| For all its conveniences, modern living
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| | of bream, whiting and flathead.
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| leaves a lot to be desired. We spend our
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| | Angler's Advice
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| days enduring the ever-increasing
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| | Pick the fish you're after, and take
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| pressures of work, the city's oppressive
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| | advantage of the handy hints below to
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| unfriendliness, the daily commuter grind
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| | make the most of your fishing trip.
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| and the aggressive reality of impatient
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| | Fish: Tailor
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| road-ragers.
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| | Bait: Pilchard, 3 hook gang, lure
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| Is something missing?
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| | Timing: Late July to October
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| Unfortunately, work is a reality for most
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| | Location: Eastern Beaches
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| of us. So too is city and suburban
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| | Fish: Dart
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| living, dreary weather, pollution,
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| | Bait: Pippies or worms
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| traffic... But it doesn't have to be all
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| | Timing: All year
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| there is to life. Try something that puts
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| | Location: Eastern Beaches
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| you in touch with who you really are. Try
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| | Fish: Bream
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| something elemental. Try something that
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| | Bait: Flesh strips, mullet gut, fowl gut,
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| soothes your soul.
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| | pippies
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| Try Fraser Island.
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| | Timing: May to September
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| Fraser Island isn't just an island
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| | Location: Rocky outcrops on east coast or
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| paradise. It's a unique and luxurious
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| | creeks on the west
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| combination of Australia's rich natural
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| | Fish: Whiting
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| heritage, its earthy roots, its wholesome
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| | Bait: Worms, yabbies, pippies, prawns
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| majesty, and its refreshingly simple
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| | Timing: All year
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| essentials. It's a chance to touch the
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| | Location: Low tide on the east, creeks on
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| fine sands, to drift in the temperate
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| | the west
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| water, to bask in the sun that seems all
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| | Fish: Flathead
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| yours... It's your chance to partake of a
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| | Bait: Live baits, pilchards, lures
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| life that most Australians have
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| | Timing: All year
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| forgotten.
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| | Location: Rocky outcrops on east coast or
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| Spend a week on and in turquoise waters,
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| | creeks on the west
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| a week without shoes with the sand
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| | Fish: Jewfish
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| between your toes, a week fishing and
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| | Bait: Whole mullet, tailor fillets, beach
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| perhaps living off your catch. Your
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| | worms
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| perspective can't help but change.
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| | Timing: May to September at night on the
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| It's not a mere fleeting appreciation.
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| | full moon, low or high tide
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| It's something you take with you.
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| | Location: Deep gutters and rocky outcrops
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| Fraser can help remind you that you're
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| | Of course, many more varieties are there
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| not your job. How important are the forms
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| | for the taking, including mackerel, tuna,
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| and the filing, the meetings and
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| | and reef fish. And if you're not
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| memorandums? You can learn a lot about
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| | indisposed to a bit of sea fishing, you
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| yourself when you take away all the
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| | can book a berth on one of the larger
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| things that don't matter.
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| | boats launched to take advantage of the
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| And really... is there any better way to
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| | red emperor, coral trout, maori cod and
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| experience this epiphany than in
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| | parrot to be found off the Continental
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| paradise?
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| | Shelf and local reefs.
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| Fraser Island certainly is a paradise, no
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| | Water Sports
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| matter which way you look at it. At the
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| | As you'd expect, Fraser Island plays host
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| southern end of the Great Barrier Reef,
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| | to a vast array of water sports. Whether
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| and a short boat ride from Hervey Bay in
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| | you're after a lazy drifting afternoon -
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| South-East Queensland, Fraser is 124 km
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| | cocktail in hand, or an invigorating
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| from tip to toe and 16 km across the
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| | workout, there's a water sport for you.
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| middle. At 163,000 hectares, it's the
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| | All fitness levels (and energy levels!)
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| world's biggest sand island.
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| | are catered for.
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| Of course, that doesn't mean it's all
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| | Ease yourself into the aqua-life with a
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| just sand. Not by a long shot! The whole
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| | refreshing dip at one of the most
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| island is laced with crystal clear fresh
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| | beautiful beaches in the world.
