Best Multi Day Walks On K'gari (Fraser Island)
Multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island) are an incredible way to explore the special landscapes of the world's largest sand island! K'gari is covered in Heritage-listed wilderness, including towering sand dunes, pristine freshwater lakes, and dense forests.
Most travellers choose to immerse themselves in this natural beauty on guided day trips, overnight tours, camping trips, and 4WD adventures. There are also several day walks on K'gari that are popular among hiking enthusiasts. But for those who want an extended hiking expedition across this magnificent island, check out the best multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island)!
The Best Multi Day Walks On K'gari (Fraser Island), Queensland
From the famous K'gari Great Walk to some lesser-known and shorter trails, here are some of the best overnight hikes on K'gari (Fraser Island). Some of these hikes have guided options, which are a hassle-free way to tackle an overnight trek. We'll mention the walking tours you can book where available.
Experience K'gari's wonders with an overnight walking tour or camping tour!
K'gari Great Walk
- Total distance: 90km one way
- Total walking time: 8 days
- Starting point: Dilli Village
- Ending point: Happy Valley
Of all the multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island), the K'gari Great Walk is the longest and the most famous. This massive trail truly deserves its name, as it showcases the greatest natural landmarks on the island including Lake Boomanjin, Lake Birrabeen, Lake McKenzie, Central Station, Lake Wabby, and more.
There are lots of lovely wilderness campsites scattered along the K'gari Great Walk. With over a week in the lush landscapes, you'll have an incredible chance to connect with K'gari's nature. Swim in gorgeous freshwater lakes, gaze up at towering gum trees, and stargaze from your bush campsites at night. This is the ultimate multi-day trek on K'gari and it combines lots of the popular day walks into one epic trail.
Blue Lakes Eco Hike
- Total distance: 45km one way
- Total walking time: 3 days
- Starting point: Dilli Village
- Ending point: 75 Mile Beach near Lake Wabby
If you don't want to take on the entire K'gari Great Walk, this trail includes the southern section and can be done over 3 days. Starting at Dilli Village on K'gari's Eastern Beach, you'll follow the woodland trails inland, weaving through the forests and lakes.
You'll pass famous lakes such as Lake Boomanjin, Lake Benaroon, Lake Birrabeen, Lake McKenzie, and Lake Wabby. Stop for heavenly swims or relaxed picnics and spend the nights camping at Central Station Hikers Camp and Lake McKenzie Campground.
Elevate your experience on the Blue Lakes Eco Hike with a guided, pack-free walking tour!
Dilli Village Walk
- Total distance: 25.3km one way
- Total walking time: 10 hours (2 days)
- Starting point: Hook Point Barge
- Ending point: Dilli Village
Though you could technically complete the Dilli Village Walk in one day, most hikers prefer to split it up into 2 days. The entire 10-hour walk is relatively flat, but it's much more enjoyable if you camp halfway at the Jabiru Swamp Walkers Camp.
This tranquil, forested trail connects the Hook Point Barge on the southern tip of K'gari with Dilli Village. As the starting point of the K'gari Great Walk, Dilli Village is a convenient place to end the hike as there are accommodations and a few amenities there. You could even tackle the K'gari Great Walk from the end of the Dilli Village Walk if you want to complete a massive multi-day hike without any car transport.
Kingfisher Bay Circuit
- Total distance: 23.2km one way
- Total walking time: 9 hours (2 days)
- Starting point: Kingfisher Bay
- Ending point: Kingfisher Bay
Those looking for an easily accessible multi-day walk on K'gari can try the Kingfisher Bay Circuit! Starting and ending at Kingfisher Bay, which has its own ferry station nearby, you don't need 4WD transport to get to this trail. You can easily walk there from Kingfisher Bay Resort and ferry!
The scenic circuit walk takes you up into the hills of western K'gari, with views of the North White Cliffs before you turn inland. Continue the walk through the forests until you reach Lake McKenzie, where you can have a refreshing swim and camp overnight. The return half of the circuit brings you back to Kingfisher Bay via Dundonga Creek.
Great Southern Lakes Hike
- Total distance: 45km one way
- Total walking time: 3 days
- Starting point: Dilli Village
- Ending point: Kingfisher Bay Resort
Similar to the Blue Lakes Eco Hike, the Great Southern Lakes Hike takes 3 days and includes most of the southern half of the K'gari Great Walk. You'll trek past all the stunning lakes such as Boomanjin, Birrabeen, and McKenzie, but instead of heading east towards Lake Wabby, you'll head west to Kingfisher Bay Resort.
