Fraser Island Travelers Recommend

Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and its gorgeous beaches, glittering lagoons, and lush rainforest offer endless photo opportunities. But, if you want to explore beyond the beach resorts, you’ll need a 4W-wheel-drive vehicle to tackle the dramatic dunes and sandy trails. Here are your options for 4WD tours on Fraser Island.

Highlights

• Enjoy spectacular views as you drive along the famous Seventy-Five Mile Beach.

• Get behind the wheel on a guided “tag-along” tour and explore the island in a convoy of 4WDs. 

• Explore Fraser Island landmarks including the sand cliffs of the Pinnacles, Wanggoolba Creek, the Champagne Pools, and Pile Valley Rainforest.

• Hop out to swim at Lake McKenzie or hike through the rainforest.

• As you zip along the coast, look out for dolphins, dugongs, and humpback whales.

• Discover Fraser Island on a day trip by 4WD from Hervey Bay, Rainbow Beach or Noosa, including a scenic ferry ride to the island.

• Take a 2- or 3-day 4WD tour and camp out on the island.

It is said that all the sand from the eastern coast of Australia eventually ends up at Fraser Island, a gigantic sandbar measuring 74 miles by 9 miles (120km by 15km) and created by thousands of years of along-shore drift.

Seen from the coast this beautiful enigma appears to be too lush to be the world's biggest sand island, but the island's diverse ecology is one of the many wonders of the place.

Day 1: Rare Flora & Fauna Imagine a giant sandbar maintained from the deposits of over a thousand years of sand and dotted with a hundred freshwater lakes filled with some of the cleanest water in the world. Now add some of Earth’s rarest flora and fauna, as well as a beach of nearly silica so pure that it’s rumored to be useful for washing clothes and even jewelry. This is Fraser Island, Australia, and if you’re visiting Brisbane (or anywhere else in Queensland), you should add a trip to this fantastic island to your stay.

This fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site is reachable from Hervey Bay by ferry (and also by small plane). 4WDs are the only vehicles allowed on the island, so the easiest way to get there and around is by booking a day tour.

Day 2: Unique Wildlife These lakes are part of what makes this island so special. As Fraser Island is essentially one giant sand bar, most of the lakes were formed from the shifting of the massive dunes over centuries of vegetation, resulting in freshwater lakes and habitat for some of Australia’s most unique creatures. On these nature walks, you’ll keep your eyes peeled for a variety of rare birds, reptiles and unique mammals such as the phascogale, a carnivorous marsupial that lives in the trees. Don’t worry – it prefers to eat spiders more than anything, and you can find it and other amazing fauna hiding in the trees.

In addition to the nature walks, be sure to swim near Lake McKenzie. This is where you’ll find the pure-silica beach, as well as one of the island’s most beautiful converges of sea, sand and sky. While you’re traveling the island, be sure to visit the wreck of the Maheno, a foundered luxury cruiser later used for bombing practice by the Australian military.

Day 3: Amazing Marine Life Upon returning to Hervey Bay on your third day, book a snorkeling (or SCUBA, if you’re certified or seeking certification) trip to nearby Lady Elliot Island. This coral cay offers an amazing array of the Great Barrier Reef’s spectacular marine life. In the evening, return for a relaxing dinner at one of the Hervey Bay’s many restaurants.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island is famous for its endless white-sand beaches, lush rain forest, dramatic sand dunes, and 100-plus freshwater lakes. Here are our top picks for the island’s best beaches.

75 Mile Beach

Stretching for—you guessed it—75 miles (121 kilometers) along the island’s eastern coast, 75 Mile Beach is a highlight of most Fraser Island tours. Here you can find the freshwater Eli Creek; Indian Head, a rocky outcrop where you can spot tiger sharks, dolphins, and stingrays; and the Champagne Pools, natural rock pools named after Champagne-like bubbles that froth up from crashing waves.

