The Best Swimming Spots on Fraser Island, Australia

Fraser Island is rightly famous for a lot of things: epic beaches, iconic wildlife (including the legendary Australian dogs, the dingo), Indigenous history, and much more. This World Heritage listed island, just off the coast of Queensland, is the largest sand island on the planet, and the only place where rainforest grows successfully on sand. This makes it the perfect destination for views of unparalleled beauty, as well as unforgettable exploring and adventure.

What Fraser Island is most famous for is its lakes. There are over one hundred freshwater lakes on the island, forty of them perched dune lakes (over half of the world’s total number). This is when leaves, bark, and dead plants gradually build up and deepen depressions in the sand, which eventually turn into the lakes you see there today.

Fraser Island’s lakes offer some of the cleanest, safest swimming spots to escape the Aussie heat, set against some of the most stunning natural scenery in the country.

Here are just a few of our favourite Fraser Island swimming spots.

Lake McKenzie

Arguably the most popular visitor spot on Fraser Island, this huge expanse of warm, pure water comes complete with immaculate white sand shores and handy visitor facilities for picnics and barbecues.

Lake Wabby

Small, green, and dramatically situated, you should visit Lake Wabby not only to enjoy the water, but to gape at the dramatic Hammerstone Sandblow that overlooks the lake.

Basin Lake

The secluded Basin Lake may only be the size of a football pitch, but more than makes up for it with peaceful conditions courtesy of the surrounding shelter of vegetation.

Lake Boomanjin

The largest perched dune lake in the world is also the most unique, the water rippled orange and red by tannin from the nearby Tea Trees. Don’t worry, it’s still totally safe to swim here.

Lake Garawongera

The single sandy beach of Lake Garawongera is dotted by Paperbark trees, offering plenty of shade from the Australia’s sun that reliably keeps the shallow water beautifully warm.

Lake Birrabeen

If Lake McKenzie is too crowded, the wide open spaces and crystal clear water of Lake Birrabeen is the perfect alternative. If you’re lucky, you might even have it all to yourself.

Champagne Pools

A little different to the lakes included above, the Champagne Pools is the only place on Fraser Island where saltwater swimming is safe. Found on 75 Mile Beach, these volcanic ocean pools allow the waves to stream inside and form fizzing natural Jacuzzis.

Eli Creek

Follow the popular boardwalk inland and soak up the natural scenery that surrounds Eli Creek, before jumping into the cool water and lying back to let the current whisk you all the way back to the start.

Wanggoolba Creek

Flowing through a rich rainforest valley, Wanggoolba Creek is popular with visitors thanks to its clear waters and spectacular natural scenery. You can suit up for a dip or take a ferry to enjoy the full views.

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