There's No Place Like Oz

Fraser Island is considered to be the world’s largest sand island and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Australia. Beyond that, I knew little-to-nothing about the island prior to the 2-day tour Brooke and I enjoyed with Cool Dingo Tours.

Two-day Fraser Island experience was provided for free by Cool Dingo Tours

Cool Dingo shows you as much of the island as possible in two days without being too action-packed (check out the 2-day itinerary).

BONUS
– 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and 1 breakfast are included in the price. Bonus — the meals were really nice for a tour geared toward 18-35 year olds. And there was plenty for everyone! AND they even had a slice of gluten free cake waiting for me for dessert. Delicious gluten free cake.
– No hostels or camping for us — we stayed in the “Wilderness Lodge” of the Kingfisher Bay Resort. You can opt for a shared room with others in your group or have a private room for couples.
– We got lucky and had the BEST tour guide ever. In fact, he deserves his own post. Heading to Fraser? Request Dave.

The tour kicked off with a pick-up at our hostel in Hervey Bay, a check-in at the main office, and a 45-minute ferry ride to the island. Dave greeted us at the dock and led us to our massive 4WD vehicle. As it’s a sand island with no roads (with the exception of a few around the resort), only 4WDs are permitted on the island. There are self-drive tours available with various companies, but I had heard reports of fatal accidents caused by inexperienced drivers. No thank you! The only way I would see Fraser Island is if I had an experienced driver as my guide.

Can seat up to 40 I think…thankfully we only had 18!

Day 1 in photos

A walk around Basin Lake

Carnivorous plants at Basin lake

After the lake we enjoyed several walks, had lunch, and then headed to Lake McKenzie to swim, walk, or rest for a couple of hours.

Lake McKenzie — crystal clear!

Lake McKenzie

Love my Brisbane Lions

Wilderness Lodge — home for the night

Just missed sunset at the jetty

Day 2 in photos

Day 2 kicked off with a *breathtaking* drive down the beach — and I was in the front seat! Dave always asked if anyone would like to spend the next bit of the journey in the front with him, and I couldn’t have selected a better time. A strong sense of peace and calm settled in as I gazed at the gorgeous landscape around me. It lasted for hours

Another view of our vehicle

Fabulously fantastic Dave

Maheno Shipwreck

The Pinnacles

Crab in the Champagne Pool

Dingo spotting

Dave’s favorite spot on the island

Over the course of two days I learned how special Fraser Island is, and selecting which photos to share here only reminded me of that fact. It’s a wonderful place to spend a couple of days enjoying nature, meeting new people, and relaxing in unspoilt beauty.

While I remember Fraser Island’s beauty clearly, the first thing I think of when someone mentions “Fraser Island” is tour guide Dave. He truly defined our experience, and I can’t wait to share more about him in an upcoming post.