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| water streams, and deep midnight blue
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| | Surrounded by pure white sandy beaches,
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| fresh water lakes. In fact, with over 40
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| | the clear blue waters of Lake McKenzie
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| fresh water lakes - it's home to half of
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| | are without doubt amongst the most
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| the world's known 'perched' lakes. It
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| | idyllic to be found. Alternatively,
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| also boasts a dazzling diversity of
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| | exercise your imagination with a visit to
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| plants and animals (including Australia's
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| | the ghostly shipwreck of the "Maheno",
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| purest strain of dingo), and an amazing
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| | then submerge yourself in the crystal
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| variety of spectacular landscapes, from
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| | clear waters of Eli Creek.
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| 120 km of non-stop tropical beach to
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| | Fraser Island sits on a huge reservoir of
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| dense and towering rainforest, weathered
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| | fresh water, and is home to numerous
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| headland to ochre gorge, inspiring cliffs
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| | spectacular fresh water lakes, including
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| to wandering dunes, eerie mangroves to
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| | some perched high above sea level. You
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| wind-blown salt pans.
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| | have your choice of over 40 lakes... Lake
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| What's more, you have your choice of
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| | Wabby, Champagne Pools, Basin Lake... to
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| accommodation, so you can choose your own
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| | name but a few. Clearly, Fraser Island is
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| level of 'communion with nature'. From
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| | amply equipped to pamper even the
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| 4½ star luxury resorts to rental
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| | fussiest fresh water connoisseur.
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| retreats to motels and units, right
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| | For something a little more strenuous,
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| through to the good 'ole campsite.
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| | why not hire paddle ski or canoe and
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| Whether you're a sucker for a bit of
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| | paddle yourself up Dundonga Creek. It's
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| pampering, or you're perfectly at home
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| | generally a 1 hour round trip, so by the
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| with a tent and a campfire on the beach,
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| | time you return, you'll be ready to
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| Fraser is a great provider.
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| | settle back into some more relaxed
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| And great accommodation is just the
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| | pastimes.
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| start... The island boasts average
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| | Whale and Dolphin Watching
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| temperatures of 29°c in summer and 22°c
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| | Every year from August to October, you
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| in winter, so it's no surprise that
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| | can book a berth on a whale watch cruise.
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| outdoor activities feature prominently on
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| | Enjoy a fantastic half day of sun, salt,
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| the agenda. Adrenalin addicts and
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| | and ocean breezes while keeping your eyes
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| dedicated sunbathers alike will
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| | peeled for Fraser's famous migrating
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| appreciate the vast range available. From
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| | humpbacks.
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| sunrise to sunset (and beyond), there's
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| | The annual humpback migration is truly an
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| always something for everyone. The only
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| | awesome spectacle. Family pods take a
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| problem is choosing! Fishing,
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| | well earned rest in the waters west of
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| 4-wheel-driving, eating, sailing,
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| | Fraser Island after travelling 5000 km
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| bird-watching, bush-walking, swimming,
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| | from the icy waters of the Antarctic. The
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| eating, whale & dolphin-watching,
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| | sight of a 15 tonne (that's the weight of
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| shipwreck exploration, eating, beauty
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| | 11 elephants!) adult female humpback
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| therapy, massage, lazing in the sun,
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| | rearing out of the ocean is absolutely
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| eating, beach volleyball, tennis,
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| | awe-inspiring.
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| cricket, eating, canoeing, sailboarding,
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| | And don't worry... if your holiday
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| snorkelling, eating... And needless to
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| | doesn't coincide with the migration, you
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| say, a few quiet drinks might make their
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| | can still catch a cruise questing for
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| way onto the agenda as well...
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| | dolphins, dugongs, turtles and the odd
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| With so much to offer, it's no surprise
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| | Indo Pacific Humpback.
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| that the Fraser Island was originally
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| | Speak to your hotel or resort for
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| known as K'gari - or 'Paradise' - by
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| | information about organising a whale or
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| local Aboriginal peoples.
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| | dolphin watching cruise. Alternatively,
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| Fraser Island certainly is "paradise for
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| | contact Kingfisher Bay Resort and ask
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| everyone"!
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| | about their tours.
