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K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, is the world’s largest sand island and is well known as one of the best places in Australia for hard-core four-wheel driving and outdoor adventures, but it offers so much more than that.
This is East coast Australia at its best – exploring surreal natural beauty, swimming in glistening turquoise blue lakes, seeing wild dingos roam on the lands and migratory whales from its shores. Needless to say, there are so many things to do on K’gari (Fraser Island) than just bouncing around in a 4×4.
K’gari stretches 123 km long and 23 km wide, dumped over 800,000 years ago from places as far as Antarctica when it was still joined with Australia.
It’s part of the Great Sandy National Park, which is split into two sections. The first is the Cooloola Recreation Area, which is on the mainland (and includes Rainbow Beach and the Great Beach Drive), and the second is on K’gari.
One of the best ways to explore the island is to go off-road and create your own tracks, or follow those created by nature. The ever-changing landscape of an island made of sand means no day is the same, and no return visit will be the same either.
K’gari was a highlight of our big 18-month lap around Australia. Its original name, K’gari, means paradise. It comes from an Aboriginal Dreamtime story about a goddess named K’gari who fell in love with the Earth and never wanted to leave.
I feel confident that when you visit K’gari, you will not want to leave this paradise either. Here’s what you can do there…
1. Experience the sunrise at Eurong Beach
Although being an island, K’gari is no small place. Most of the resorts and hotels are located on the East side of the island, which is where the famous 75-mile beach highway is located.
On this side of the island is Eurong, where the majority of the accommodation options are, including the highly-acclaimed K’gari Beach Resort.
One of the benefits of staying on the East coast of the island is that you’re directly facing the sunrise. Witnessing the sunrise over the ocean horizon while the kookaburras wake everyone up for breakfast is a spectacular way to start your day!
2. Drive 75 Mile Beach
75 Mile Beach is Fraser’s National Highway, the main long stretch of beach on the Eastern side of K’gari, and is classed as part of the Bruce Highway. It’s the only way to get around the island and is practically unavoidable, but you shouldn’t underestimate it as a destination in its own right – after all, how many times in your life have you driven on a beach in a four-wheel-drive?
This is coastal four-wheel-driving at its best, and the first time we experienced hardcore 4×4 action in Australia – we were instantly hooked.
The ocean is wild and pounding, the beach landscape ever changing from the tides. Located off the beach highway is camping on one side, and beach fishing on the other. It’s along this stretch of sand where you gain access to many of the best things to do in this guide.
When driving 75 Mile Beach it’s important you understand how the tides work so you don’t get cut off and can’t make it back to your accommodation.
Low tide is best, not only because you have more beach to drive on, but you also want to drive it when it’s flat and hard, which happens when the tide has gone out. You also want to avoid driving during the two hours on either side of high tide. Check the report of the current conditions here.
And make sure you’re paying attention to the steady stream of other 4WDs, the washouts, wild roaming dingoes, the ambling tourists and beach fishermen, and the joy flights taking off on the beach – yes that’s right, it doubles up as a landing strip.
Because it’s classed as a highway, strict road rules apply and there are police present ready to nab those who speed or drink drive.
If you can time your visit for whale watching season (May to November), do it. An incredible experience of our drive was spotting migrating humpback whales breaching a few hundred metres off the beach.
If you’re lucky, you might also see dolphins and dugongs near the ocean’s shores too.
3. Swim and wade through the waters of Eli Creek
Eli Creek is the largest creek on K’gari, and is one of the most popular attractions. It’s especially busy when all the tour buses congregate.
The creek has water so clear you only know it’s there when a leaf floats past you. It’s water that’s been filtered by the sand for up to 100 years – such purity! It’s also estimated to pour more than 4 million litres of water into the ocean every hour.
Eli Creek is famous for wading, tubing, or swimming through. You don’t have to worry about crocs either, as this is fresh water (though salt water crocs have been spotted on rare occasions on the west side of the island). There is no place on Fraser quite like it.
4. See the Maheno Shipwreck
Another spot along 75 Mile Beach that is one of the most photographed and visited sites on K’gari is the Maheno Shipwreck.
The Maheno is a former Trans-Tasman luxury liner and a World War I hospital ship that was washed ashore in 1935 whilst being towed to Japan – a cyclone viciously ripped her from the chain and spewed her up on Fraser.
