Lake Allom (known to us as Turtle Lake) is one of our favourite places to visit on Fraser Island. You never have a visit there without seeing turtles, they come right up to the viewing platform. I love turtles and these little guys are so cute, it’s awesome to be able to see them this close up.
Lake Allom is one of the inland freshwater lakes and it’s surrounded completely by Mellaluca trees. The water of Lake Allom is black, which is as a result of the tannin from the trees surrounding the lake.
The pic above is just one of the examples of amazing trees you will see on Fraser Island. This tree was down at Lake Allom and was so dead straight and so tall, amazing! And this little boy was waiting at our car when we got back to the carpark. There is a picnic area just up from the lake so I’m sure that’s why these guys are always hanging out there!
SS Maheno shipwreck
This is another ‘must visit’ place on Fraser Island. The Maheno was built in Scotland in 1905 and was the world’s first ever triple screw steamer. She was built as a luxury passenger ship. During World War 1 she served as a hospital ship and later was used by a shipping company for journeys between Sydney and New Zealand.
By 1935 the ship had been declared outdated and taken out of service and was sold to a scrapping company in Japan.
On 8 July 1935, while under tow to Japan, the Maheno became caught in a cyclone and the towline broke. After drifting in rough seas overnight, the Maheno beached on the east coast of Fraser Island.
The Maheno was unable to be re-floated and no buyers wanted her, so she was abandoned on the beach and remains there today.
The Maheno when she first beached on Fraser Island
On the way back to camp we called in to Eli Creek. As usual, the water was freezing and being later in the afternoon there was no way we were swimming! Eli Creek is the largest creek on the eastern beach and up to 4 million litres of fresh water pour into the ocean each hour.
What a beautiful way to end the day.
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