Fraser Island
Perched on Queensland’s beloved Fraser Coast, Fraser Island is an extraordinary slice of paradise, lined with crystal clear waters, 123 kilometres of white sandy beaches and historic relics. It’s also the largest sand island on the planet, with unique and distinctive ecological features that developed as a result of its isolation. The island offers a unique way of exploration, as its sandy roads can only be pursued by 4WD’s. From rainforests to sand dunes, Fraser Island is a destination you don’t want to miss. To help you plan your getaway, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to Fraser Island.
World Heritage Listed
One of the most unique drawing points of Fraser Island is its World Heritage Listing. As one of Australia’s 19 World Heritage Listed sites, Fraser Island is renowned for its ‘exceptional natural beauty’. Its listing cites the 250 kilometres of sandy beaches, incredible coloured sand cliffs and the freshwater lakes as some of the island’s most striking elements. As the largest sand island in the world, the land shows over 700,000 years of climate change and sea level changes. Added as World Heritage Listing in 1992, Fraser Island is the only place on the planet that can boast rainforest growth upon sand dunes. The Commonwealth is required to maintain the beauty of World Heritage Listed sites, so 99% of Fraser Island is a national park, protected by the Nature Conservation Act 1992. There’s no doubt that Fraser Island deserves its title as a World Heritage Listed site!
Fraser Island's Aboriginal Heritage
When travelling to Fraser Island, it’s important to acknowledge and pay respects to the Traditional Custodians of the region, the Butchulla people. Indigenous to Fraser Island, most of the early history of the Butchulla people is incomplete due to European colonisation. As with the rest of Australia, Fraser Island has been home to Traditional Custodians for over 50,000 years. Fraser Island itself parted from the mainland around 6,000 years ago, becoming a very productive territory for the Butchulla people. Said to have been home to thousands of Traditional Custodians at a time, Fraser Island was home to three Aboriginal groups at the time of European colonisation: the Ngulungbaraa people of the northern end, the Badjala (or Butchalla) people of the central part as well as the adjacent part of the mainland, and the Dulingbara, of the southern part of Fraser Island.
There were seasonal migrations between the island and the mainland, with Fraser Island being more populated during the winter months. This is because the fish supply, particularly sea mullet, was more plentiful during the cooler parts of the year. It’s estimated that around 2,000 - 3,000 Aboriginal people inhabited the island during the winter months. They used bark canoes to cross the Great Sandy Strait, with most being made of one single sheet of bark, sealed at the end with wax and resin.
Fraser Island and its surrounding areas are said to have ‘marked some of the blackest pages in the history of the British Empire’, with disturbing stories recounting massacres, trickery and mass incarceration. Due to this, only a handful of descendants of the Butchulla people survived. Their history is an integral part of Fraser Island, and today, efforts are being made to uncover, recognise and manage cultural sites belonging to the Traditional Custodians.
How to get there
Located about 250 kilometres north of Brisbane, Fraser Island is accessible by 4WD from two locations: Inskip Point, near Rainbow Beach, and River Heads, just five minutes from Hervey Bay. The most common way to get to Fraser Island is by taking a ferry or a barge from one of these two departure points - if you take a tour with Fraser Tours, this is how you will get there. You can also bring your own 4WD vehicle across on the barges. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even opt to fly to the island in a light aircraft. As Fraser Island is a long and narrow island right off the coast, some parts of it are only one kilometre from the mainland.
How to explore
Fraser Island is unique in the fact that it has no roads or traffic lights. Instead, sand tracks wind around the island, making it an off-roader’s paradise. You’ll either want to take your own 4WD vehicle across on the barge or join in with a tour! If you don’t have a 4WD but still want to explore the island on your own, you can also opt to rent a car on the mainland before you go.
If you do choose to drive yourself, it’s important to take some precautions and think practically. One of the most important measurements to take is lowering your tyre pressure, which helps with traction when driving through soft sand. There’s no one way to do this, but consider a number of factors including the weight of your vehicle, the type of tyres, the height of your vehicle and beach conditions.
As a general rule of thumb, before driving on sand you should drop your tyres to approximately 18psi. This will ensure you don’t get bogged. Another great tip is to aim to drive on the beaches 2-3 hours either side of low tide if possible.
