Fraser Island / K'Gari

According to Butchulla people, K’Gari means “paradise.” In the island Dreamtime Story, K’Gari is a goddess who fell in love with the earth and never wanted to leave. Beeral, the great god in the sky and the creator of all people, changed her into the island and added lakes, forests, animals, and people to keep her company.

To get around the island, you need a 4WD and we weren’t confident in the clearance of Jo’s car to make it so opted in for a tour. We chose Dropbear Adventure Tours from a recommendation by Anno in Agnes Water and from their family-owned and eco-friendly focus. It’s also the only tour that recognizes the true name of the island and emphasizes respect of the land and it’s traditional owners

We made the right choice. Our tour guide Jaden and our group really made the trip. There were 27 people on tour which meant we had 5 cars. By the end of the weekend, everyone had formed “car groups,” despite Jaden trying to mix everyone up! Ours was dubbed “Backseat Drivers.”

We spent the 3 days in a Wilderness Adventure Camp - sleeping in tents by the ocean, eating under the stars, and learning how to play didgeridoo. We were required to carry dingo sticks whenever we left camp to go to the bathroom or walk on the beach. A plus side of the dingo stick was it could also be used as a didgeridoo! It figures that the first instrument I have some musical inclination towards is bulky and difficult to travel with...I guess I’ll leave this for future practice. I also can only play 10 seconds at a time so I’m probably getting ahead of myself with my claim as a prowess.

We swam in Lake Wabby and the Champagne Pools on warm sunny afternoons - only one of us was brave enough to swim in Lake McKenzie on a rather cold morning. At the top of Tuckee (the Western name is Indian Head), we learned the name story of the island and watched humpback whales travel south. We floated down Eli Creek, learning about the many uses of the plants such as banksia as a sweet lollie for kids and the medicinal uses of tea tree. At Manheno Ship Wreck we learned the history of Fraiser Island’s most famous wreck.

Besides falling for the sounds of the didgeridoo, we also spent afternoons learning how to throw a boomerang. I can’t say I ever caught one, but it did come back in my general direction. Win? I’d say so.

Thank you K’Gari for sharing your magic with us for 3 days.