We’ve never thought beaching can be so beautiful and adventurous at the same time until we got to see Fraser Island.
Well, don’t get us wrong! It’s not like stepping out on a completely deserted island like Robinson Crusoe and spending the rest of your life flaming fire out of a stick to grill a fish you’ve caught in the sea.
In fact, it’s not even close!
But Fraser Island remains wild to a certain degree and there sure are some conditions you’ve gotta adhere to. But anyway, this sand island is so beautiful, to the point that your draw will be dropping and your eyes are wide open. It has some of the best sandy shorelines we’ve ever seen. It’s rich in landscapes and fauna with lots of outing ideas both on land and offshore.
This complete travel guide to Fraser Island will give you a heads-up before venturing out to this 122-kilometer sand island, the largest one of its kind just south of Queensland, Australia.
Dive in!
How to Get to Fraser Island from Brisbane by Transfer and Boat?
We departed in Brisbane using a shuttle car with CON-X-ION arranged by our hotel. The entire journey takes four hours to get you from Brisbane to Fraser Island. There’s no tour guide accompanying you this time, so get ready to venture out on yourself for a while! Things can get really confusing, even for local Australians. But if there’s anything that holds you back in doubt, just go ahead and ask the driver!
You need to start in the morning, get to the Bus Stop 125, 161 Roma Street just outside of the Brisbane Transit Center by yourself to come aboard the shuttle car. Remember to get there 15 minutes ahead of the departure time and wait outside of the building for the bus to come.
Then, you’ll need to switch to a different bus transfer at the Brisbane Domestic Airport to proceed to the Con-x-ion booth inside for the check-in process. Afterward, you will be directed curbside to the departing shuttle buses.
This second journey will take you to River Heads Pier of Hervey Bay. Once you get out of the shuttle, follow the driver to the mainland check-in counter of Kingfisher Bay Resort. This is where your luggage is tagged and sent to the boat. All you need to do is wait for the check-in process to come aboard.
Once you get off, walk to the reception lobby by yourself or ride with the hotel shuttle bus.
Now, everything is set! You’ll be briefed about the itinerary for the next day before receiving your room!
Friendly reminder: on return, book ahead with Kingfisher Bay Resort to have your boat ticket and shuttle transfer arranged!
Fun Fact:
Fraser Island was named after Eliza Fraser, a woman who was shipwrecked on the island in 1836. She lied about being mistreated by the Butchulla people and spread her story in falsehood to the rest of the world aiming to garner money and sympathy from supporters. Today, the island has been reverted to the Indigenous name K’gari to keep the pre-existing connection and the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples intact.
6 of Our Favorite Things to Do on Fraser Island: The Thrills, the Peace, the History
Conquer the 75-Mile Beach on a 4WD
Driving the 75-Mile Beach is definitely a big hook for thrill-seekers. Well, it would be a lot more fun if you can actually get down on an off-road 4WD drive and brace the dunes on your own wheels.
The 75-Mile Beach is the highway of the island, where you can speed up to 80 kilometers per hour. The sandy shore is sandwiched between dunes on one side and waves lapping on the other side, bringing in some of the most awe-inspiring rides you’ve ever had.
One thing to keep in mind though: Make sure to check the ride times before setting off by yourself if you’re not part of the tour. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself stuck in soft sand or swept away by the tide.
Admire the Pinnacles
Splashed by a stretching range of yellow, brown, and red colors, the Pinnacles is a tremendous cliff created by iron-rich minerals that stained the sand with a complex array of tones and hues.
With three primary colors serving as the backbone, the Pinnacles today puts on an array of 72 colors spiraled through the sands. This exclusively quirky look has turned the cliff into a historical piece of natural art, provoking a painstaking journey of wind erosion shaving the huge sand dunes for thousands of years.
The best time to capture the Pinnacles at its finest is in the morning. The rising sun casts its dazzling glitters on the surface of the dunes, promoting the richest beauty of the colors to the fullest.
