Author: Matt and Danielle
15 September 2023
Fraser Island is an adventurer's paradise. It is full of beautiful beaches, lakes, lagoons and rainforests which are all there to be explored, swam and enjoyed. There are so many things to do on Fraser Island that you could easily visit for a week or longer, but you can still pack in plenty on a single-day trip. It is a must for anyone with East Coast Australia travel plans.
Here is everything you need to know to make your trip to Fraser Island an unforgettable one.
K'gari is the original name given to the island by its first inhabitants, the Butchulla people - some of whom still live there to this very day. The Butchulla people have lived on K'gari for at least 5,000 years, and possibly as far back as 50,000 years! If true then that dates them back as some of the first homo sapiens...so yeah, it has a little bit of history.
The word K'gari (pronounced Gurri) translates to 'paradise', which perfectly describes Fraser Island. The beautiful lakes, tropical beaches, soft sands and breathtaking rainforests make it a paradise on Earth. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world at 122 km long and 22 km wide. It's not just any sand, but fine silica sand, which is what makes glass. On Fraser Island, you can find some of the purest silica sand in the world. It is so soft that you immediately notice the difference from the moment you place your first foot down on the island.
There aren't really any roads on the island, so the best way to see the island is an awesome 4x4 adventure. This is your chance to drive along the fantastic beaches, through the magical rainforests and see all the best sights on the island. If you don't have a 4-wheel drive vehicle then you will have to book a tour, of which there are a bunch to choose from. Dingos 3-day tag along tour is one of the best Fraser Island tours, which takes you to all the best spots on the island. If you don't have 3 days to spare then you can also book a single day trip, but if you do have the time then we recommend staying for a few days.
You can see a lot in a single day, but there is plenty to do in Fraser Island so anything from a few days to a week is perfect.
If you are going to visit Fraser Island then you need to include a trip to Lake Mckenzie on your itinerary. It is by far one of the most popular spots on the whole island, and where you will find the closest thing to pure silica sand. As you swim in the beautiful lake make sure to pick up a handful of the sand and rub it over your skin and scalp as it is a brilliant natural exfoliator. This is a perched lake, which means it contains only rainwater. No water from the ground makes its way to the lake, it does not flow into the ocean, nor do any rivers or streams make their way into it.
It's a beautiful large lake where you can hop on a standup paddle board, swim, relax and take in all the natural beauty. It's a must for any Fraser Island tour.
As you explore the island you will likely drive past the Maheno Shipwreck. This large ship can be found beached as you cruise along the scenic coast of Fraser Island and it makes for some awesome pictures. The ocean has eroded much of the outline of the ship over time, which has left a skeleton-like vessel wedged into the sand. It's not only great for photos with your camera, but if you have a drone then you will want to fly it near here too. It makes for some incredible birds-eye footage as the waves crash against it.
No Fraser Island itinerary would be complete without a stop at Eli Creek. Here you can hop on a floaty and relax while the calming freshwater river takes you back to the start. The water here is among the freshest in the world so take a handful and sip away before you float back downstream. Make sure to drink upstream only, before all the suncream and who knows what else makes its way down to the end.
Same as with the Maheno Shipwreck, you are likely to drive past The Pinnacles as you cruise along the beaches on the eastern coast of Fraser Island. The towering rock formations make for a great spot to pull up and grab some more snaps. If you are looking for a place to take a group picture then this is it.
You will want to plan this part of your Fraser Island trip around the tide times. The Champagne Pools are natural rock pools that appear when the tide is lower, which gives you some amazing and beautiful places to swim. It makes for a fantastic place to cool down on a hot day, or after you've explored other parts of the island. If you have a drone then fly it high here because the aerial views are incredibly beautiful.
There aren't any real roads on Fraser Island. An epic 4-wheel drive adventure is the only way to explore, and it just so happens to be the most fun way too! If you've booked a tour then it's an incredible feeling as you cruise along the beaches and all over the island in a convoy together. The rainforest driving is just as awesome as the beach cruising because you work your way up, over and through the incredible scenery. Whether you are doing a Fraser Island day trip, or staying for a couple of days, this will be one of the best parts of your experience.
It's so much fun, and it made us a little jealous of other 4-wheel drivers as we finished off the rest of our lap of Australia.
There is a lot to see on Fraser Island, but the early morning sunrises and evening sunsets are also a must. If you're exploring the island at your own pace, or on a tour, you will want to plan your trip so that you can always fit in the sunset. Pick your spot on the beach and sit down to watch the magic happen. Then wake up early and make your way back to the beach for the sunrise, it was one of the best we saw in all Australia. The sun rises and sets on the ocean out on the horizon and creates incredible colours and bright hues throughout the sky. You will want to soak up every moment you have on K'Gari because it is an island full of so much natural beauty.
K'gari is home to around 20 - 30 packs of dingos, which often roam around in search of food. It's important to appreciate these incredible animals from afar and adhere to the rules which protect you and them. Don't feed them, try to stroke or encourage them to come over. they may look cute, or even malnourished, but this is how they are supposed to look.
Remember that they are wild animals, and if they hurt you they get put down. Keep your distance. Don't leave food around and admire them from afar. This way everyone stays safe.
Fraser Island is very easy to get to, as there are ferries at Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach and River Heads near Hervey Bay. The ferry from Inskip Point is only about 10 minutes. If you're planning an East Coast Australia itinerary you will want to save that as your stop to cross over to Fraser Island. River Heads is still a short trip (around 30 minutes) if you can't make it to Rainbow Beach.
A ticket is $130 return, which covers a 4-wheel drive vehicle and all passengers. Alternatively, if you're booking a tour to Fraser Island then the cost will be included in your tour.
Spring in Australia is the best time of year to visit Fraser Island, which is between August and October. During this time of year, the temperature is around 27 degrees. In summer it can get much hotter and more humid, which makes it more difficult to explore the island. In the winter it can be a bit wet and cold, but if you don't mind that then you are able to visit Fraser Island all year round. It'll likely be much quieter in the winter months too.
There are plenty of campgrounds on Fraser Island. You do have to jump through some hoops to stay at them, but, as you need to apply for a camping permit. This is specific to the campsite you want to stay at and you can apply for this up to 6 months in advance. Bookings at these campgrounds are limited to 14 days in advance. This is due to potential forest fires, which can result in campsites being closed for lengthy periods of time.
The other option is to stay at some of the designated informal campsites. These can be found along the beaches on the eastern and western sides of the island. The western sites are more off the beaten track, and the eastern sites can be found just over the sand dunes that line the beaches. Always remember to be careful when preparing food, and don't leave any food or trash behind. You don't want to start attracting wild dingos.
If you want to secure something, without jumping through too many hoops, then there are some amazing accommodation options. Places like The Kingfisher Bay Resort can offer you that bit of added luxury after a long day of driving and exploring.
We love Fraser Island. It's one of the best islands in all of Australia, not only on the famed East Coast, in our opinion. Having driven a lap of Australia in our 2WD campervan it's an incredible experience being able to drive a 4x4. It immediately made us think about doing another lap of Australia in a 4-wheel drive one day.
The ultimate experience would be to hop on the ferry and explore the island in your own 4-wheel drive, at your own pace. We would have likely stayed for a week or even longer if we were able to do that. Most of the things we saw, and what have been mentioned here are on the east coast of Fraser Island, but there is still even more to see. We can't wait to go back one day and do it all on our own, and explore the entire island to it's fullest!
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