K’gari
Virginia Woods-Jack

28 pages, 14.8xm x 21cm, ink jet, saddle stitch
New Zealand: Self-published, 2016.

“K’gari lies just off the east coast of Australia. At 122 km long, it is the largest sand island in the world. Majestic remnants of tall rainforest growing on sand and half the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes are found inland from the beach. The combination of shifting sand-dunes, tropical rainforests and lakes make it an exceptional site.

• 1970’s – Visitors estimated at 5000 per annum

• 1992 – K’gari was given World Heritage Status for its unique natural qualities.

• 2014 – After decades of fighting The Butchulla people were granted Native Title rights to K’gari.

• 2016 – Mid-sized cruise ships start visiting K’gari as part of what local authorities say is a major tourism coup

• 2017 – The name K’gari was reinstated as the true name of Fraser Island.

• 2020 – Visitors are estimated to exceed 800,000 (pre covid19 figures)

UNESCO World Heritage states that “Key threats requiring ongoing attention include degradation due to visitor numbers, inappropriate fire, invasive plants and animals, and climate change. Recreational use of the area is intensive and localised degradation can occur from excessive numbers of visitors potentially impacting on, in particular, lake water quality.”