Sunrises are meant to be picture-perfect here with the Maheno as the foreground, as long as the tides are favorable for gaining access. Either way, the Maheno is a postcard moment at any time of the day!
5. Admire the coloured rocks of The Pinnacles
As you drive along the East coast, Fraser’s sand will continue to amaze as you come alongside The Pinnacles, a small section of coloured sandy cliffs along the Surf Beach (I can’t believe they’re made from sand!), just north of the Maheno.
You don’t need much time at The Pinnacles, but it’s worth getting out of your car and taking a short walk inland for a closer look.
6. Enjoy the views at Indian Head
Indian Head is a coastal headland on the Eastern side of K’gari that you’ll get to when heading north on 75 Mile Beach, and is the most easterly point on the island.
Indian Head is one of only three sections of rock on the island, and this area was named by Captain James Cook who, whilst sailing his ship The Endeavour, spotted a group of Aboriginals standing on the headland.
It offers panoramic views over the beach and ocean, and is a prime whale-watching spot – we saw a few humpbacks migrating past. Just magical!
7. Swim at the Champagne Pools
Just north of Indian Head is possibly the most popular swimming spot on K’gari, and for good reason, especially on a sunny day!
Our kids, and us big kids, enjoyed a low tide dip in the clear, bubbling sea water of Champagne Pools, which is aptly named after the bubbling water which is caused by ocean waves pouring over the tidal pools.
The view from the top as you walk down the staircase is breathtaking. You’ll want to allocate enough time to make the most of this natural swimming spot, keeping in mind the tides for driving back down 75 Mile Beach.
8. Preserve your youth at Lake Mckenzie (Boorangoora)
In the middle of K’gari is the spectacular Lake Mckenzie, with water that is said to keep you younger and holds the key to youth.
The temperature of the lake was quite cool when we visited, but certainly refreshing after a long day of driving and my feet sure liked it – I could see them easily enough, not a murky streak to be found, given that the lake is made entirely out of rainwater and isn’t fed by any rivers or streams.
The crystal clear water glows iridescent blue and the white silica sand so powdery soft and provides a great contrast against the lake edge.
And the famous heart-shaped tree adds to the already pretty landscape.
Stay awhile.
9. Drive through a sub-tropical rainforest
Our drive from Eurong Beach to Kingfisher Bay along the sandy tracks and through the sub-tropical rainforest was equally as spectacular as driving along the 75 Mile Highway.
It’s hard to imagine that this whole island is made of sand and that you get these incredible trees growing to great heights.
If you have enough time, stop in for a picnic at Central Station and stroll the boardwalk next to Wanggoolba Creek, which carries clear water through a tranquil rainforest filled with ancient ferns at Central Station – once a forestry township for about 150 people.
10. Photograph wild dingoes
K’gari’s resident wildlife is the dingo. These are wild dogs who look like a cross between a wolf and a fox, and are native to Australia.
There are many dingoes on K’gari, and they are tamer than they should be thanks to the poor choices of humans.
If you have small children like us, never leave their side, not for a second, as they have been known to attack and are very cunning.
You’re bound to have dingoes coming pretty close to you on the beaches, particularly near Eli Creek, sniffing for food.
Despite signs warning of the danger all over the island, we saw tourists moving close to them to get their shot of the cute wild dogs.
We kept our distance and I relied on my 300mm zoom lens to get these close-up photos.
11. Take a scenic flight
A definite highlight of our visit was experiencing the joy of a flight over K’gari with Air Fraser Island, which take off from nature’s best runway along 75 Mile Beach.
You’ll be afforded incredible views up and down the East coast, fly inland over the massive sand dunes and pretty Butterfly Lake, and spot migrating whales in season.
Air Fraser runs 15-minute joy flights all day long. It’s expensive, but one of the best bucket list experiences in Australia, and well worth the splurge.
Watch the video of our scenic flight over K’gari here:
12. Watch the sunset at Kingfisher Bay
If you’re staying at Kingfisher Bay Resort on the West coast, don’t miss having a few sundowners at the unassuming Jetty Hut – bottles of champagne and platters of prawns, cheese, and crackers are also on offer.
