Fraser Island

Fraser Island

Fraser Island stretches over 123 kilometres in length and 22 kilometres at its widest point. With an area of 184 000 hectares it is the largest sand island in the world.

Fraser Island's World Heritage listing ranks it with Australia's Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef. Fraser Island is a precious part of Australia's natural and cultural heritage, it is protected for all to appreciate and enjoy.

Fraser island is a place of exceptional beauty, with its long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly coloured sand cliffs, and over 100 freshwater lakes, some tea-coloured and others clear and blue all ringed by white sandy beaches. Ancient rainforests grow in sand along the banks of fast-flowing, crystal-clear creeks.

Fraser Island is the only place in the world where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 metres. The low "wallum" heaths on the island are of particular evolutionary and ecological significance, and provide magnificent wildflower displays in spring and summer.

The immense sand blows and cliffs of coloured sands are part of the longest and most complete age sequence of coastal dune systems in the world and they are still evolving.

They are a continuous record of climatic and sea level changes over the last 700 000 years. The highest dunes on the island reach up to 240 metres above sea level.

The Great Sandy Strait, separating Fraser Island from the mainland, is listed by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention).

The wetlands include: rare patterned ferns; mangrove colonies; sea-grass beds; and up to 40,000 migratory shorebirds. Rare, vulnerable or endangered species include dugongs, turtles, Illidge's ant-blue butterflies and eastern curlews.

Fraser Island Day Trips - Hervey Bay & More‎

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Cocos Islands

Cocos Islands

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located 2,800 kilometres north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean. The group, which consists of 27 coral islands, became an Australian Territory in 1955. The first permanent settlement on the islands was in 1826, with a second settlement the following year. This second settlement was led by Captain Clunies-Ross - external site, who was keen to use the island's coconut supplies to produce coconut husks and oil. In 1886, Queen Victoria granted all land on the islands to George Clunies-Ross (the third descendant of Captain Clunies-Ross) and his heirs for eternity. Cocos Islands

The islands served as a communications and transport link during both World Wars. They were attacked by the German cruiser Emden in World War I and the Japanese during World War II. In 1978 the Australian government purchased from Mr John Cecil Clunies-Ross the remainder of his property on the islands with the exception of his house on Home Island (which was purchased by the government in 1993). Cocos Islands

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West Australian islands

West Australian islands

Like Queensland, the West Australian coast boasts hundreds of islands and island groups. West Australian islands

To the south is a group of more than 100 islands, including Woody Island - external site, which are home to fur seals, penguins and many water birds. These lie within the Archipelago of the Recherche, commonly known as the Esperance Bay of Isles. West Australian islands

Off the central west coast are the more than 100 tiny islands that make up the Houtman Abrolhos - external site Islands. The most significant feature of these islands is the Acropora coral - external site which surrounds the islands and which has been the cause of many shipwrecks, including the Batavia (1629) and Zeewijk (1727). West Australian islands

Further north are the Montebello Islands - external site. Named by the French explorer Baudin - external site, this island group is comprised of more than 100 limestone islands of varying sizes and is very popular for game fishing. West Australian islands

The most famous of all West Australian islands, Rottnest Island - external site, can be found just off the coast from the capital city, Perth. Rottnest Island was discovered in 1696 by Willem de Vlamingh - external site, a Dutch explorer, who named the island Rat's Nest due to the many large rats that he believed inhabited the island. These 'rats' are actually quokkas (PDF 82 KB) - external site and are one of the main attractions of the island. West Australian islands

Rottnest Island was originally used by settlers as a prison and during World War II it was a large military stronghold. Today, the island is both a tourist destination and a weekend escape for locals. Cars are banned from the island (with a few exceptions) and most people use bikes. West Australian islands

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Queensland Islands

Queensland Islands

Some of Australia's best-known islands are in Queensland. With the Great Barrier Reef following the coast from north to south, these tropical islands comprise the holiday playground of Australia. Queensland Islands

Just an hour's drive from the Queensland capital, Brisbane, is Bribie Island - external site. Linked to the mainland by a bridge, the sandy beaches and national parks of Bribie have become a family holiday destination. Queensland Islands

Fraser Island - external site, which is more than 1,600 square kilometres in size, is the world's largest sand island. In December 1992, Fraser Island attained World Heritage - external site listing in recognition of its amazing geography. With complex sand dune systems, a rainforest on sand and crystal clear freshwater lakes, the island is a haven for wildlife and flora. And because of its geographical isolation, the island contains the purest strain of dingo - external site in Australia. Fraser Island - external site was also placed on the National Heritage List in 2007. Queensland Islands

