Frazer Island is a World Heritage Site and much emerged as one of the Australian’s great natural treasures. From the Queensland coast, it appears cloaked in lush, deep green forest. But for all rainforests and lakes, Frazer Island is in fact the largest sand island in the world – 120 km by 15 km – with more sand than the Sahara Desert, and with dunes up to 224 m high. There is no where like it on planet Earth. Photo by: geoffman4242

The Buchulla tribe, who called the island K’gari, or Paradise, lived in harmony with their environment for thousands of years. In 1991, the island become part of the Great Sandy National Park and its future was secured. The east coast form the main highway, and other tracks criss-cross the interior and pierce the island’s wooded heart. Towering kauri pipes and cycads encircle the blue and even tea-tinted lakes. Lake turtles are joy to encounter, and will sometimes pester you for bread. The west coast is given over to mangrove swamps and, with its more treacherous soft sand, is pretty inaccessible. The real Fraser experience can only come with walking – and a three day hike, with camping overnight, reveals the hidden depths of this paradise island. Photo by: vogm@i

Fraser Island is one of the few remaining strongholds for a pure race of wild dingoes. Sadly, in recent years these dingoes have gained something of a reputation, but some of the blame for their aggression seems to point back to tourism. Visitors are just asked never to feed them and admire them from afar – to be ‘Dingo Smart’. Photo by: petes_pics

When to go: Anytime, but the whale watching months are rightly busier (August to October) so book ahead. Population: 1, 378. How to get there: Flights from Brisbane to Harvey Bay, then boat to the island. Day trip – fast ferry from Urangan Marina to Kingfisher Bay Resort. Or barge from Urangan Harbour for more serious exploration by vehicle. Photo by: shotleyshort