Being a remote island, made of sand no less, this is one of the most common questions we get asked. Who wants to bring a stash of plastic water bottles on to the island after all. So to answer the question, can you drink the water on K’gari Fraser Island? Yes, you can! In fact we encourage you to gulp down the pure, fresh water on the island because it’ll be some of the least polluted, natural H20 you’ll ever taste. In fact, the water on K’gari has an interesting history of its own.
Where does the water on K’gari Fraser Island come from?
K’gari Fraser Island is famous for being home to over 100 freshwater lakes, some with water so clear you can see right to the bottom. In fact the only place in Australia that has more lakes is Tasmania, and in terms of size, K’gari is really punching above its watery weight!
The lakes are located alongside sand dunes which sit atop the island’s water table, a huge underground well of water. Each year the rains that drench K’gari, around 1600mm per year, filter down into this underground water store and top up millions of litres of freshwater. The volume of freshwater held in the water table, coupled with the amount that flows out each day through K’gari’s rivers and streams, prevents seawater infiltrating – so what is left is pure, fresh water.
There is estimated to be between 10 and 20 million mega litres of freshwater held in natural storage systems located around the island.
Pure water over a century old!
Not only is there a lot of water held on the island, but the pure, fresh water you’ll be enjoying while you travel here is estimated to be around 100 years old. So how can it still be so fresh and drinkable? The reason lies in the fact that K’gari’s remoteness and unique geology have created the perfect conditions for water to remain in its purest form. Rain takes up to 100 years to sink through the sand and into the water table below. And because the underground water reserves are so unpolluted, the water remains as fresh as the day it fell.
Where to drink the purest water on K’gari
Not only is Eli Creek one of the most beautiful spots on K’gari Fraser Island, it’s also the place to stock up on freshwater. The creek is also the biggest stream on the island, generating more than 400 million litres of freshwater every hour which eventually finds its way to the sea. Get there before it disappears! A good tip is to collect your water as far upstream as you can – Eli Creek is a very popular spot and lots of people swim and float down the stream.
Feeling thirsty? Give us a call today and book yourself on a tour and learn more about K’gari Fraser Island’s amazing natural wonders.