Fraser Island (K'gari) is the world's largest sand island (123km long) and has 40 perched lakes (1) which is half of the worlds total. I spent 6 days walking the K'gari great walk recently with a group of friends, from the settlement of Happy Valley to Dilli Village.
Departing the barge we joined the line of vehicles heading up the beach but although 4wd tracks criss-cross the island, we saw very few once we started walking. It helps that only walkers can camp at the lakes, so even if there was vehicle access, we were left in peace before sunset.
For what is basically just a big pile of sand the island supports an amazing amount of rainforest and big trees. The walk traversed these forests and their stands of satinay and tallowwood which can be up to 4m across.
Highlights were the crystal clear waters of Wanggoolba Creek (photo above), the sandblows and swimming in the many lakes along the way.
Fraser Island is known for its dingoes, and while there were a lot of warning signs, the only ones I saw were on the beach. That's probably a good thing as it means they're not hanging around campsites looking for food and biting people.
Lake Wabby (photo above) is unique in that it is both a barrage lake (2) and a window lake (3). The Hammerstone sand blow which borders the lake on one side is slowly filling it in and in a hundred years or so it will be gone.
Generally speaking this was an easy walk, with the biggest challenge being getting to the start and finish, and for that I have my friends to thank.
(1) Perched lakes are formed when sand is cemented together with decomposed organic matter (such as leaves, bark and dead plants) and aluminium and iron, creating a relatively impermeable layer well above sea level.
(2) A barrage lake is classified as a lake that is formed when sand accumulates and blocks the water from a natural spring or other water sources.
(3) A window lake is formed when the ground level drops below the water table exposing the existing water.
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