Accommodation
Fraser Island boasts a plethora of accommodation options: from no-frills camping sites to family-friendly cabins and huts, there’s something to please everyone. If you’re looking for a relaxing resort-style experience, Fraser Island has got you covered too! You can even opt to stay at one of the many locally run Airbnb’s or guesthouses for an authentic and local experience.
What to do there
From colossal sand dunes to bright blue water and ancient rainforests, there’s so many things to do on Fraser Island. Here are some of our favourites:
Lake McKenzie
Sitting smack bang in the middle of Fraser Island, Lake McKenzie is a spectacular body of water that will give you hours of entertainment. This cool, colossal body of blue water is framed by white sand and offers travellers a calm oasis away from the buzz of society. Stretched out over 350 acres, it’s one of the 100 freshwater inland lakes on Fraser Island. One of the most fascinating parts of this lake is that it has a naturally high acidity level, meaning it's virtually impossible for most plant and fish life to survive. Because of this, it’s one of the most delightful swimming spots on the east coast. It’s also often referred to as Boorangoora (meaning waters of wisdom) - the Traditional Custodians, the Butchulla people, believe its water contains elements that hold the keys to youth!
Champagne Pools
As one of the most popular swimming spots on Fraser Island, the Champagne Pools are made up of naturally formed rock pools, perched right on the edge of the ocean. The clear, bubbling pools of sea water, washed in by the tides, are the perfect place for kids to paddle around. It also offers an incredible panoramic view of the sea. Is there any better place to spend an afternoon?
The Pinnacles
The ever-changing colours of the Pinnacles are one of the island’s most unique sites. A small section of the cliffs above Surf Beach, just north of Maheno, are renowned for taking visitors on a trip back through time. Glimpse the scenic evolution through the sand formations, having taken place over hundreds of years. With around 72 different hues of sand, the Pinnacles shapeshift constantly.
Maheno shipwreck
Fraser Island doesn’t just boast natural gems: there’s also some amazing historical sites to explore, including Maheno Shipwreck. As the most famous wreck on Fraser Island, Maheno has become a landmark attraction. Washed ashore by rough seas during a cyclone in 1935, Maheno was once a renowned trans-Tasman liner, and was bound for Japan when she was cast ashore to lay forever at Fraser Island. The site is an important part of the history of Fraser Island, and is a popular attraction for those exploring 75 Mile Beach.
Central Station
Once the centre of the forestry industry on Fraser Island, Central Station offers an incredible glimpse into the natural history of the area. The incredible luscious area houses some of Fraser Island’s best flora and fauna, and is also home to an information centre and a picnic area. It’s also the starting point for a myriad of great and picturesque hikes - one of the most popular is the Wanggoolba Creek trail, which winds gently through the steamy tropical rainforest. At .7 kilometres, the walk is stretched out across a boardwalk above a flowing creek. If you’re up for an adventure, you might even like to continue along the trail toward the gorgeous Basin Lake. The four-kilometre circuit trail journeys through the tall and beautiful eucalyptus and satinay trees - you don’t want to miss it!
Eli Creek
Like to float? Eli Creek will be right up your alley. As the largest creek on Fraser’s east coast, it pours up to four million litres of crystal clear water back into the sea per hour! The fast flowing water is incredibly cooling and makes a wonderful spot to picnic and swim after a huge day of exploring. Float between the beautiful banksia and pandanus and enjoy the serenity!
75 Mile Beach
On a roadless island, the long stretch of sand at 75 Mile Beach doubles as a highway. Featuring road signs and speed cameras, the road offers an incredible perspective of Fraser Island. Regarded as one of the best 4WD tracks in the world, keep an eye out for dingoes, high tide and any bumps and dips in the road! It’s also a popular destination for fishing during peak season, so park your 4WD up and flick a line!
Fraser Island Great Walk
These boots are made for walking, so get to it! One of the best adventures on Fraser Island is the Fraser Island Great Walk. Taking six to eight days, the journey encompasses a relatively easy walk, mirroring the tracks of old logging routes and the tracks of the Butchulla people. Passing through some of the island’s highlights, you’ll get to take a dip in Lake McKenzie, visit Central Station and Lake Wabby, and pass through the small townships of Dilli Village and Happy Valley, where you can stock up on necessities. You’ll wander along the gorgeous stretching beaches and traverse through some of Australia’s most beloved rainforest. If you’re looking for a shorter journey but still want to soak up the experience, you can also break the trek up into smaller sections.
