Fraser Fanfares

I thought that gorgeous half-page color beach photo was of Pismo Beach (“Secret Beaches,” April 10) until I read Ken Baron’s excellent story on Fraser Island, Australia. Although the beaches are similar, the Pismo clam mating, I’m sure, would never compare to the “spectacular mating ritual of the island’s countless turtles.”

RAY HOLM

Woodland Hills

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Ken Baron repeats a story about the word kangaroo coming from an aboriginal phrase for “I don’t know.”

The word originally comes from a word in Guugu Yimidhirr, which is the language of the people who first met Capt. Cook, and refers to a “large black kangaroo,” (according to the book) “More of the Straight Dope,” and Smithsonian magazine.

The article on Fraser Island was an excellent description of the island and how to get there.

My wife and I spent three nights at Happy Valley (resort) in November, 1992. Happy Valley offers day tours of the island, which we took. The trips through the rain forests and to the clear freshwater lakes were wonderful. Since there are no maps and four-wheel-drive vehicles were renting for $100 a day, only a brave fool would attempt to drive anywhere but on the beach. Most inland roads are one lane in deeply rutted soft sand.

Accommodations were in clean and large cabins with private baths and full cooking facilities.

A recommendation: Instead of flying to Hervey Bay and taking surface transport to the resorts, pick up a rental car at the Brisbane Airport, drive to Hervey Bay Airport and let Harry (of Harry’s Air Charter) fly you to your resort. Round-trip air from Brisbane was more than twice what we paid for four days of car rental.

RICHARD L. CREED

Orange