Lake McKenzie

Lake McKenzie, a freshwater lake located within Great Sandy National Park, boasts translucent waters and white silica sand renowned for its cleansing and exfoliating properties. You’ll likely see beach-goers covered from head to toe in the granules.

Waddy Point

Located at the northern end of 75 Mile Beach, Waddy Point is a quiet spot known for its scenic hiking trails. Water sports are also a popular activity here; along with swimming and snorkeling, visitors can paddle board, kayak, and surf.

Wathumba Creek

Wathumba Creek is a wildlife hotspot located on the island’s northwestern coast. Look out for dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, and seabirds as you cruise along the coast, or get even closer to nature on a snorkeling or kayaking excursion. 

Moon Point

Moon Point is one of the island’s less-visited beaches, located at the western tip of Fraser Island along the Great Sandy Strait. Its pristine sands offer a spectacular backdrop for a jet ski tour, boat cruise, or 4WD excursion. Nearby, Pelican Banks is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling, while further south, the eco-friendly Kingfisher Bay Resort offers plenty of lunch options.

While the beauty of Noosa Biosphere Reserve and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast may be hard to leave behind, those who make the short journey across the water to Fraser Island are rewarded with endless expanses of deserted sand, freshwater lakes, and lush rain forest. Here’s what you need to know about Fraser Island tours from Noosa and Rainbow Beach.

Highlights

• Zip around Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, in a 4WD, and see sights including the Pinnacles rock formations and the SS Maheno shipwreck.

• Take a dip in refreshing lakes, such as Lake Birrabeen or Lake McKenzie.

• For the ultimate thrill, jump from a height of 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) over Fraser Island, before landing on a mainland beach during a tandem skydive.

• Stay overnight in a Fraser Island beach resort or campground and witness the colorful sunset and tranquil dawn.

• Embark on guided hikes along trails leading through untamed tropical forests.

• Join a multi-day tour and combine a trip to Fraser Island with a visit to Great Sandy National Park in Cooloola or Lady Musgrave Island in the Great Barrier Reef.

Things to Know

• The ferry crossing from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island takes just 15 minutes, and ferries run regularly from dawn to dusk.

• Noosa is about a 2-hour drive from Rainbow Beach, and tours from here will typically involve more time in transit.

• Most tours do not include national park permits or ferry fees.

• Choose a full-day tour that will have you back on the Sunshine Coast in time for bed, or opt for a multi-day tour that includes accommodation or camping on the island.

Fraser Island tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast typically involve spending one or more nights on the island. This gives participants plenty of time to explore and the chance to see a more serene side of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, after the day-trippers have departed. See below to find out more about Fraser Island tours.

Highlights

• Look for dolphins and turtles during the ferry crossing to Fraser Island. 

• Enjoy exhilarating off-road adventures along Seventy-Five Mile Beach, where you’ll encounter the rusty SS Maheno shipwreck and the Pinnacles, a series of multicolored cliffs.

• Take a refreshing dip at swimming spots, such as Lake Birrabeen, Lake Wabby, the Champagne Pools, and Eli Creek. 

• Hike along lengthy rain forest trails or stroll along the boardwalk on the banks of Wanggoolba Creek at Central Station.

• Keep an eye out for wildlife, from dingoes and wallabies to the humpback whales that frequent the offshore waters from June to September. 

• See the stars appear overhead, with visibility heightened by the island’s lack of artificial light.

Things to Know

• Brisbane is around 220 miles (350 kilometers) from Fraser Island, while the Gold Coast is about 280 miles (450 kilometers) away.

• Multi-day tours range in duration from overnight trips to 4- and 5-day excursions. Some longer Fraser Island tours incorporate visits to Rainbow Beach and islands and cays in the Great Barrier Reef, such as Lady Musgrave Island.

• Some multi-day tours involve camping, while others include accommodation at beach resorts. Guests can usually choose between shared accommodation or private rooms.

• Most tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast include round-trip ground transportation to Rainbow Beach, and 4WD transportation on the island. National park fees and ferry charges are usually not included in the cost.