Australia Travel Forum

My girlfriend and I are spending 3 weeks in Oz from 23 November - 13 December, taking in Sydney, Melbourne and Byron Bay.

We would like a 4th stop-off and want to know what would be best, Ayers Rock or Fraser Island (either would be for a couple of nights)?

We've read up on both but can't decide what would be the best addition to our trip.

Please advise.

Cheers,
Jeff

Well I would agree with these comments too ....Without doubt I would go to Uluru as it is just so different from anything you will ever see anywhere else in Australia....and this is coming from a guy that love the beaches:):).

It is like comparing apples and oranges - and it really depends on what you like doing. I'd also go for Uluru - Fraser Island is a big sand island, and there are nice places to visit, but there's really nothing unique about it in the same way that Uluru is.

Quite agree and to see the sun go down over the Rock and watch the colour change is something else.

Hi Jeff, I think that I will have to be the discenting voice here. I would pick Fraser Island over Ayers Rock every time. There is so much that you can do on Fraser including swimming at Lake McKenzie which is a beautiful fresh water lake with the clearest water you will ever see. Camp on the beach if you want to, walk through all of the forests with giant trees, see brumbies, dingos, kangaroos etc. Drive along the beach and visit Champagne Pools where you can sit and as the water rushes in it feels like champagne over your body. Uluru is a big rock... so what? It changes color ah huh, you can climb it mmmmm. It would also be much cheaper visiting Fraser then Uluru.

Another one who opt for the Red Centre, so completely different from anything else in Australia (and the world).
Would recommend to travel from Alice Springs to Uluru (and also visit Kings Canyon)

Fraser Fraser Fraser!!!!

Wow one of the most unique places on earth...go to Fraser.

Uluru was great. Saw the sunrise, saw the changing colours of the rock and so on...cool. 3hrs of fun. Some cool hiking in the area as well, and Alice Springs is nothing I really remember.

Fraser is a weekend of amazement. Sometimes you feel like you're in the desert, sometimes you are swimming in a beautiful lake, sometimes you are on an amazing beach with your 4wd. It's one of the most unique places in the world I think...don't miss it.

Also, you can drive up to Hervey Bay to get there - from Byron. So travel isn't too difficult and time consuming as it is to Alice/Uluru.

Have fun!

I thought the dingos on Fraser island were killed years back?

Not a hope! They did take a lot off and dump them on farmland near Gympie though.

I LOVE Fraser Island, it is one of my favourite places.
I also LOVE Uluru.
I say go to Uluru. You are going to see coast at Byron Bay. Going to Uluru is going to show you something of our Aboriginal's culture. It's an amazing rock, also the Olga's are bloody fantastic! Uluru is worth the trip.
You do a sunset/sunrise at the Rock, after sunrise head over to the Olgas and go for a walk there....special.
At the base of the Rock there is a daily morning walk taken by the National Parks people, it's FREE and it's very good.The explain the culture of the Rock and also how the Aboriginal's used this area. The walk starts at the area where they climb the rock....I think it's at 10am
Now, climbing the Rock is something that you can still do, BUT the owners of the land ( Aborignals)prefer you don't do it....read the sign at the base of the Rock and I suppose each of us goes with what we feel:)

Also I highly recommend that you book into the Sounds of Silence Dinner while there. This is ABOUT $100aus Per Person, it's worth it!!!!Great night and again lots there to hear and learn about.Make sure you book as this is vey popular.

If you go to Uluru, book into the Outack Pioneer place, it's good. It's one of the cheaper places, has everything and is only a 5 minute walk from the little village.

Just had an idea, you may be able to see Fraser AND Uluru.
Check out if they have day tours from Byron Bay to Fraser, or you may have to make your way up to Brisbane. Worth a try.....google *Fraser Island Tours from Byron Bay* and read the info....I did this and there is much to browse through:)

As an Austalian who has travelled all over Austalia and enjoyed everything our beautiful country has too offer, it is hard to make a suggestion. I always think while you are on holidays the time travelling from one place to another has to be considered. If you want a short travelling time from Byron Bay, then Fraser Isand is the place to go and visit Brisbane and Harvey Bay on the way, if the travelling time isn't an issue then Ayers Rock and our fabulous Red Centre. I suggest Brisbane, because this is where I live and I really love this city.
Good Luck Gai