Kingfisher Bay resort has different accommodation types ranging from two and three bedroom villas, multi-share Wilderness Lodges, resort hotel rooms, and Kingfisher Houses.
13. Go whale watching
Did you know that K’gari is a prime location for whale watching?
Southern humpback whales migrate to the waters around K’gari to give birth to their young and stay for a few months while nursing them before heading back for the Antarctic for summer.
We have visited K’gari during whale watching season before (late July to early November) and saw whales breaching from 75 Mile Beach, and from the viewpoints at Indian Head and on our scenic flight.
K’gari is also just offshore from Hervey Bay, which is the whale watching capital of Australia!
More than 20 years of research has confirmed that the Fraser Coast where Hervey Bay and K’gari are located is the only genuine stopover along the migration route where up to 10,000 whales deviate from their annual journey back to Antarctica.
So you cannot visit the Fraser Coast during the winter and NOT incorporate whale watching into your Fraser Island trip. I’m sure you’ll sea dolphins and other marine life as well.
The cruises from Hervey Bay go along the tranquil Great Sandy Strait alongside the pristine western side of World Heritage-listed K’gari.
You can read our post on whale watching from Hervey Bay.
14. Visit the Sandy Cape Lighthouse
Located on K’gari’s northernmost point is the Sandy Cape Lighthouse, a heritage-listed lighthouse that was built in 1870, making it the second oldest lighthouse in Queensland.
It was one of the first lighthouses in Queensland to be built out of pre-fabricated sections of iron.
It’s also the tallest lighthouse in Queensland.
The views from the lighthouse are incredible, and you can also take a guided tour of the lighthouse and learn about the early history of Queensland from a knowledgeable guide.
There is also a former World War II bunker near the lighthouse worth checking out. It was once used by the army to detect enemy aircraft and ships during the late-war period.
15. See the tiny turtles at Lake Allom
Another great spot to see native wildlife on K’gari is Lake Allom. It’s located off a short side track through the subtropical rainforest, where you’ll find a viewing platform.
Here you can see Krefft’s river turtles swimming in the waters.
The lake is small and surrounded by overgrown reeds and bushes, but remarkably swimming is allowed here.
If you don’t mind swimming in a little murky water, dive straight in! But it’s not as nice as Lake McKenzie. Really, it’s only worth visiting for the turtles.
16. Try beach fishing
K’gari is a great place to go beach fishing. Casting your line anywhere along 75 Mile Beach can be a rewarding experience, and also a little adventurous as you see 4WDs zoom past you are you’re throwing your line in the ocean.
If you’re visiting between July to November, this is a popular time to catch tailor spawn. It’s also possible to catch bream, flathead, mackerel, whiting, and even tuna.
A good point to cast your line is near Waddy Point, north of the Maheno or Sandy Cape. Simply dig up some worms or yabbies and see what you can get!
Fishing enthusiasts should note that it’s prohibited to fish in the freshwater lakes and rivers on the island, you can only fish in the ocean.
17. Hike the Fraser Island Great Walk
If you enjoy hiking, then you’re going to enjoy hiking The Fraser Island Great Walk! It’s one of the few attractions you can do without a 4WD vehicle.
Although the whole hike covers 90-kilometers, it’s possible to hike just small sections of it if you don’t have much time. It’s a easy trail since K’gari is mostly flat, but to do the whole hike will take you 6-8 days.
The hike passes along one of the old logging routes created by the island’s indigenous people, the Butchulla people. It passes by wild beaches, the gorgeous Lake McKenzie, and into the subtropical rainforest.
It also takes you to small villages, Dilli Village and Happy Valley, where you can replenish yourself before tackling the next part of the trail.
You can learn about the history of the island and its people at historic exhibits at Central Station, Wanggoolba Creek, and dune-backed Lake Wabby, which is slowly being devoured by the Hammerstone Sandblow, so make sure you see it while you still can!
Getting to K’gari (Fraser Island)
SeaLink operate ferries and barges for both vehicle and passengers daily from River Heads, 20 minutes south of Hervey Bay, to Kingfisher Bay Resort and Wangoolba Creek on the west side of K’gari.
Manta Ray is another company that operates a barge from Inskip Point (Rainbow Beach) to Hook Point on the south of K’gari.
