Sandy gatherings

Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, rich with wildlife and natural attractions, is the prime drawcard to meeting on the Fraser Coast.

With a subtropical climate that offers balmy temperatures all year round, the Fraser Coast, as the region is known, celebrates one of the greatest natural attractions Queensland has to offer. World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, which was sighted by Captain James Cook in 1770, is the largest sand island in the world and grew to its present size over 800,000 years. The national park covers some 165,000 hectares, about 98 per cent of the island itself.



The Aboriginal name for Fraser Island translates, naturally enough, as paradise. It is the only place in the world where rainforest grows from sand.

Thousand-year-old trees, lush rainforests, more than 40 expansive lakes, giant sand dunes, creeks and rock pools, and some 120 kilometres of deserted ocean beaches, create an expanse that has changed little in thousands of years. Now under the care of the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, Fraser Island is a treasure unlike any other.

There is abundant wildlife, including possums, wallabies and dingoes. Amongst the many fascinating sites to explore is the shipwreck Maheno, which foundered on Cathedral Beach during a cyclone in 1935. Indigenous culture is everywhere on Fraser Island, a reminder of the Butchulla people who lived there for more than 5,500 years. There are many archaeolog-ical sites, including middens and ceremonial bora rings.

Meetings with nature
Pods of humpback whales call into the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay between August and November. Swimming, fishing and 4WD tours are some of the many activities on offer.

>> Conference & meeting venues in Hervey Bay Area

The main point of access to Fraser Island is Hervey Bay, which lies 300 kilometres north of Brisbane. The Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast Airport is serviced by Jetstar and Virgin Blue, with direct flights to Sydney; while Sunshine Express has daily flights to Brisbane.

The Kondari Resort at Hervey Bay is a popular conference spot, which includes amongst its numerous facilities two resort swimming pools and the award-winning Cascades bistro, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days
a week.