has created the lake is also destroying it. The sandblow is creeping westwards and unfortunately is gradually swallowing the lake and the surrounding forest. The two photos above show it from a viewing platform at the beginning of a 1.2km walk down to it. The last photo was taken just as we were about to go for a swim in it.

We swam in all three lakes and the water was lovely and not at all cold. It was a pleasant change not to taste salt as we bathed.

A third type of lake on the island is a perched lake. Lake Boomanjin is the world's largest perched dune lake. Perched lakes are formed in the natural depressions between sand dunes and a layer of coffee rock underneath forms an almost waterproof shell that keeps the water from draining away.

Fraser Island, for those that do not know, is the largest island consisting of sand in the world. It is also one of the top 4WD destinations in Australia and you can only drive on it with a 4WD. The men can be real boyos here and the women have their internal organs rearranged every day. Tracks vary and can be extremely soft or full of the cruellest bumps and holes on the inland "scenic drives". The driving difficulty varies with the weather.

It costs $90 to come across on the barge which goes between the island and the mainland at various points, plus $37.50 vehicle permit plus camping fees which are only $10 per night for 2 people. Having come over it obviously pays to stay and see all the sights.