Ocean Life Education At Fraser Island October 19, 2011

Marine Expert Richard Coward is a regular visitor to Queensland’s Fraser Island and loves sharing his knowledge about the marine eco systems with staff and guests alike.  September 2011.

Richard Coward is a 'star' presenter

The team at Ocean Life Education love to visit Fraser Island every year.  It’s one of the last yet most accessible natural paradises in the world and we talk to guests at Kingfisher Bay Resort about the many varied and wonderful marine creatures living in the waters surrounding Fraser Island.

Some of these animals are easily visible such as Whales, pelagic fish (often caught off Kingfisher’s jetty), sharks, turtles and I was even privileged to be greeted one afternoon on the jetty by a Dugong! While others are not as easily seen – by this I mean sand worms, ghost crabs, moon snails and other weird and wonderful creatures which live in the sand.

We conduct organised walks along the beach and dazzle guests with how many microscopic animals live in the sand and the roles these animals play in the marine ecosystem.

The team are happy to share knowledge with all visitors, young and not so young – and get a thrill when we delight them with valuable information about Fraser Island’s marine creatures, why they look the way they do, what their eating habits are, what their role is in their environment and thus why they are so important.

Creatures of the sea on display

On my last visit I explained why some marine animals are dangerous such as Stone Fish and Stingrays; they have defence mechanisms against larger predators that may affect humans should they come into contact with them.

Others like Jellyfish, Cone Shell and Blue Ringed octopus are dangerous because of the size and strength of the food they like to eat, thus they are equipped with potent fast acting venom, so potent they will affect our nervous system and could cause death! I take great pains to explain that these animals do not mean to harm us, but if we enter their environment we need to be aware and know how to avoid making contact with them!

Always of major interest to guests at our talks is the comprehensive information and anecdote we provide about sharks. We show shark jaws from different species and each species eating habits are explained according to teeth and jaw structure.

Similar to the message on the big painting hanging in the main foyer at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Ocean Life Educations motto is; if they learn about it they’ll understand it, if they understand it they’ll love it, if they love it they’ll care for it!

Ocean Life are committed in reaching as many people to share just how wonderful the marine environment is, why it is important and why we need to protect it.  We look forward to seeing you next visit.

Frogs, Missing Frogs, Declining Frogs, Acid Frogs and more frogs… September 30, 2011

Recently Associate Professor Jean-Marc Hero from the Environmental Futures Centre, (Gold Coast campus of Griffith University) came to Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island recently to share his experiences with frogs of eastern Australia, and his intimate knowledge on global amphibian declines. September 2011… Read all about it…

Fraser Island's amazing amphibians on show!

Activities began with a seminar on Friday, September 16 discussing the global amphibian declines that have been reported over the past 30 years.

Over 200 species have been reported extinct (6 species in Australia) since 1979, and over 2,000 species have been reported as in decline. Frogs have been identified as the vertebrate group that is at the highest risk (have proportionally more threatened species than birds, mammals or reptiles).

The special presentation  I held at the resort focused on known causes of decline (habitat loss, harvesting, introduced species etc.) and explanations for the enigmatic declines of stream-dwelling frogs in relatively undisturbed habitats (disease and climate change) that have been observed around the world.

Recent research has focused on the emerging pathogenic fungus which causes the disease chytridiomycosis and how this may work synergistically with climate change.

The next night began with a seminar focusing on the amazing biology of amphibians and how so many species co-exist on Fraser Island.  Using sound recordings, he discussed ways of sharing acoustic space (only male frogs call to attract female) by using different frequencies.

Female frogs have hearing that is finely tuned into the specific frequency of male for the same species. Frogs also share ecosystems by utilising a range of breeding sites ranging from stream to ponds, with some species avoiding water entirely by laying their eggs in totally terrestrial environments.

In the coastal wallum habitats of mid-eastern Australia (and on large sandy islands including Fraser Island) there are a unique group of “acid frogs” which only breed in the highly acidic waters of these habitats.

Following the seminar participants went for a stroll around the ponds surrounding Kingfisher Bay Resort and practised their skills at identifying frogs by their calls. Despite the cool spring weather, we were lucky enough to see or hear the endemic Cooloola Sedge Frog (Litoria cooloolensis) and the Wallum Sedge Frog  (Litoria olongburensis), two of the four Acid frog species found on the island.  Visitors were amazed at how such tiny creatures could make such a loud call.

Photographer Mike Larder Unearths Fraser Island’s Hidden Secrets September 22, 2011

Lake McKenzie in spring

Hot on the heels of his daughter, Luka, snapper Mike Larder shows us ‘Fraser Island in spring time’ through his lens and the results are nothing short of spectacular.  September 2011

FRASER ISLAND lay moodily enshrouded in the early morning mist like some silent slumbering giant enveloped in a shadowy grey doona of cloud. The rising suns rays split through the low lying cloud and mizzleing rain creating angelic patterns of translucent light that splayed across the mirror calm of the Great Sandy Strait.

