With its towering rainforests, crystal clear lakes and vast sand dunes, K'gari is one of Queensland's natural gems. Visitors will be able to explore its beauty on foot with the opening of the K'gari Great Walk on June 27, 2004. The K'gari Great Walk takes in the stunning scenery of the world?s largest sand island along a continuous 90km route between Dilli Village and Happy Valley. This route is a mixture of both existing trails, which have been upgraded, and sections of old forestry tracks and fire trails which have been reopened. Experienced walkers should allow six to eight days to complete the whole walk, but the track has also been designed to cater for those wanting an overnight or two to three-day adventure. In addition, there are plenty of shorter sections that can be completed within two to eight hours, depending on your starting point and level of fitness. The scenery along the whole route is breathtaking. Some of the highlights include new lookouts taking advantage of the spectacular views over the Great Sandy Strait, Lake Boomanjin, the largest perched lake in the world, the crystal clear water of Wanggoolba Creek at Central Station and the dazzling white shores of Lake McKenzie. Inland, visitors will come across the giant rainforest trees in Valley of the Giants and can explore the historic areas of Bogimbah Creek, McKenzies Jetty and Mill and Fraser Island Commando School. The school operated from late 1943 to the end of World War II in 1945, providing training to specially-selected personnel to prepare them for operations behind Japanese lines. Walkers? camps with toilet facilities and water have been established along the way near Lake Boomanjin, Lake Benaroon, Central Station, Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby, Valley of the Giants and Lake Garawongera. Privately owned camp areas are also located at Dilli Village and Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village. In addition to walkers? camps, excellent accommodation is also available at the island?s multi award-winning eco-resort Kingfisher Bay Resort and Village, or at Dilli Village, Eurong and Happy Valley. Access to K'gari is via Rainbow Beach township or Hervey Bay, with a range of options depending on budget including vehicle barge, passenger launch, aircraft, commercial tour or private boat. Additional walking tracks link the Great Walk with key barge landings, accommodation and supply centres. The K'gari Great Walk is the first of the Great Walks of Queensland, a series of six world-class walking tracks through some of the state?s most beautiful natural areas. An initiative of the Queensland Government, the other Great Walks are Whitsunday (opens late July, 2004), Wet Tropics (opens April 2005), Gold Coast Hinterland, Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Mackay Highlands (all open at the end of 2005). For more information visit www.epa.qld.gov.au/greatwalks or telephone the Naturally Queensland Information Centre on (07) 3227 8185. Media inquiries to Shaun O'Dowd at Tourism Queensland on 07 3535 5290 or at shaun.odowd@tq.com.au.