Tips on Fraser Island Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Fraser Island Warnings and Dangers

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Fraser Island is one of the most of beloved Australian destinations.

This sand bar island is a natural wonder with lots of interior lakes, wildlife and animals. While a trip here is a great way to get to know one of Australia’s most well known outdoor locations, you need to take certain precautions during your stay.

Water Dangers

The waters of the interior lakes look incredibly tempting. Visitors are often encouraged to run into the water from the sand dunes. Be very careful when doing this. Some of the lakes are very shallow. Diving in head first can lead to broken bones and even paralysis.

Island Tides

Tides are a major fact of life along the shore. Keep in mind that tides flow in and out very rapidly. You may be very far out along a sandbar only to find that ten minutes later, the sea has come in behind you. Huge tidal changes are a fact of life in the tropics. Know the tidal times in advance. This is especially important when you are going to drive anywhere along the beach. Make sure you have four wheel drive otherwise you can be caught on the sand.

Swimming

Fraser Island has many lakes you can enjoy. Swimming in the ocean along the coast is not recommended. There are dangerous sharks in the waters here you don’t want to meet. There are also very dangerous rip tides that cause problems even for the strongest swimmers.

Wildlife

The island has many dangerous creatures you need to know about. Avoid the Funnel Web spiders. While a vaccine exists, they are very poisonous. Snakes are another problem in the area. Be on the lookout for snakes whenever you area. While they are generally harmless, you don’t want to disturb them and get bitten. Large pythons have been repeatedly noted here so be very careful where you step.

Dingoes

Dingoes have the run of the island. They can be spotted nearly everywhere you look. Regulations govern their presence here. Feeding them is against the law. This will not stop them from trying to get access to your food if you are camping. Keep all the food you bring with you carefully guarded. There are storage cages at many camping sites. You can use them to keep your food under wraps. If you go fishing, you should bury any fishing scraps in the sand or the dingoes may attempt to walk off with them. Keep an eye on your small children when they are around. Children should not attempt to pet them or be left along unsupervised where they are known to congregate. Keep in mind they have been known to attack people.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about warnings or dangers on Fraser Island.