The holiday islands Queensland is best known for are further north. The Whitsundays - external site, a group of more than 70 islands midway along the Queensland coast, are a favourite holiday destination for Australians and international visitors. Other popular islands include Great Keppel Island - external site, Lizard Island - external site and Magnetic Island - external site. Queensland Islands

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Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island - external site lies 1,500 kilometres south-east of Tasmania in the Southern Ocean. The island is the exposed crest of the enormous Macquarie Ridge - external site and is the only place on earth where rocks from the earth's mantle (6 kilometres below the ocean floor) are being actively exposed above sea level. Macquarie Island

In 1996, the Australian government nominated Macquarie Island for World Heritage listing based on its unique geological features. The island was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1997. Macquarie Island

For more than 50 years, the northern part of the island has been the base for a research and Antarctic Support Station - external site. Built in 1948, the station hosts more than 40 people over the summer and about 20 people during winter. Macquarie Island

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Torres Strait Islands

Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait separates the land masses of Australia and New Guinea. Torres Strait Islanders are of the Melanesian grouping of people and are traditionally mariners. They have a long history of trade with both Aboriginal and New Guinean people. Torres Strait Islands

The islands are named after the Spaniard Luiz Vez de Torres who sailed through in 1606. After Australia was colonised by England, the Torres Strait became a sea route for ships travelling between Australia and Britain. This enabled the islanders to extend their trade partners, but also meant European rule, culture and religion were imposed. Torres Strait Islands

In the 1860s, the discovery of pearl shell and trepang - external site (sea cucumber), a delicacy appreciated by the Chinese, brought people from all over the region to the Torres Strait. By 1877, 16 pearling firms were operating on Thursday Island. The colony of Queensland recognised the value of this resource, and annexed the islands in 1879. Torres Strait Islands

The influx of settlers severely restricted the ability of the islanders to continue their traditional lives and travels. It wasn't until 1936 that islanders took charge of local government. In 1990 they were officially recognised as a distinct people. Torres Strait Islands

In June 1992, the High Court of Australia overturned the previous concept of terra nullius which stated that, in legal terms, Australia was empty of inhabitants when it was first settled by Europeans. On this day the High Court recognised the native title rights of Eddie Mabo over his traditional land on Murray Island (Mer). Several other communities (Saibai Islanders and Mualgal people from Moa Island) have gained native title rights over their islands since the Mabo decision - external site. Torres Strait Islands

The Torres Strait Regional Authority - external site (TSRA) was established in 1994 to allow Torres Strait islanders to manage their own affairs according to their own ailan kastom (island custom). Torres Strait Islands

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Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island - external site is located far off the east coast of Australia. It is 1610 kilometres ENE of Sydney and 1456 km ESE of Brisbane. The Island is a volcanic outcrop 8km long and 5km wide. Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the Southwest Pacific. In March 1788, just after the colony of New South Wales was established, Lieutenant Philip Gidley King and 22 settlers (including nine male and six female convicts) landed at what is now Kingston, Norfolk Island. In 1806, the government of the time decided the island was too difficult and costly to maintain. The inhabitants were transferred to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) and all buildings were destroyed to discourage unauthorised settlers. Norfolk Island

A second settlement was established in 1825. This time the island was to be a penal colony for the worst convicts from New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. It was officially described as 'a place of the extremist punishment, short of death'. Conditions were harsh and many convicts died from disease, murder and failed escape attempts. Convict labour was used to construct the main buildings on the island, which remain standing to this day. In 1855, the island was abandoned as a penal colony and convicts transferred (again) to Van Diemen's Land. Norfolk Island

The third settlement was the following year. One hundred and ninety-four men, women and children made the 3,700 mile, five week journey from Pitcairn Island - external site to Norfolk Island. Almost all of them were descendants of the Bounty mutineers, the British naval officers involved in the1789 mutiny against Captain William Bligh - external site. Norfolk Island

Today, Norfolk Island is home to 1,800 permanent residents. Thirty-five per cent are descendants of the Bounty mutineers. Due to the number of shared surnames, many of the descendents are listed in the local telephone book by their nicknames for identification purposes - Lettuce Leaf, Spuddy, Bubby, Diddles and Loppy to name just a few. Norfolk Island

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