Visiting K’gari without your own car can be a challenge. Sometimes the easiest way – and probably most popular for tourists – is to join a tour.
I would not recommend doing a day tour from Noosa or Rainbow Beach – you will waste so much time in transit. If doing a day tour, leave from Hervey Bay and spend the night there before hand, or do multiple day tours on K’gari.
This 16 day Sydney to Cairns tour with G Adventures incorporates a stop at K’gari. Here are some other tours of K’gari you can do:
K’gari four-wheel drive hire
K’gari is strictly four wheel drive territory as all roads on the island are sand tracks, and if you want to self-drive K’gari you’ll need a 4WD with reasonable under-vehicle clearance.
You can take your own vehicle, but we only had an all-wheel-drive, so we chose to hire one on the island. You can hire a reliable and fully maintained 4×4 from the friendly folks at Atlas 4wd hire.
They’ll get you your permit, give you helpful instructions on how to drive safely during your driver safety briefing (allow 1 hour) and they will even store your vehicle for the duration of your time on K’gari.
These driving times are conservative and you should always drive to suit the current conditions:
- Eurong Beach to Kingfisher Bay Resort – 22km (approx 1hr)
- Eurong Beach to Eli Creek – 30km (approx 40mins)
- Eurong Beach to Maheno Wreck – (approx 45mins)
- Eurong Beach to The Pinnacles coloured sands – 35km (approx 50mins)
- Eurong Beach to Indian Head – 60km (approx 1hr 20mins)
- Eurong Beach to Champagne Pools – 63km (approx 1hr 30mins )
- Eurong Beach to Central Station/Pile Valley – 8km (approx 30mins)
- Eurong Beach to Lake McKenzie – 15km (approx 45mins)
Where to stay on K’gari (Fraser Island)
K’gari is not huge, but it has some fantastic places to stay. If you’re not sure about where to stay on K’gari, then we recommend the following places…
K’gari Beach Resort, formally ‘Eurong Beach Resort’
On the east coast, K’gari Beach Resort, formally Eurong Beach Resort, is a great base from which to explore all the things to do on K’gari listed above with its prime beachfront position on 75-Mile Beach, including the world class beach fishing.
The resort is also centrally located for visiting the southern lakes, which include Lake McKenzie, The Basin, Lake Wabby, Jennings, Lake Birrabeen and Boomanjin, as well as the sub-tropical rainforests around Pile Valley, Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek.
Kingfisher Bay Resort
How does a little bit of luxury sound amidst one of the most unique and pristine parts of Australia? Kingfisher Bay Resort is on the quieter western side of K’gari, right where the car ferry from River Head drops you off.
Kingfisher Bay has the more upmarket buffet breakfast and dinner at Maheno Restaurant, or you can splurge at the a la carte Seabelle Restaurant.
There’s a lovely pool, cocktail bar, segway adventure tours, guided bushwalks, and different accommodation types ranging from two and three bedroom villas, multi-share Wilderness Lodges, resort hotel rooms, and Kingfisher Houses.
Camping on K’gari
Camping is also possible on K’gari in several camping locations. Because of wild dingos’, it’s not possible to wild camp on K’gari, but there are several sites you can stay at.
Camping on K’gari is seasonal, from 1 March to 30 September, because of high fire danger during the summer months.
For more information about camping, visit the park’s official website here.
Is Fraser Island (K’gari) worth visiting?
K’gari is a World Heritage Site that’s constantly moving and evolving and is the only place in the world where tall rainforests are found growing on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 meters. And then there are the 1,000+ freshwater lakes.
With so much natural beauty, history, and iconic landmarks to explore, K’gari is definitely worth visiting.
Final thoughts
K’gari is a true adventure lover’s paradise off the East Coast of Australia and is somewhere you cannot skip when visiting Australia.
Simply getting around the island is an attraction in itself, and it’s the perfect place to experience the wild and rugged nature of Australia and see wildlife in its natural habitat.
I hope this guide helped you plan your visit to K’gari and gave you some inspiration for things to do.
South Queensland Travel Tips
Are you planning to visit other places in South Queensland? Then you may enjoy these other resources:
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What things are you most excited to do on K’gari? Let us know in the comments below.
