How do I get to Fraser Island?
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island, located off the East Coast of Australia. Also called K'gari, it is a popular tourist destination and a year-round favourite for locals and visitors alike. It is not only known for its long sandy beaches but also for its amazing lakes and wild dingo population. It was declared as a World Heritage site in 2002.
If guests are joining a tour or self-driving, they will leave from one of two locations: Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach. Depending on if you are on a tour or self-driving, your trip may include a pickup and locations such as Brisbane or Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, before driving to the ferry terminal. Ask us which pickups are available for you based on your departure city.
Click here for tours departing from Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay, Noosa, or Brisbane.
Brisbane
Brisbane is located 3.5 hours from Hervey Bay and 2 hours and 45 minutes from Rainbow Beach, while Noosa is about a 1.5 hour drive away from Rainbow Beach and 2.5 hours from Hervey Bay. Guests can also choose to be picked up in Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach, which are closer to the departure locations.
You can get to these departure locations one of several ways from Brisbane. Greyhound and Premier bus lines both stop at Sunshine Coast, Rainbow Beach, and Hervey Bay. Alternatively, you can rent a car or van and drive yourself to your desired starting location. Please note, that only 4WD vehicles are permitted on Fraser Island, so you will still need to hire one once you arrive at one of the departure cities.
Hervey Bay (HVB) and Sunshine Coast (MCY) do have airports, however, Rainbow Beach does not and not all flights fly direct to these locations. If you are coming from the North, your best bet is to take the Greyhound, drive or fly from Cairns (CNS), Townsville (TVS), or Whitsunday Coast (PPP) to Brisbane (BNE) or one of the other airports suggested. The majority of guests choose to take the bus or drive themselves.
Fraser Island is only accessible by ferry or barge, with no bridge to and from the island.
Hervey Bay/River Heads
Fraser Island is located about 15 kilometres off the coast of Hervey Bay, making it a popular launching point from which to visit the island. The ferry leaves from River Heads, which is located just outside of Hervey Bay. Click here for tours departing from Hervey Bay.
Rainbow Beach/Inskip Point
From Rainbow Beach, you will board the barge from Inskip Point, which is about 15 minutes away. You will land on Hook Point on Fraser Island, which is on the Southernmost point of the island, and drive to your destination. The barge itself takes about 10 minutes. Click here for tours departing from Rainbow Beach.
Noosa
Noosa is approximately 100km south of Fraser Island, with tours to the island departing from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach. Guests will have to drive for about an hour and a half before they reach the ferry to the island, enjoying a scenic ride through the Great Sandy National Park. The barge takes about 10 minutes from Inskip Point, where you will begin your Fraser adventure! Click here for tours departing from Noosa.
Let our friendly Fraser specialists know what location you would like to start in and we can best advise the tour that is suited to you. If you have specific needs for your tour, it is best to chat to one of our agents before deciding on your departure location as certain tours only depart from one location.
