Lake Wabby on K'gariFraser Island

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Lake Wabby on K'gari/Fraser Island

The beautiful K'gari World Heritage Area on Fraser Island has lots of lakes, and Lake Wabby is a small but unique lake that few people take the effort to visit. With sand dunes on one side and a forest on the other, it is a great lake for swimming and sandboarding.



The name K'gari .vs. Fraser Island

There is some confusing information about the name of the island, and at the time of writing and as far I can tell from official websites, the name of the Island is still officially Fraser Island, as is the government locality, and the Fraser Coast, which is part of the Fraser Island ecosystem. K'gari, the traditional name used by the Butchulla people, currently refers to the World Heritage Area which covers almost all of the island. This is why people use the name interchangeably, and maybe sometime soon, the official name of the island will change as well.

K'gari is correctly pronounced gurri, and means paradise. Lake Wabby is another lovely part of that paradise.

About Lake Wabby

This small lake is special among the many special lakes on K'gari. It is wedged between forests on 3 sides and the Hammerstone Sandblow, which is slowly moving inland and will eventually cover the lake. This is predicted to happen next century, so we have plenty of time to enjoy the lake until that happens.



Not only is Lake Wabby the deepest lake on the island at 12 metres, but it also is not as acidic as the other lakes. So it is home to several species of fish. It also has a unique green colour, though this is not the result of result of algae but high levels of calcium carbonate.



Getting to Lake Wabby

The only way to get to Lake Wabby is to walk and there are 2 trails into the lake. Most people 4 wheel driving around the island will choose to walk the 4.1 kms from the beach (8.2 kms return). This pleasant hike leads to the sandblow, where the walk becomes hard going through the deep sand.



The other way is via the K'gari Great Walk, and is a short side walk along that trail for hikers. You can also drive to where the road intersects with the walking trail, and walk the approximately 2 kms (4 kms return) to the lake that way, skipping the sandblow.



Swimming

The lake is a pleasant dip. During the day the still water is warmed by the sun making it a comfortable place to sit in for a while. Be aware that the little fish will nibble at you while you are sitting still. It is annoying but not dangerous.

Sandboarding

The sand dunes slope down into the lake. The steepest but not tallest dune is on the far right of the lake. This dune heads straight down into the water. You can bring a dedicated sandboard, but a boogie board can be better when you hit the water.



Essentially the process of sandboarding involves walking up to the top of the dune with your board. Then basically taking a short running jump down the dune and landing belly first on board. Your momentum should overcome the friction and keep you sliding down dune. Or maybe you will just belly-flop onto your board and go nowhere while your friends laugh at you. Either way, it is good fun.



Restrictions

Like other lakes, you are not allowed to bring food or drinks other than water to the lake as this attracts dingoes. Like other parts of the Island, you should be dingo aware . I would recommend eating some food before leaving, so you can enjoy more time at the lake without getting hungry.



Also, no sunscreen, perfumes, makeup or oils are permitted when swimming in the lake. When we were there, we could see a small film of oil on the lake from people ignoring this. So if you are going to K'gari, don't forget to pack your rash vest to protect yourself against the sun.

Oh, I should also point out, no fishing is permitted in the lake. I know those catfish look delicious, but they are protected as there are not many of them.

Overall

Lake Wabby is something different on K'gari and a bit of an adventure to get to. It is also a place of adventure if you want to try some sandboarding. Best of all, few people come here, making it a more private experience.

#adventure
#lakes
#national_parks
#natural_attractions
#near_hervey_bay
#outdoor
#swimming
#tourist_sites
#unusual_things_to_do
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