More on Fraser

If you've been around beaches all your life and can identify where the rips are etc and you're a strong swimmer in case something does happen, go for it. Just remember help may be far away. Yes Waddy Pt is calmer.

It is probably ok swimming in the "lagoon" at Waddy (watch out for boats), but the biggest problem on the ocean beaches at Fraser is the real risk of sharks. They seem to have bred up into large numbers in the past few years and do come into the shallows. Have seen 2m sharks come into the gutter attracted by worm bait bags, fish offal and the desire by soe fisho's to catch them. They come in and swim as close as knee deep. Plenty of great fresh water options or Champagne Pools, enjoy them without the real risk of the ocean. It also can take quite some time to get help to the beaches of Fraser, especially on the northern part of the island.

Champagne Pools is full of sand these days and in fact, when we were there in April, had been left off the map. But there are plenty of lakes to swim at and they're not too far to drive to. The sharks are a very real threat on the Eastern beach, as are the rips etc.....

Hi skichic
The last time we were up there we saw a shark in about 2 foot of water chasing bait fish

NO TO SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, growing up in south east queensland our family have been going to fraser for the last 15-17 years and i can assure you that mum and dad never let us swim in the ocean. The deepest we went was to our ankles, the problem is not only sharks but also the strong rips that form. For example one year about 15 years ago you could walk on the Maheno reck, the sharks (bronzwhalers) would swim underneath it as we where on top of it. By the way back then there where no signs warning people of the dangers of walking on the maheno. We travelled up the beach a bit to find on our return people swimming around the maheno (Victorians) i remember my father stoping and kindly letting them know about the dangers, however he was ignored so he got back in the old series 3 rover and we drove off. The staff at Happy Valley will gladly tell you about sharks they have seen beach themselves to grab a seagull. In saying all of that there is a lovely gutter at Orchid beach that is shallow and protected for kids to swim in at LOW TIDE. However I wouldn't swim at waddy point up to my waiste if you paid me, take a walk up indian head and look down in the ocean and you will see the reason you don't swim at fraser. Enjoy your holiday, ELi creek is a good swim but watch out for the man eating eels. LOL

Been watching these posts with interest and am concerned about what appears to be scare mongering amongst the community. There have always been sharks and dingoes and snakes and spiders and plenty of other bities. I don't think it is any worse now than when I was a kid. Brown snakes were probably even more plentiful then!
What happened to common sense and parental responsibility. Sharks come into all beaches, rips exist at most beaches. It's up to the parents to determine what is and isn't safe and do what they think is right for their kids.
To be honest people have more chances of being seriously hurt in the car travelling to and from the destination than they do of being attacked by a shark (more people die each year from bee stings than shark attacks so should we tell skichic to keep her kids away from flowers and grassed areas - just in case).
Let's not all turn into Harold Scrubys and generalise.
Skichic it's your decision, watch your kids at all times in the water but don't stop them from enjoying themselves, otherwise you can save a lot of money and keep them at home watching TV.
I'm taking the Grandkids up to Inskip Point on the weekend, they will have a swim in an unpatrolled area and I will be with them at all times, my bigger concerns will be the amount of vehicles on the beach who consider it to be a road first and a beach second
My two bobs worth anyway!

Hi skichic
There was a knee-deep channel at Waddy that formed behind a sandbar when the tide started going out that looked fine for kids to paddle in. It was deep enough (other than right on low tide) to launch a boat into, and was virtually cut off from the ocean except for a small opening so I would be very surprised if any nasties would swim into it. But in the ocean itself- hmm- too much wildlife.
Kids played until they were frozen in Champagne Pools which weren't far away, although they weren't very deep as lots of sand has washed into them. Lake Bowaraddy was a bit of a trip to get to, but the swimming there was superb.
We only saw a few people body surfing close to shore further south than Waddy, and everyone was looking at them like they were crazy. Overseas visitors perhaps?
Have fun.
MikeyS

skichic, I have been to Fraser Island many times, and without a lie, I have seen sharks in close every time. On one occassion at Waddy, they were there literally in there thousands. Before you let your kids swim up there ( I would never let mine) go talk to the rangers, and also talk to the people at the shop or Trading post at Orchid Beach and then make an informed decision. The lakes and places like Eli creek are great for a swim a very safe. If you were concerned about the dingoes, then you should be very careful about letting your children swim on the ocean side even in shallow water. I have seen many large sharks in very shallow water up there and it scared the hell out of me every time. I once saw a Tiger Shark of about 13-14 ft cruising inside the shore break in no more than 2-3 feet of water. 2 older guys were fishing knee deep only feet away and didnt even see it approaching untill we started yelling out to them to get out of the water. I say this knowing full well that I will be breanded a scre monger, but I'd rather cop that than to hear some bad news later. Please ask the rangers and locals first.

Mark

no scare mongering here

There are sharks in close on the Eastern Beach of Fraser, they range from little to big, and they are there for a feed (could be why Fraser is such a good fishing spot eh?)

I once saw two 3m+ tigers in the shore break, swimming to and fro right in front of Happy Valley, they were only meters from the beach (and they were most definatley tigers) I have had numerous other shark sightings but that one was pretty extreme!

Climb Indian head and look down, wait a while and you'll see all sorts of marine life and there will be plenty of sharkies amongst them.

Stick to the lakes and creeks

Regretfully I must agree with the posts above. We grew up going to Fraser Island 4 or 5 times a year from the Gold Coast. Our whole life existed around surfing at that time.
We had a few close calls with sharks abd a very close one with a bronze whaler about 12 ft one day which circled us several times on the boards and rubbed my mates leg while we were trying to paddle in to the shore.
There were not many sharks in the 80's but throughout the 90's I agree with the post above that they seem to get greater in number each time we go. I can say for the last 5 years we would see a couple in the shallows on every trip. I haven't surfed the last couple of times I have been, must be getting old.

Would I surf there again now?

Probably. Stupid I know but what a way to go!

Have fun on your trip,

Brett

Wow! To all of that! Kinda looking forward to some shark spotting ;) I dive, so I've been up close and personal with sharks numerous times. But it's amazing how your perspective on life changes once you have kids. Like I'm not worried about the dingos myself, but am for my kids. So we'll play Fraser safe this time and make our own judgements for the next trip. Just curious, those have have spotted sharks, is it mainly around Tailor season, or anytime?

Ta