Spend Australia Day the Fraser Island Way

Come January 26, The HMAS Canberra will cut a fine figure on Sydney Harbour; Thousands of people will perform rousing renditions of the national anthem around the country; The team at Fraser Island's Kingfisher Bay Resort will introduce their international guests to the age-old Aussie traditions of 'thong throwing' and lamington scoffing; and the folks at Eurong Beach Resort, on the surf side of Fraser Island, will be sausage sizzling and counting down the best all-time home grown hits.

When a long weekend comes around, it's un-Australian not to dust off the 4WD and let down the tyres for a long weekend packed with off-roading, fishing the gutters of the eastern beach, tubing down Eli Creek or trekking in to the oasis-like Lake Wabby. To sweeten the experience, Eurong Beach is offering a Summer Days deal with hotel rooms from just $118 per night and apartments from $258 per night with daily breakfast included. Kingfisher Bay Resort, on the sunset side of the island, promises some Summertime Fun with hotel rooms with buffet breakfast from $148 per room and self-contained villas with brekkie from $248 per villa, per night.

And to kick-start the Australia Day Weekend, Kingfisher Bay – with the help of Captain Australia – will be running Aussie limbo comps for the nimble guests; thong throwing contests (it's our national footwear of choice!); and our very own beach cricket comp from Sunday, January 25. The 23rd Kingfisher Bay Regatta will provide some hotly contested yachting action on the Great Sandy Strait - right in front of the resort - from January 24-26.

Eurong Beach offers a laid back Australia Day activity line-up including an Aussie Fancy Dress competition; DJ Sam counting down his home-grown hits in the XXXX Beach Bar.

There'll also be Oz Day giveaways in the General Store, home-baked meat pies and lamingtons will be served in the Bakery and a sausage sizzle will help raise funds for the island's local ambo.

Holidaymakers heading to Fraser Island are encouraged to book their barges and additional touring from the resorts to avoid disappointment. To check accommodation rates and availability, visit www.1800Fraser.com or call 1800 372 737.

Australia Day At A Glance:

• The first recorded Australia Day celebrations were held on the 26th of January in 1808 - marking the 20th anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip raising the flag at Sydney Cove. The first 'official' celebrations kicked off in 1818 under the stewardship of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. These early celebrations included a thirty-gun salute and a fancy ball.
• In the early part of the 19th Century, Australia Day was known as 'Foundation Day'.
• New South Wales was the first colony to declare 'Australia Day' a public holiday back in 1838. By 1888 all colonies had adopted the public holiday, but it took until the early 1940s for the current date – January 26 – to be agreed upon.