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| Four Wheel Driving
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| | Tips & Reminders
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| Being a sand island, the only mode of
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| | - Access to Fraser Island is via
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| land transport is 4WD. Of course, for
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| | vehicular barge or catamaran
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| many visitors, that's the main
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| | - 4WDs only on Fraser Island (there are
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| attraction. 4WD enthusiasts from all
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| | no paved roads except in resorts)
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| around the world visit Fraser Island to
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| | - Don't feed or pet the dingoes (or any
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| pit themselves and their vehicles against
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| | other animals)
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| the rugged terrain found all over the
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| | - No domestic animals allowed
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| island. From the hard-packed seashore to
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| | - Most activities on the island can be
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| the shifting dune to the forests of the
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| | enjoyed individually or as part of a
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| interior, Fraser Island is the ideal 4WD
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| | booked tour group
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| location.
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| | - You'll need permits to 4WD or camp
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| Don't be scared though - it's not all
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| | - 4WDs can be hired on the mainland or on
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| about extreme driving for experts!
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| | the island
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| Whether you're an novice, or you just
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| | - Don't leave food unattended
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| prefer a more leisured pace of life,
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| | - All but the hardest sand can be
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| you'll find a much more sedate
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| | unpredictable and perilous for a 4WD
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| satisfaction in one of the many organised
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| | - High and low tide gutters around dawn
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| 4WD tours offered around the island. Or
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| | or dusk are best for fishing
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| if you just want to get out on your own,
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| | - If four wheel driving, take a good map
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| you can hire a 4WD for a day, and indulge
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| | and a tyre pressure gauge
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| in a bit of quiet exploring.
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| | For further information about all aspects
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| No matter which option you choose,
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| | of Fraser Island, including
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| though, there are a few 'ground rules'
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| | accommodation, hire guides, and barge
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| you should observe. Remember the dangers
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| | booking details and timetables, see
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| of driving on the beach. The further you
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| | How Much?
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| adventure from the shoreline, the softer
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| | - Accommodation - Prices vary from
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| the sand. The softer the sand, the more
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| | approximately $4 per night if you're
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| likely you are to get into trouble.
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| | camping right up to $850 per night for
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| Generally speaking, keep your speed down,
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| | the VIP room at the 4½ star luxury of
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| and remember you're in a World Heritage
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| | Kingfisher Bay Resort.
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| listed environment... so be careful.
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| | - Permits - A 4WD vehicle permit will
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| Fishing
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| | cost you $31.85. Camping permits are $4
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| No island holiday would be complete
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| | per person per night or $16 per family
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| without a lazy day or two spent fishing.
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| | per night. Children under 5 are free. To
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| Beach fishing is the big drawcard for
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| | purchase a permit or obtain detailed
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| Fraser Island. And with 150 km of ocean
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| | information, call the Queensland National
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| beach to choose from, why wouldn't it be?
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| | Parks and Wildlife Service at Rainbow
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| Middle Rocks, Sandy Cape, Waddy Point,
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| | Beach on (07) 5486 3160.
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| and Seventy Five Mile Beach are just a
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| | - Vehicular Barge Access - Barges operate
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| few of the choice locations available for
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| | daily from Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach.
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| you to finally get the better of 'the one
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| | Tickets start at $82.20 return per
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| that got away'.
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| | vehicle per driver. Extra vehicle
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| The famed 'tailor run' occurs on the
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| | passengers will cost $5.50 each. Several
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| eastern (ocean) side of the island
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| | barges operate with different
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| between July and October each year. In
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| | destinations on the island. Most require
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| the angling world, this time - known as
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| | bookings.
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| 'tailor season' - is a much anticipated
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| | - 4WD Hire - Rates start at around $90
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| event, with huge schools of big fish
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| | per day for a Suzuki Sierra, up to $130
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| working the beaches. But if you can't
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| | per day for a Landrover Defender
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| make it between late winter and early
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| | (depending on the duration of hire).
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| spring, rest assured, tailor season is
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| | - Flights to Queensland - Qantas offers
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| just one date to mark in your calendar.
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| | return flights to Hervey Bay via Brisbane
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| The western side of Fraser has been known
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| | from $407 departing Sydney, and from $527
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| to reward the odd angler with a fine bag
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| | departing Melbourne.
|
