The History of Fraser Island

The first people who began to live on this beautiful island were found by Captain James Cook in 1770, and they were called the “Butchella People.” Their name for the island was K’gari, meaning paradise, and stemmed from the name of a beautiful spirit they believed helped to form the land. The name was changed in 1836, a few years after a woman named Eliza Fraser survived a shipwreck that every other shipmate had died from, mainly from illness or starvation. She was left with the aboriginals until men on land heard of her plight and came to the island to make a negotiation for her return. Soon after, Europeans began to arrive in high numbers and the aboriginal population began to fall quickly due to lack of natural food and increase of disease. These days Fraser Island is a World Heritage Site and is mainly kept as a tourist destination, under regulation by the government. Visitors who come to stay are pulled in by the natural beauty and the feeling of history that can still be felt as you walk through the wild bushes or abandoned beaches. (So remember, we are guests on this Island and it’s important to preserve the history and have a respect for the people who came to know the land many years ago!!)

About Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and its sweeping beaches stretch 123 km long and 22 km across. It is a World Heritage site, along with Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and Kakadu, so its heritage and culture is closely monitored. People from all over the world are drawn to Fraser Island to experience its shockingly white sand and crystal clear waters. The island sits atop a large reservoir of fresh water and is home to over 100 freshwater lakes and rivers. Ancient rainforests lie behind the beaches formed by the wind, rain and crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Fraser Island is home to many different kinds of plants and wildlife, and you could spend hours just exploring all the different kinds! Tell us what you see on your tours!! Tigersharks, bottlenose dolphins, whales, turtles, cockatoo’s, opossums and flying foxes are common sights!

Daring Dingoes

Dingoes of Fraser Island are quickly becoming the purest breed of Dingo in all of Australia, and it is very important to maintain their natural habitat! These wild animals can be very daring and aggressive and it’s valuable to know how to keep yourself safe when enjoying yourselves whilst exploring their hunting grounds! NEVER feed or approach a dingo, as it only encourages them to stalk humans or congregate in packs around a camp. If faced by an aggressive dingo, cross your arms boldly in front of you, don’t make eye contact and back away slowly. It is important to never turn your back and run, because to them you are prey, and hunters love the thrill of a chase! The best way to enjoy these native creatures of Australia is definitely from a distance or by vehicle! They are a wonderful sight to behold in their natural environment, and add even more charm to this enchanting island, so let’s make sure we remember that this is their home first!

Fraser Island Fauna

There are more than 300 species of native animals living on Fraser Island, so there is always something interesting to see! When you have sandblows, rainforest, lakes, rivers and the ocean, it creates a very diverse natural environment for many unique animals.

Wake up to the sound of birds at sunrise and see their bright rainbows of colour in the trees. It’s very common to see cockatoo’s, kookaburra’s (also known as the laughing jackass!), kingfishers of many hues, sea eagles hunting prey, or kikes. The bird population is very high on Fraser Island and this is a great place to come if you are an avid birdwatcher! Search for the elusive ground parrot while walking through rainforest trails, or watch for a night owl in the shadows after sunset. Fraser Island is home to many rare and exotic birds, we could make a whole information board just for them!

There is also a wide variety of land mammals on Fraser Island! See the flying fox swoop above the trees at night and try to catch a picture! (You may have a hard time falling asleep if you manage to.) Lizards like the giant goanna, turtles, whales, dugongs, dolphins and dingoes are fairly common sights! Whether you like creepy crawlies or not, Fraser Island is also home to many different types of spider, snakes and also the giant cockroach! You’re sure to see something interesting while visiting Fraser Island, where the wildlife roams free and wild….like it should! Ask your tour guide to tell you stories of some of the things he’s seen, and be on the lookout!

FRASER ISLAND FLORA

The flora of Fraser Island is unique and diverse. It is the only place on Earth where tall rainforest grows in sand. The island contains the largest extent of Wallum Heath remnants in Queensland. In Pile Valley, 1,000 year old rough-barked Satinays are found despite being logged the Kauri Pines dominate in some areas. Scribbly Gums, Red Gums, Piccabeen Palms, Brush Box and Pandanus all grow on Fraser Island. Along the coast, the foredunes are dominated by salt-tolerant species which includes Pigface, Goats Foot vine and Beach Spinifex.