Great Sandy Strait - an aquatic playground
LOCATED BETWEEN the mainland and Fraser Island, the Great Sandy Strait is a diverse mix of marine and coastal wetlands, officially recognised as one of the most important wetland areas on earth. The Great Sandy Strait was recently declared a Biosphere - giving worldwide recognition of the outstanding natural beauty and high levels of biodiversity of the region.
The crystal clear turquoise water, long stretches of white sand guarded by high sand dunes, native woodlands, heath awash with wildfl owers and dense rainforest combine to create an aquatic paradise.
Dotted along its coastline are the charming coastal townships of Poona, Tuan, Boonooroo, Maaroom and Tinnanbar. All retain that elusive ‘old fi shing village’ character and charm and are popular holiday and fishing retreats.
Accommodation options include self-contained units, caravan sites and camping facilities. Or hire a houseboat and enjoy the calm waters, passing dolphins and the tranquillity of miles of clean, calm peaceful waterways.
Th e sailing conditions and stunning scenery of the Great Sandy Strait are equal to, if not better than, the Whitsundays.
Fraser Island’s protective sand hills deflect the strong south-easterlies while allowing steady breezes to flow through the Strait and you have perfect sailing conditions virtually all-year round. Click here for sailing suggestions.
The southern section of the Strait is a succession of sheltered bays, sand flats and beaches on the mainland shore and mangrove-lined creeks, perfect for crabbing and prawning, on the Fraser Island side.
Sailing the Strait will bring fascinating historical discoveries – including the Southern Hemisphere’s largest artificial reef, the remains of two of the oldest lighthouses in Queensland, an island discovered and named by Matthew Flinders, the remains of an old logging camp and the site of the last Aboriginal mission encampment.