Kingfisher Bay Resort’s shiny blue vehicular barge nudged lightly upon the shores of Fraser Island’s Kingfisher Bay Resort so gently as to not feel the bump. I expected a Normandy beaches style assault but we disembarked along the jetty in silence and were enveloped immediately by a heady fragrance of Wide Bay Boronia and lemon-scented tea tree.

Fraser Island’s stunning western side

World Heritage protected Fraser Island appeared to be hiding from us, keeping her secrets until the last tantalising moment….

…If you are a Star Trek fan you might imagine that the futuristically designed Kingfisher Bay eco resort on fabulous Fraser Island-Queensland and the world’s largest sand island bears a striking resemblance to the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

The resort – that pioneered eco friendly resorts in Australia-sits lightly apon the Earth. It is essentially a huge pole house that squats atop a wetland. Staying there ensures you get very close to nature. Beam me up there Scotty.

Words and images are copyright.   To see Mike’s amazing images visit:
http://www.pbase.com/lardershots/fraser_islandqueensland&view=slideshow

Luka Larder Discovers Fraser On A Family Holiday August 31, 2011

Luka Larder and her family take time out from their hectic lives for a little family R&R on Fraser Island – Here’s Fraser through Luka’s eyes – 01 September 2011.

Day 1: Watching the oceans gentle giants roll around close enough to the boat that you feel like you could reach out and tickle their bellies!

Up Up and Almost Away...

Day 2: Being convinced by Troy (Fraser’s number one pilot, not much older then myself) to go flying over beautiful Fraser in his plane and getting the birds eye view of everything Fraser offers!

Then, visiting the Maheno ship wreck and trying to imagine it in it’s prime.

Day 3: Venturing through the lush forest along awesome 4WD tracks to visit Lake McKenzie and fall in-love with the many blues, greens and whites of the water, sand, and surrounding flora! The sand also doubled as the best jewellery cleaner I’ve ever encountered. My rings are sparkling!

Tomorrow, after a satisfying all you can eat buffet breakfast at the Maheno Restaurant, I think I will go on the resort’s early morning bird tour… and after that… who knows!

Relax by one of their heated pools or go for a walk along a bush board walk.  Endless possibilities!

Back again….

Day 4: Today I decided to have a sleep in before my much anticipated buffet breakfast at the Maheno Restaurant. Then I lazed by the pool in the bright sun before going for a board walk that took me to the beach and the winding jetty.

Fraser Island Central Station Bush Dunny

Then I found my Dad, photographer extraordinaire Mike Larder, and helped him take photos of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Executive Chef, Chris Rutherford’s, most exciting culinary creations from Seabelle restaurant!

It was decided that the beautiful natural surrounding would act as the backdrop for the cuisine and with the help of Bianca Rossetto, we pulled off some fantastic shots!

We did come into contact with some ants (I’ll leave it up to everyone’s imagination, but lets just say I’m having a fun time sitting down as I write this!), some sinking sand AND a couple of cheeky Ravens who decided it would be hilarious to bomb Bianca and Dad with their ‘droppings’ from a great height!

All part of the photo taking experience I’m sure!

After this we visited the Sand Bar Restaurant yet again for a lovely fresh meal. Look for my little sister’s photos posted on Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Facebook page soon for further documentation of our exciting time here!

I’ve got to go, I’m being called over to the pool’s spa and there is a Pina Colada with my name on it!

Fraser Island Photography Tour Better Than Books At School August 31, 2011

Fifteen-year-old Caitlin Allen is finalising some work experience with Danielle at Bluedog Photography and, as part of a special treat, joined the recent trip to Fraser Island (August 2011). Here’s a few of Caitlin’s thoughts:

The resort's famous Centre Complex

As a very special treat for my birthday in August 2011, my Mum took me along on the Bluedog Photography Fraser Island Tour to Kingfisher Bay Resort.

As part of the group, I learnt a lot of amazing things about photography that helped me create better-looking images by getting to know my camera and being able to take it off ‘auto mode’ and try out lots of different settings, including manual!

Our tutors, Danielle Lancaster and Peter Meyer, were always there to give me advice about the shot I was taking and were very knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of Fraser Island.  This made every day really interesting while I was also learning more on important methods of photography throughout the tour.  In fact, most of the time it didn’t even feel like learning as it was so much fun!   The photographs we took helped me to get a better understanding of the way my camera works and also important aspects of photography including composition, white balance and long exposure shots.

Spring has sprung on Fraser Island

During the tour we visited a number of well-known places on Fraser Island that were amazing to see and great to photograph, such as McKenzie Jetty, the rainforest, Indian Head and the Eastern Beach.  The Eastern Beach and Indian Head would have to be my favourite places. Then again, there was the whale watching tour, which would also have to be on my favourites list.  These majestic creatures were absolutely awesome to watch as they played around our boat!  We had to make lots of noise so the whales would come closer to check us out, which they did, and it was an amazing thing to be able to photograph them so close.  I am positive it is something I will never forget.

The enthusiasm of Danielle and Peter along with the untouched wilderness on the island, the amazing wildlife and the scenic views we experienced were among the things that have inspired me to keep taking photos and advance my knowledge on the subject.  Oh, and Danielle and Peter are the greatest photographers, tutors and tour guides on the planet!