Along Wanggoolba Creek, king ferns (Angiopteris evecta) put on one of the more prehistoric-looking displays anywhere on Fraser Island (K’gari). Their fronds can reach up to 5 metres on a fully mature plant — among the largest fern fronds found anywhere in the world — and the species itself is genuinely ancient, with a lineage tracing back roughly 300 million years to a time when ferns dominated the planet’s plant life.
Standing beneath one beside the creek’s famously crystal-clear water, it’s easy to feel like you’ve wandered onto a film set from a much older world.
Wanggoolba Creek runs through Central Station, about 110 km south of Orchid Blue — roughly a 2-hour 4WD drive. Our Complete Guide to Wanggoolba Creek has the details.