Why visit the Central Station camping area on Fraser Island, Queensland?
If you visit the Central Station camping area on Fraser Island, you can see the rainforest that grows on the world’s largest sand island. The Wanggoolba Creek boardwalk passes enormous satinay trees – which were used to build the Suez Canal.
Fraser Island/ K’gari is the world’s largest sand island, and therefore it comes as no surprise that many of its key attractions are based on the sand.
Backpacker four wheel drive tours from Hervey Bay or Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach head down 75 Mile Beach, passing the Maheno Shipwreck on the way to huge dunes and the winding waters of Eli Creek.
They also dip inland to enjoy the astonishingly pure waters of Lake McKenzie. On the other side of the island, the Kingfisher Bay Resort hosts bush food walks and the K’Gari World Heritage Discovery Centre.
Pick the best K’gari/ Fraser Island tour for you
- HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE: One day coach tour from Hervey Bay.
- FROM THE SOUTH: One day 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach.
- PACK MORE IN: Two day tour, staying at K’gari Beach Resort.
- BEACHY: Boat cruise with west coast beach stops.
- BACKPACKERS: Three day, drive-yourself camping adventure from Hervey Bay. Or similar from Rainbow Beach.
- MORE LUXURIOUS: Three day adventure, staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Fraser Island rainforest at Central Station
But one underrated aspect of Fraser Island is that a rainforest grows on the sand. Away from the headline spots near the beach, there are remarkably tall trees.
The Central Station camping area and picnic grounds is the best place to find these trees. It was once the hub of the timber industry on the island. This industry started in 1863, when Yankee Jack Piggott started cutting down kauri, hoop pine and white beech trees.
For a while, the industry was remarkably successful, at least in part due to the properties of the trees. The satinay tree was particularly prized. Satinay logs are very resistant to marine borers, and are thus ideal for construction in wet areas. This is how satinay from Fraser Island ended up lining parts of the Suez Canal.
Wanggoolba Creek boardwalk from Central Station camping area
Signs at the Central Station camping area explain the history of Fraser Island’s development, and give information on the tree species. But if you’d sooner see than read, take a walk along the scenic boardwalk. The route heads along the bank of Wanggoolba Creek, taking in several species of pine and the enormous satinay trees.
The Wanggoolba Creek boardwalk is an easy-going 700 metre circuit, and is a popular stop on many Fraser Island tours. Star attractions along it include the gigantic Angiopteris ferns, which have the largest fern fronds in the world.
More Queensland travel
Stay at Sarina Beach on the Yeppoon to Airlie Beach drive.
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Explore Paluma Range National Park on the Townsville to Cardwell drive.
Cruise through Lawn Hill Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park near Camooweal.
Take a Great Barrier Reef helicopter flight from Cairns to Vlasoff Cay.