a week of sunrises at Orchid Beach, Fraser Island

Fraser Island is my happy place.

There's a spot at the bottom of the Island after you round Hook Point, where the Island is laid out in front of you. There's something about making that turn that makes the corners of my mouth turn up involuntarily. Like magic.

We've been visiting Orchid Beach for six years. Over that time we've stayed in a variety of holiday homes and always had a good time. That said, I think the home we stayed in for our most recent visit is the pick of bunch.

Grandview on Fraser claims luxury accommodation with the grandest view and it didn't disappoint. The house is built high on the hill and the view from the veranda is incredible. We visited in whale watching season and I watched whales breaching from the kitchen sink. Having a large veranda for the kids to play on is always one of the key things I look for in Fraser Island accommodation; I like to know the kids have somewhere to burn off a little energy without having an adult with them to keep watch for dingos. The deck on Grandview ticked that box with the added benefit of a visit from some of the locals.

Little things are big things when you're travelling with kids and Grandview seems to have been designed with families (not just fishermen) in mind. An upstairs undercover washing line made getting the kids wet clothes dry a breeze, even in wet weather. A proper-sized bath is a Godsend for parents of sand-loving kids. Over our years holidaying on Fraser, I've bathed both my babies in kitchen sinks. I can't tell you how great it was to put our tired kids in a warm bath at the end of a cold day.

My kids are always early risers and the excitement of holidays often sees them up before dawn. The owners of Grandview had mentioned that they'd always meant to take a timelapse video of sunrise from the veranda, so I appointed myself resident videographer.

Here's a week of sunrises on Orchid Beach, Fraser Island for those of you who have never been (or those of you who have been but were lucky enough to have a sleep in).

are your kids early risers?

have you been to Fraser Island?are your kids early risers?COm