swimming on fraser island

I would generally agree about swimming in the ocean proper, however there's a myriad of small gutters where you can splash about and generally immerse yourself safely.

Common sense is really all that's required.

Cheers

I'll have a paddle around on the beach, but I wouldn't call it swimming.

There is way too much wildlife (and in close too) for me!

The place is crawling with sharks at fraser . There in the ocean as well .

Hi Muddyboy,
Went on one of those senic flights off the beach several years ago. Yes there were quite a few sharks out there, but we were assured by the pilot that they were not of any danger to us.

What was of concern though was the rips and currents that were visible from the air, and i would certainly not be swimming on the ocean side. I was led to believe that the west coast of the island was safe, but i doubt it could be as nice as the freshwater lakes.

Just got back from Fraser, and no one swims in the ocean. Was told mainly cause of the sharks and rips, but also saw massive jellyfish washed up on the beach.

Go for a swim in lake Mackenzie instead it's great.

cheers

Just got back from Fraser, and no one swims in the ocean. Was told mainly cause of the sharks and rips, but also saw massive jellyfish washed up on the beach.

Go for a swim in lake Mackenzie instead it's great.

cheers

When we go I go in knee deep in the ocean if that...but you can find plenty of little holes that get's created with the tides that you can swim on when it's low tide. I have seen sharks there in the surf many times maybe 50m in

I was fishing one day near Ely Creek.
Walked in thigh depth water to a bank up to my knees.
I wondered why no bites.
Idly looked North to see four sets of dorsal and tails at least a foot long ( 1 inch of dorsal =1 foot of shark) herding fish about 75 metres away.
Ever seen anyone run on top of the water?
Regards Philip A

I wonder why there are so many sharks there and none at Noosa just down the coast and people swim in the ocean with gay abandon (though she can swim well) in Hervey bay and never seem to be attacked by sharks...I reckon it's a myth - more chance of a dingo biting your tyres than being attacked by a shark.

Gday,
Here's a little trick Handy taught me.......
Grab a bit of meat.(roo leg works), tie it to the Mrs's leg, grab her rum can and hurl it out as far as you can.
While she's in there, jump in, have a dip and make it back to shore before she does....all's good.
LOL

In 1996 I swam at Fraser, unaware of the danger but was later told I was lucky to not get bitten. I think someone was looking after me.I would stick to the lakes. Christine.

Geez, some of you guys are un-bloody-believable!

When was the last time anyone actually heard of a shark attack on Fraser???
When was the last time anyone actually heard of a Dingo attack on Fraser??? Dingo attacks are far more common than shark attacks but we still camp on the beach! Would perhaps be safer in the water..... ;-)


On a serious note, the main problem with swimming in the ocean on Fraser is the unpredictable currents and rips and the fact that help is a long way away. If you're not a bloody good swimmer then exercise caution.
A good spot to have a swim is at Waddy point. Nice sheltered beach, good spot for all the family to have a dip.

Now this is getting ridiculous! You people never cease to amaze me, you'll singlehandely cross any desert, you'll drive where no man has gone before but your all a bunch of pansies when it comes to swimming in the surf....Naaaaaaaaaa come on strip off to you're budgie smugglers and enjoy the surf....There is nothing more exhilarating (well there is but I'm not allowed to go into detail here). Yu're all a pack of WIMPS!!!!

Oh pleeeassseee.....

I have to admit that I am not familiar with Fraser Island at all but as someone who for many years was terrified of sharks and is now an enthusiastic scuba diver I think this is all a load of drivel.

There are sharks everywhere, down here in Victoria people happily swim all over the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island with a colony of seals and a bunch of sharks (probably including great whites) a mere couple of Kms from them. A lot of the larger sharks have ranges of several thousand kms.

There are between 1-3 fatal shark attacks each year IIRC in Oz, you are just as likely to get chomped upon if you are in Victoria as you are in NSW or Queensland. If you wish to increase you chances of attack then try spear fishing and carrying the fish around with you or swimming near a food source (i.e. seals) if Fraser has a large seal colony (I don't know?) then I wouldn't swim there if it doesn't then you are just as likely to be attacked 50 kms up the coast.

You're more likely to be killed on the road driving there.



Andrew

See I'm just like SWMBO - I have to have the last word on everything. Ok I'm converted after reading this article I'm staying out of the watwer and only gonna shower from here on in...

Parasitic Fish In Freshwater Lakes and Rivers
Report from Charles Reamer
Much as it may sound like nothing but an old scoutmaster's tale, the parasitic fish does exist. Actual close encounters with the Candiru (Vandellia cirrhosa) must be fairly rare, judging from the dearth of medical literature on it, but it's still high up on my own personal list of Scary Things to Avoid.
The candiru is a member of the catfish family and can be found in lakes and streams in tropical areas throughout the world. It's tiny — only about an inch long, if that — and, according to Enyclopedia Britannica, "has been known to enter the urethras of bathers and swimming animals." That's hardly the worst of it.
"Once in the passage," the Britannica continues, "it erects the short spines on its gill covers and may thereby cause inflammation, hemorrhage, and even death to the victim." The little bugger can only be removed by surgery.
Why, you ask, would a fish want to swim up there in the first place? Audubon magazine explains:
Candirus primarily set up house inside larger fish, where they feast on the host's blood. They are attracted to nitrogen, which usually leads them to a gill chamber, but apparently they can't distinguish between one nitrogen-emitting orifice and another: They have been known to follow a stream of urine right to its source.