Holiday haven blooms as bushfires, restrictions left in the dust
Tourists are stepping onto the white sands of Fraser Island in droves, delighting operators who witnessed half of their heritage-listed haven burn last year. SEE THE PHOTOS
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Tourists are stepping on to the white sands of Fraser Island in droves, delighting operators who witnessed half of their heritage-listed haven burn last year.
Vibrant red plants blanket once-blackened swamps and birdsong has returned, making it hard for visitors to believe a fire tore through 87,000ha of bushland.
Fortunately the island’s greatest draw cards were unscathed and general manager of Fraser Coast Tourism Martin Simons said tourism bounced back quickly.
Occupancy rates across the Fraser Coast these winter holidays are between 70 and 80 per cent.
Mr Simons believed border closures and a lack of confidence in flying had swayed Queenslanders to explore their own iconic hot spots.
“There’s a lot of no-vacancies around and we’ve been enjoying very strong tourism numbers,” he said.
“People are coming north because they haven’t been able to head south.
“We’re Covid-free, we’re accessible and we’ve got a prime market within a few hours’ drive.”
Dozens of firefighters surrounded Kingfisher Bay Resort on the island’s west as the bushfire came within 2km last year.
Resort group manager David Hay said there were moments when he thought they were going to lose the major tourism asset before the fire was brought under control in December.
“We’ve been surprised by how quickly tourism numbers bounced back afterwards,” Mr Hay said.
“We had even more visitors in May this year than we had during those traditionally slower periods before Covid and we’re seeing a lot of families.
“They are blown away by the regeneration on the island and they often can’t believe it when I tell them there was a fire where they were standing just months ago.”
Photographer and tour guide Peter Meyer has captured stunning photos of the transformation.
The Fraser Island resident who has a degree in ecology said it was hard to believe, at the time of the fire, that anything would grow back from the devastation.
“The Australian bush is sometimes pretty dull but for some reason after a fire the colours that emerge are magnificent,” he said.
“Clumps of green leaves cover the trunks of trees in what I call the poodle effect and the swamps grow back completely red with Forked Sundew.
“You’re looking at a scene of black, lime green and red- it’s really striking.”
Mr Meyer was donning a T-shirts and thongs on Friday as he guided a group to crystal-clear swimming spots.
Visitors he met these school holidays were enjoying a delayed holiday after restrictions cancelled their Christmas plans.
Operators across the region were expected to welcome more visitors, who had previously postponed plans, as whale watching season approaches.
“We’re hoping there will be good numbers with domestic tourism who are looking for an adventure,” he said.
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