Fraser Island

The island was officially renamed K'gari (pronounced "gurri") on 7 June 2023 in recognition of the Butchulla people, the Traditional Owners who have called it K'gari for tens of thousands of years. The name comes from a Butchulla creation story and means "paradise". You will still see "K'gari (formerly Fraser Island)" used on maps, signs and tour brochures while the new name beds in.

K'gari sits off the southern Queensland coast about 15km offshore from Hervey Bay and roughly 300km north of Brisbane. It forms the eastern side of the Great Sandy Strait and is part of the Great Sandy National Park. The Fraser Coast region (Hervey Bay, Maryborough and River Heads) is the main mainland gateway.

Yes. K'gari stretches about 123km long and up to 25km wide, covering more than 181,000 hectares. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1992 for its sand dune systems, rainforests growing on sand, and around half of the world's perched freshwater dune lakes.

Vehicle barges run from River Heads (south of Hervey Bay) to Wanggoolba Creek and Kingfisher Bay on the western side of the island, and from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach to Hook Point at the southern tip. The Inskip to Hook Point barge runs continuously during daylight hours with no booking required, while River Heads barges run to a daily timetable. Foot passengers can also catch the Kingfisher Bay passenger ferry from River Heads, a crossing of about 50 minutes.

Yes. There are no sealed roads on K'gari and the sandy inland tracks and beach highway are only suitable for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles, ideally with low range. All-wheel-drive SUVs and 2WD vehicles are not recommended and will get bogged. Unregistered vehicles are not permitted on the island.

Absolutely. Several operators run guided day tours and multi-day 4WD bus tours from Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach and Kingfisher Bay Resort, hitting the headline sites like Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek and the Maheno wreck. Backpacker-style tag-along tours let you drive a hire 4WD in convoy behind an experienced lead guide, which is a popular option if you want the wheel time without going it alone.

A K'gari Vehicle Access Permit costs around $58 for up to one month and around $291 for up to one year (per vehicle, fees set by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and reviewed annually). You must buy it before you board the barge through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service online, by phone on 13 74 68, or at a QPWS booking office. Permits are not sold on the island.

Lake McKenzie, known to the Butchulla as Boorangoora, is a perched freshwater lake fed only by rainwater, ringed by a beach of pure white silica sand. The water is exceptionally clear and safe for swimming, although it is so pure it supports very little aquatic life. There are no sunscreens or soaps allowed in the lake to protect water quality, so rinse off before you go in.

75 Mile Beach is the long stretch of sand running up the eastern side of K'gari that doubles as the island's main highway and as a registered aircraft landing strip. Normal road rules apply, including speed limits, seatbelts and a 0.00 alcohol limit on the sand. Drive only at low tide, watch for washouts and small creek crossings, and remember the surf here is not safe for swimming due to strong rips and sharks.

The eastern beach links most of the island's headline sights. Heading north from Eurong you pass Eli Creek (a clear, fast-flowing freshwater creek with a boardwalk you can float down), the rusting hulk of the SS Maheno (a hospital ship driven ashore by a cyclone in 1935), the coloured sand cliffs of The Pinnacles, and on past Indian Head to the Champagne Pools, a set of natural rock pools that bubble as waves wash over the rim.

K'gari is home to one of the purest populations of wongari (dingoes) in Australia, and they are wild predators that have attacked and killed visitors. The core QPWS rules are: never walk alone, always stay within arm's reach of children (including teenagers), never run or jog, never feed dingoes or leave food or scraps unattended, and store all food and rubbish in sealed containers. Carry a stout dingo stick, and if approached, stand tall, fold your arms, back away and call for help.

The cooler, drier months from April to October are generally the most comfortable, with daytime temperatures around 22 to 25 degrees and lower humidity. August to October is prime time because you can combine the island with humpback whale watching in Hervey Bay. Summer (December to March) is hot, humid and prone to thunderstorms, although the lakes are at their most inviting.

Hervey Bay is recognised as the world's first Whale Heritage Site and humpback whales rest in Platypus Bay (between the mainland and the western side of K'gari) on their southern migration each year. The season runs from late July to the end of October, with multiple half-day and full-day cruises departing from Urangan Boat Harbour in Hervey Bay. Mothers with calves are commonly seen from August onwards.

The two main resorts are Kingfisher Bay Resort on the sheltered western side, a four-star eco-resort with hotel rooms and villas, and K'gari Beach Resort (formerly Eurong Beach Resort) on the eastern surf beach, which has rooms, apartments, a bakery and a general store. Beyond the resorts, QPWS manages dozens of designated beach and inland camping zones (including Central Station, Lake Boomanjin and the eastern beach zones); all camping requires a permit booked in advance through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service.