Exploring the Wonders of Fraser Island

There’s something quite magical about first stepping foot on Fraser Island. Stretching over 120km, this raw, rugged sand island – the world’s largest – off Queensland’s southeast coast feels utterly otherworldly.

With its wild, untamed beaches, towering old-growth forests, crystal-clear freshwater lakes, and bountiful wildlife including Fraser’s most famous resident, the dingo, this UNESCO-listed island offers one of Australia’s best wilderness adventures. It’s currently open to visitors (as of August 2020) but there may be some restrictions on interstate travel. Therefore, please check local restrictions before planning your trip and always follow government advice.

Half the fun of visiting Fraser Island, which lacks sealed roads, is the challenge of driving in the national park. Many visitors opt for an organised tour from the mainland; however, travelling independently gives you the flexibility to explore the breathtaking island at your own pace and cranks up the adventure factor significantly.

Accessing Fraser Island

There are two ways to access Fraser, located about 300km north of Brisbane. Most visitors take the Manta Ray barge that runs continuously between Inskip Point (which has a picturesque beachfront campground) and Fraser’s southern tip from 6am to 5.15pm daily. The 10-minute journey costs AU$130 return (per car) as of August 2020. Therefore, booking ahead is recommended.

The other option, aside from landing on the beach in a tiny Air Fraser Island plane, is Fraser Island Barges, which runs less frequent daily services from River Heads (20 minutes south of Hervey Bay) to Wanggoolba Creek and Kingfisher Bay Resort on the west side of the island (both services from $180 return per car; about 50 minutes journey time).

What You Need for Driving on Fraser Island

Driving anything other than a 4WD with low-range capacity and high clearance onto Fraser is strongly discouraged. This doesn’t mean you can’t take your SUV, but the likelihood of damaging your vehicle on the island’s bumpy roads or getting bogged in sand is much greater, especially if you don’t have experience driving on sand. Moreover, if your insurer doesn’t cover off-road driving, you’ll face a hefty bill to have your car towed off the island.

If you don’t have your own wheels, several companies in Hervey Bay specialise in renting 4WD vehicles for touring Fraser. Rental companies can assist with necessary vehicle permits through the Queensland National Parks office and help with ferry and campsite bookings.

What to Pack for Fraser Island

For You:

There are several supply shops on Fraser’s east coast – at the main settlement of Eurong (which also has a bakery and a pub), Happy Valley, Cathedrals, and Orchid Beach, all selling fuel, ice, and basic supplies. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to bring everything you’ll need for the duration of your visit, including water (for drinking and washing), medical supplies (there’s no doctor on the island), AU$2 coins for coin-operated showers available at some campgrounds, and extra fuel.

Distances between attractions might not appear far on the map; however, navigating Fraser’s roads can be slow and fuel-consuming. Campfires are only permitted in a select few campsites (outside of ‘total fire ban’ periods), so you’ll need to bring a suitable stove for cooking. Some campsites have refuse bins, but the island lacks a recycling system, so plan to take your rubbish out with you. Personal portable toilets are required at Coolooloi Creek and Cornwells group camping area, and are recommended for other camping areas without facilities.

For Your Car:

An air pressure gauge is essential to deflate your tyres for sand driving (check the requirements for your car in advance). Regardless of the vehicle you’re driving, it’s beneficial to invest in or rent recovery gear, including recovery tracks, a shovel, and a snatch strap. Additionally, obtaining a good map and ideally a GPS is advisable, as mobile phone reception is non-existent in some areas. Before setting off, ensure to check the car’s oil and water levels. Consider bringing a ‘mechanical first aid kit’ including radiator coolant, a spanner set, gaffer tape, a can of WD40, jumper leads, zip ties, and a spare fan belt.

Where to Camp on Fraser Island

The island has a handful of hotels and guesthouses, centred in Eurong and Happy Valley, along with Kingfisher Bay Resort on the west coast; however, many argue that camping is an essential part of the Fraser experience. There are 45 camping areas across the island with varying facilities. For families with small children (under 12), opting for one of the five campgrounds with dingo deterrent fences is advisable. Arguably the most picturesque is Central Station, located in the island’s centre, making a good base for exploring inland lakes.

As driving on the island’s boggy west coast is not possible, most seaside campsites are along the east coast. In the island’s northeast, Waddy Point is a favourite among campers, sheltered from south-easterly winds, and it’s one of the few campsites where fires are permitted.

Dingo Safety

Spotting Fraser’s iconic wild canines is a memorable experience, but dingo safety is paramount. While the sandy-colored canines generally avoid humans, there have been attacks on Fraser, some of them fatal. Follow these tips to stay safe while helping to keep Fraser’s dingoes wild:

• Ensure food is never left unsecured (lock it in your vehicle) and never feed dingoes. Fines apply for both offences.
• Do not leave anything lying around an unfenced campsite that dingoes can chew through or tear at – even toiletries left in a tent can attract.
• Clean up straight after cooking and eating, pouring washing water into a deep hole away from your camp if no washing facilities are available.
• Always keep small children, who can excite dingo curiosity, at arm’s reach. Running can have the same effect, so walk everywhere.
• If threatened by a dingo, stand still and fold your arms across your chest. Face the dingo, then calmly back away (if with another person, stand back-to-back). Call for help, but wait until the dingo is gone before continuing. Never run or wave your arms. In an emergency, call 000 or 112.

What to See and Do on Fraser Island

Most visitors spend their days exploring the island by 4WD, either returning to the same campsite each night or moving around every couple of nights. Must-do activities include taking a dip in the vivid blue Lake McKenzie and floating down turquoise Eli Creek. North of the creek are popular photo stops, including the wreck of the SS Maheno and the colourful sand cliffs known as the Pinnacles.

If time allows, schedule a hike to Lake Wabby (a 4.8km round-trip from the east coast) and enjoy the pretty inland drive to peaceful Lake Birrabeen. Near Waddy Point, the rockpools known as the Champagne Pools are a safe spot for a saltwater dip. Ocean swimming is generally not recommended on Fraser due to treacherous sea conditions and shark activity; however, from Indian Head, a bluff south of the pools, you can often spot sharks patrolling below. If you make it as far as Fraser’s northeastern tip, don’t miss the heritage Sandy Cape Lighthouse.

This article was first published June 2017, last updated August 2020.