The largest "sandbox" in the world

Before the trip I was told: "You have to go to Fraser Island." So I booked a trip to Fraser Island. I had briefly read about the island in the travel guide before the tour, but nothing could prepare me for the reality.

I was a bit worried before the trip because I really have difficulty understanding the Australians here and a whole day with a local guide who you don't understand is really not a good day.

The day started early. At 7:30 a.m. I was picked up from my accommodation in Hervey Bay by the local guide. We were a small group: 6 travelers (3 Germans, 2 Belgians and 1 French) and the local guide - who comes from Hanover! Yes, Hanover in Lower Saxony :). Since the Belgians and the French woman didn't speak German, he spoke English consistently the whole day and lo and behold: I understood almost everything...

We took the jeep to the ferry and there I was amazed at the kmh limit on the island: 80kmh on the beach and 30kmh on the roads. That made no sense to me at all - why are you allowed to drive faster on the beach than on the roads???

When I saw the first road on Fraser Island, I knew why: the roads are neither tarred nor paved - they are made of dry and deep sand. The whole island consists only of sand, it is the largest sand island in the world!

The route took us past countless plants, bushes and trees to our first stop: Lake McKenzie. A freshwater lake filled only with rainwater. So fresh and clean that nothing lives in it. We also took our first meal break here. Since there are one of the few pure-bred dingoes (wild dogs) left on the island, meals were eaten in protected areas (a park with tables and a fence around them).

The journey continued through a rainforest with 20-30m high trees, including kauri trees, with lianas on them.

When we arrived at 75mile Beach we were able to drive 80kmh because the sand is wet here and driving is much easier than on the dry roads. Almost at the end of 75Mile Beach, an old shipwreck has been lying rusting for 100 years, which is the attraction on the beach here - also for our group. There is also a freshwater spot on the beach where 100 people go swimming. The whole thing looks a bit absurd, the 75 mile long beach and no one is on the beach or in the water, because everyone is milling around the small freshwater area. The reason here is of course the dangerous currents and animals in the ocean.

We then went back through the indescribably beautiful rainforest to the ferry and with the sunset we left the island again.

The island is so beautiful that you just can't put it into words - you have to see it for yourself😉.