Lake Wabby
Perched on the eastern side of Fraser Island is Lake Wavvy, a deep, clear blue wonderland. It’s the deepest lake on the island, and is unique for its window and barrage lake qualities (a window lake is formed by a natural depression or valley in the sand that exposes the water table, whereas a barrage lake is formed when wind carries sand across the island, forming a bank that dams an already existing body of water). Lake Wabby’s giant sand dune is the perfect spot for taking photos and relaxing, offering up unique glimpses into the gorgeous flora and fauna. The hike from the carpark takes around 40 minutes, but is well worth the journey! As the only lake on the island that supports fish species, don’t fret if you feel something nibbling at your toes!
Indian Head
Boasting incredible panoramic views of the eastern side of the island, Indian Head is a wonderful place to sit back, relax and soak up the beauty of the island. The coastal headland is a popular lookout for tourists, offering up lovely perspectives of the island’s beaches and the dazzling sea below. You might even be lucky enough to spot dolphins or Humpback whales from above!
Look out for wildlife
There’s no doubt that Fraser Island is home to some of the most incredible wildlife in Australia, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled! The rich variety of landscapes on the island provide comfortable homes for a diverse range of animals. On land, keep an eye out for dingoes, sugar gliders, possums, flying foxes, snakes and sand monitors, just to name a few! Look above to see over 354 gorgeous species of birds, including pied oystercatchers, yellow-tailed black-cockatoos and king-parrots. In the water you’ll spot dolphins, dugongs, stingray, turtles and even sharks! If you’re lucky enough to be visiting throughout whale migration season (August through to October), you might even spot a colossal Humpback whale!
Go fishing
With all of the thriving flora and fauna on Fraser Island, it’s no surprise that the fishing is off the hook! If you’re up for traversing the great sandy highway of Seventy-Five Mile Beach, you’ll be blessed with an incredible fishing experience! The coastline is abundant with fish, especially from July to November when tailor spawn along the shore. You’re also bound to catch bream, whiting, flathead, mackerel, tuna and sharks there!
You’ll also have luck fishing in the gutters along the beach, as well as in Sandy Cape, Indian Head and Middle Rocks. Note that fishing in freshwater lakes and creeks is prohibited across Fraser Island.
Dingoes
The dingoes at Fraser Island are considered the purest in Australia due to their isolation from those on the mainland. The cunning, smart and sly creatures are beautiful to look at, but it’s important to exercise caution while around them. Geared with impressive hunting instincts and a predatory nature, dingoes can travel up to 40 kilometres per day! You should never feed a dingo, directly or indirectly. This means never leaving food scraps or caught fish laying around. You should also never run near a dingo, and make sure to keep a very close eye on children while they’re around. Your best bet is staying back and admiring the gorgeous dingoes from afar!
Groceries
While the island is remote, there are still around five small supermarkets to pick up groceries and supplies from. Located at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Eurong Beach Resort, Happy Valley General Store, Cathedrals on Fraser Shop, Orchid Beach Trading Post and Driftwood Bar, you can pick up alcohol, necessities and snags for your evening barbecue! Due to the remoteness, grocery prices are higher than those on the mainland, so you might want to bring your own supplies.
Food
If you’re not up for cooking, there's a few places you can enjoy a nice meal. Some of the highlights include McKenzie’s on 75, The Satinay Bar & Bistro or Cathedrals on Fraser.
Phone Coverage
Fraser Island does boast phone service, but due to its remoteness, coverage is often hit and miss depending on your location. Coverage is good close to the townships of Orchid Beach, Happy Valley and Eurong, as well as the western beaches that face Hervey Bay. Other areas can be very limited, so make sure you plan for this! Overall, Telstra has the best phone coverage on the island.
When is the best time to visit Fraser Island?
Popular and accessible all year round, the best time to visit Fraser Island depends on your wants and needs. The warmer months of November to March are perfect for splashing around in the lakes, creeks and ocean. Enjoy the warmer days and soak up the cooler nights thanks to the beautiful sea breeze!