Please note that no climbing or cascading the dunes are allowed at all costs. So to soak up the best beauty of the Pinnacles, we advise you to sign up for a helicopter tour to admire the dunes up in the sky!
Get Transported Back to the 40s with a History Lesson at SS Maheno Shipwreck
Ready to admire the real Titanic stranded on the shore? Jokes aside, there’s nothing relating to Titanic at all!
The wreck of the Maheno hospital ship was swept away by a cyclone and dragged to Fraser Island after finishing its mission in World War 2.
Today, the skeleton of the ship leaves its mortal remains on the sand, beholding its dramatic story behind the rustic bones. We highly recommend you to go with a guide because the beauty of the shipwreck lies in the story and history it beholds. Just keep in mind that it’s illegal if you attempt to go through or touch the wreck.
Swim or Swiftly Float along the Scenic Eli Creek
Wow, we can’t stress enough how fun it is riding the floatie on Eli Creek! Get ready to admire the largest creek on the eastern coast of Fraser Island, which injects 4 million liters of freshwater into the ocean every hour! If you wanna be part of the stream, bring a tube or floatie there to escape the summer heat under the shady trees!
You can also get your feet wet by dropping gently into the water and strolling along, or getting your swimsuit ready and dunking your body into the cool water.
Alternatively, walk along the boardwalk and discover how this Pinterest-ready creek came into being and all the animals and plants co-exist around this area at the signs along the way.
Get Wow’d at Lake McKenzie
Lake McKenzie is stunning guys, let us tell you! This is one of the best things you wanna do on Fraser Island, either plunging in the water or simply strolling around to soak up the view.
This freshwater lake is part of the Great Sandy National Park with a jaw-dropping crystal clear water infused with pure white silica sand all over.
One thing we learned about Lake McKenzie is that the high acidity level deters all living organisms from existing, be it a plant or fish. Nonetheless, the urge to go for a swim and sunbathe on the silky sand is irresistible. The deep blue water is beyond imagination, especially if you survey it from above. The color fades into turquoise once it reaches the white sandy shore, resulting in a gorgeous sweeping canvas of colors.
Take in all the Major Sites in a Scenic Off-Road Tour Bus
For those who like to take it easy, sign up for a tour bus with Kingfisher Bay Resort to explore all sand-related sites within a day. Disembark on a full day of adventure seeing all of the iconic places of the island with a guide. From the gorgeous Lake McKenzie to Wanggoolba Creek, driving the 75-Mile Beach Highway to Brush Box forests – all of them are smushed into a one-day package to see all the best things Fraser Island has to offer.
Staying on Fraser Island: Kingfisher Bay Resort – The Room, the Food, and What to Expect
Kingfisher Bay isn’t that kind of resort you see in Dubai or any other beach city. It remains very basic, but the amenities are stellar to hook you in for a long stay.
The best thing we like about this place is the sense of tranquility. They stock up essential oils in the room, and the lush greenery around them contributes to its Zen-like ambiance to pamper your soul for days.
The rooms are inspired by woodwork and lattice. We have a large window right in front of the bed looking out on the garden. We had a bathtub for ourselves, a TV mounted above a laptop-friendly desk.
The only downside to Kingfisher Bay Resort is the swamp outside of our room. What a pity to have an exclusive open patio overlooking nature but the swamp is full of mosquitoes preying on our flesh all the time.
What to Know About Wild Dingoes on Fraser Island?
Fraser Island is pure and authentic, not only the landscapes but also the animals on the island. One of the dangers you’ll commonly see is the dingoes. Those are pure-bred dogs native to the island with unique sand-like colors and black markings on the mouth and back. Those dingoes can be very aggressive. They are wild and usually roam in packs. Don’t try to feed them and keep your food on the lid. It’s best to not walk around alone, or carry a stick to scare them off!
And that’s about it! We hope you have three wonderful days on Fraser Island. And expect to do a lot of walking and rushing around when you’re not part of a tour!