This trail is convenient for those who are catching the ferry home from Kingfisher Bay, as you can walk straight up to the resort and the ferry.
Book the Great Southern Lakes Hike with camping gear on an adventure walking tour!
Lake McKenzie Circuit
- Total distance: 18km one way
- Total walking time: 8.5 hours (2 days)
- Starting point: Central Station Day Use Area
- Ending point: Central Station Day Use Area
The Lake McKenzie Circuit is one of the most beautiful multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island). Starting at Central Station, you'll get to walk through the magnificent forests of Pile Valley and stop for a swim in the pristine waters of Basin Lake.
Finish your first day of hiking at Lake McKenzie, where you can relax on the silica sand and set up camp for the night. The next day, continue the circuit through the Eucalypt forests before finishing back at Central Station.
Preparing for your Overnight Hikes on K'gari (Fraser Island)
Guided Walking Tours
To ensure a hassle-free experience, consider booking a guided K'gari walking tour! These multi-day treks take much of the planning off your hands, including national park permits, ferry transfers, and camping permits. Note that there are two types of guided walking tours: pack-free and adventure.
Pack-Free Walking Tours
Pack-free walking tours provide an element of luxury to your multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island). There are guides who will transport all your overnight gear from campsite to campsite while you hike, so you only have to carry a day bag. All meals are provided, and the handy crew will ensure everything is set up at your campsites when you arrive. So you get a wilderness hiking experience, but you also get to relax and enjoy some great service.
Examples of pack-free walking tours:
Adventure Walking Tours
Adventure walking tours are a true, independent wilderness experience. The tour includes ferry transfers and 4WD transport to the trailhead, and you'll be provided with all the necessary camping gear and cooking equipment. You'll also get a 70L hiking pack, but you will be carrying everything yourself! Enjoy a peaceful overnight stay at the secluded campgrounds with just your small group of up to 6 people, and take pride in doing all the cooking, cleaning, and tent set-up yourself.
Example of adventure walking tour:
Getting to K'gari (Fraser Island) and the trailheads
If you are doing an overnight hike on K'gari without a tour, you'll have to organise your transport to the island on your own. That means getting to Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach and then booking a ferry to the island. It's recommended to book these in advance to avoid your chosen departure time selling out on the day!
Upon arriving on K'gari (Fraser Island), you'll then need to get from the barge to the trailhead. If you have your own 4WD, you can bring your vehicle across and drive yourself. Otherwise you can organise a taxi service to transport you to the hiking areas, or rent your own 4WD for your time on the island.
You can even just set off on foot from the moment you arrive on K'gari, as there are trails all over the island that connect. Just note that there are walking distances are quite long, so take this into account when planning your hikes. For example, the walk from Hook Point to Dilli Village is about 25km.
Find more information on the QLD National Parks website!
Camping and vehicle permits
Anyone visiting K'gari (Fraser Island) also has to organise their national park permits in advance. If you are camping on your multi-day walks on K'gari (Fraser Island), be sure to get a camping permit and register your campsites online. If you are driving your own vehicle on the island, you'll also have to get a vehicle permit.
Both of these steps are easy to do on the QLD National Parks website as well. Just don't forget this step as you can get fined for camping or driving on K'gari without a permit!
Drinking water
Every hiking adventure requires a good amount of drinking water. You don't want to find yourself dehydrated in the middle of a K'gari overnight hike! The best plan of action is to have some method of treating water for drinking, such as purification tablets or a water filtration system.
The Central Station Walkers Camp and Day Use Area has treated water for drinking, so you can refill your bottles here in the middle of the K'gari Great Walk. But drinking water is rare to find at other walkers camps, so definitely be prepared and have either ample water packed or a purification method on hand.
Other essential preparations
Hikers should always be prepared for any scenario when spending time in nature. This is especially important when doing overnight hikes on K'gari, as the island is very remote and phone reception is not always available.
While you're out in the midst of the forest, take the necessary precautions to ensure you can get help in an emergency. Have a first aid kit, extra food and water, and some sort of radio or communication device that you can use should your phone not get reception.
There are a few shops and resorts around the island where you can find basic first aid and medical services, but there is no hospital on the island. This isn't meant to discourage hikers from exploring K'gari! The island is overall quite peaceful and safe, but it is important to understand what K'gari is really like so you can prepare for your adventures.
