Lake McKenzie Marathon Swim - Fraser Island

Lake McKenzie is a stunning freshwater lake on Fraser Island in Queensland and the location of the second of my 'marathon swim challenges'. It covers an area of 150 hectares and with it's clear waters and white silica sands it's probably the most well known and visited location on the island. The waters are slightly acidic in nature and this actually is one of the reasons it stays so clear because there is very little aquatic life in it. There are however short necked turtles that live in the lake.

I first swam in the lake in 1994 and was quite captivated at just how stunning it was and despite it's popularity, if you're able to get to the other side the crowds can't get there and you have this amazing experience of solitude at such a beautiful location. It's quite intoxicating. Ever since then I wanted to return. Having never heard of anyone swimming a marathon distance there (a distance 10 km or more) I decided that (assuming that is in fact the case) that I would put a plan in motion to be the first.

So during a recent visit I swam 10 laps of the lake at it's widest point (which is 1.2 km per lap) and as a result did a 12 km swim.

For Endurance Swimmer articles and other information go to http://www.enduranceswimmeraustralia.com