Lake McKenzie, Fraser Island: Swimming, sun cream, depth & crocs
It’s very difficult to definitively call the best place to swim in Australia, but Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island is certainly amongst the most serious contenders. The pure water and white silica sand make Lake McKenzie special even by the standards of Fraser Island swimming spots.
Australia has no shortage of fabulous swimming spots. The crashing ocean waves make Newcastle’s Ocean Baths hugely evocative, while Greens Pool near Albany in Western Australia is backed by magnificent granite boulders. For sheer, safe fun, try the Streets Beach in Brisbane, Esplanade Lagoon in Cairns or Wave Lagoon in Darwin. Alternatively, the Sydney Harbour beaches have harbourside glamour without having to negotiate the surf.
Swimming on Fraser Island
All of these Australian swimming spots have their considerable charms, but none quite compete with the feel of cleansing purity you get from swimming in Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island/ K’gari.
The world’s largest sand island is accessed from either Hervey Bay or Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach in Queensland. Fraser Island 4WD tours have long been popular, partly because they involve driving on the beach, but also because they cover a range of landscapes. There may be massive sand dunes, winding creeks and photogenic shipwrecks by the beaches, but go inland and there’s rainforest walking trails.
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.
Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island: What is a perched lake
There are also several freshwater lakes, of which Lake McKenzie is arguably the most spectacular. Lake McKenzie is a perched lake, which means it sits in a bowl in the sand. No seawater gets in, and all the water in Lake McKenzie falls as rain.
Aboriginal name for Lake McKenzie
The Indigenous Butchulla people who traditionally inhabit Fraser Island call the 150 hectare lake Boorangoora. It was a place that different clans would meet to discuss matters. The Butchulla people didn’t swim in Boorangoora/ Lake McKenzie as it was their source of drinking water.
Book mobile-friendly tickets for your one-day Fraser Island tour here.
Can you swim in Lake McKenzie?
That’s not the case these days. You don’t go for a swim off the beach at Fraser Island, as the waters have both dangerous currents and more than their fair share of sharks. The lakes, however, are perfect for a cooling dip – especially in the summer months, when the Fraser Island weather gets really hot.
The sand surrounding Lake McKenzie is as close to pure white silica as you can get. This gives it astonishing filtration properties, meaning impurities in the water don’t last long. This also makes it unsuitable for most aquatic species to live in. You’ve got the lake to yourself.
How deep is Lake McKenzie?
Lake McKenzie is not a deep lake. At its deepest point, Lake McKenzie is approximately six metres deep.
Why is sun cream banned at Lake McKenzie?
Going for a swim in Lake McKenzie, therefore, feels like taking a bath in the purest, freshest water you’ve ever encountered. For this reason, signs around the lake ask people going for a swim in Lake McKenzie to not wear sun cream. The aim is to keep the water as pure as possible.
It is, however, worth taking your jewellery with you. That silica sand at the bottom of the lake does a remarkably good job of buffing up and shining wedding rings. It’s a fantastic exfoliator, too – rub some on your skin for an all-natural makeover.
Are there crocodiles at Lake McKenzie?
There are no crocodiles at Lake McKenzie. There are no jellyfish, no sharks and no waves to contend with either.
So, is Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island the best place to swim in Australia? Well, it’s certainly one of the best. The combination of adventurous location, ultra-pure water and magical sand to play with makes Boorangoora a special place to swim.
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