Things to do on Fraser Island

It’s the largest sand island in the world, but what about things to do on K’gari? We share all the top activities here.

K’gari (formerly known as Fraser Island) is famous for being the world’s largest sand island, and one of the only places in the world where you will find rainforest growing in the sand dunes.

In 2023, Fraser Island officially returned to its traditional name, K’gari, a name given to the island by the traditional owners, the Butchulla people. The name K’gari (pronounced Gari with a silent K) means ‘paradise’.

And what a fitting name! The island is undoubtedly a beautiful place, with its exceptional natural features and formations earning its status as UNESCO World Heritage site.

It features a surprising variety of mangroves, rainforest, sand dunes, wetland forest and is home to a wealth of wildlife.

I’ve visited K’gari on three separate occasions and everytime I love it even more. It really is a special place on earth.

But what about things to do here?

If you’ve done any research before you visit K’gari, you’ve probably heard that you can do 4WD beach driving here. But what about all the other activities?

Read on to learn more about things to do here, from swimming in freshwater lakes to exploring shipwrecks, walking through the rainforest, and even whale watching.

I’ve always seen most of these attractions as part of a day tour with K’gari Explorer Tours. This guided tour is a great way to see all the best spots in a day, without the stress of driving along the notoriously difficult roads. Plus you get a tour guide to educate and entertain you along the way.

It is also possible to do a self drive tour, but make sure you have a reliable 4WD car and are comfortable driving on the sand and along difficult roads.

Swim in Lake McKenzie

The most famous of all the K’gari lakes is Lake McKenzie, famed for its clear turquoise waters and stunning white sand beach. It is the perfect spot for a refreshing swim.

One of the things that makes Lake McKenzie so special is that it is a ‘perched’ lake. This means that its water is entirely made up of rainwater. There are only around 80 of these perched lakes in the world – and 40 of these are found on K’gari.

The underlying lake bed not only holds in all this beautiful rain water, but it acts like the backing on a mirror, reflecting the colour of the sky, which is why the water appears such a bright blue here.

All of this makes Lake McKenzie the most famous K’gari swimming lake and going for a splash here is one of the not-to-be-missed activities on the island.

The sand here is also super soft and perfect for a long stroll along the shore.

There are changing facilities and toilets at the car park here. Do note the caged picnic area and be sure to only eat food within this zone.

DO NOT take any food down to the lake with you – even if it is inside a closed bag. Dingoes are common here and can sniff out food from a long way away.

Explore the Maheno Shipwreck

The Maheno shipwreck is another of the most famous sights on K’gari. This rusting shipwreck has a rich and interesting history.

Originally a luxurious ocean liner, she was the first turbine steamer to cross the Pacific and one of the fastest ships of her day.

Her fancy dining room, complete with grand piano, was frequented by passengers traveling from Sydney to Auckland.

During WWI she was used as a hospital ship before returning to being an ocean liner, until she grew too old and was decommissioned in 1935.

She was bought by a Japanese shipyard, who sold her propellers to pay for her, and so her last voyage from Sydney to Osaka was taken under tow.

Unfortunately a cyclone caused her towline to snap, and without propellers she was swept ashore on Fraser Island.

During WWII the Australian Air Force used her for bombing practice and she is now broken in two as she lies rusting on the shore, where she is a popular attraction for people who visit K’gari.

As her name means “Island” in Maori it seems fate played a hand in her resting place, where she can remain glorious and famous – rather than rusting away in a Japanese shipyard.

Due to safety restrictions, visitors are no longer allowed inside the Maheno wreck or to touch her, but you can still admire her from an arm’s distance.

Float Down Eli Creek

Over 80 million litres of water flow in to the ocean from Eli Creek every day. To put that into perspective, you could fill an Olympic swimming pool in just 30 minutes!

This is all the more surprising when you see this tranquil little creek, but it does provide an excellent place to cool off in the tropical heat – especially when it isn’t safe to swim in the ocean off 75 Mile Beach.

For maximum enjoyment, bring along an inflatable ring or lilo for floating down the crystal clear water of the freshwater creek.

It’s just a short walk along the boardwalk to the entrance point, so you can do this several times. There are also toilets here.

Drive along 75 Mile Beach

When people think of driving on K’gari, they think of 75 Mile Beach.

Named as one of the Best Coastal Drives in the World, this famous beach is less of a beach and more of a highway.

Swimming is definitely not recommended here due to dangerous currents and pesky sharks… nor is building sandcastles, due to fast moving traffic.

75 Mile Beach is where you will find the Maheno and Eli Creek, amongst other points of interest.

But its main function is as a highway (and also an airstrip! – see below) and as such, normal road rules must be adhered to.

It’s makes for challenging driving if you are not used to driving on sand, so take it easy. Also take note of the tide times, as the beach can vary in width according to the tides. Check here for tide times.

Go for Walks at Central Station

Remember when Harry & Meghan visited Fraser Island? The reason for their visit was to officially open the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project in the Forests of K’Gari.

The K’gari rainforest is home to a diverse range of trees, including 1,000-year old Satinay trees, towering Kauri pines and ancient giant ferns.

It’s easy to explore the rainforest, with several walks on offer. The best place to start is Central Station.

From here there are several walking tracks you can follow, including to Pile Valley (4.6km return) and to Lake McKenzie via Basin Lake (6.3km one way).

Keen hikers come here for the K’gari Great Walk, a 90km walk taking in the natural wonders of the Great Sandy National Park. The walk takes you from Dilli Village to Happy Valley and takes 6-8 days to complete.

If you just want a quick stroll, there is an easily accessible stroller/wheelchair friendly 950m boardwalk along Wanggoolba Creek. This small area in itself is pretty special.

The constant water flow and high humidity here, coupled with the extra nutrients brought in the creek waters and extra protection from the wind from the surrounding forests all combine to create a special sheltered micro-climate here.

You will find plants growing here that are found nowhere else on the island. Even if you are not much of a botanist, it is a nice place to stretch your legs!

Take a Sightseeing Flight with Air Fraser Island

There may not be an airport on K’gari, but it is one of only two places in the world where you can take off from a plane on the beach! (The other being Barra Island in Scotland).

And at 75 miles long, it makes 75 Mile Beach the longest airstrip in the world!

We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of this and so we boarded Air Fraser Island’s 8-seater plane and took a 15-minute scenic flight over the island.

We looked for sharks and whales in the ocean (didn’t spot any!) before admiring the rainforests and the many beautiful lakes from above.

Watch the Illumina Light Show

If you’re staying the night at Kingfisher Bay Resort, then make sure you schedule in the time to watch the Illumina Light Show.

This magical nighttime experience, designed by renowned light artist Bruce Ramus, takes you on a journey through the seasons and stories of K’gari.

Go Whale Watching in Hervey Bay

If you are visiting K’gari during whale watching season, do not miss the opportunity to join a tour.

Hervey Bay is known as the world’s first Whale Heritage Site, recognising it as the best place in the world for sustainable whale watching. And it certainly doesn’t disappoint!

Every year humpback whales migrate up from Antarctica to Queensland to have their babies.

Hervey Bay provides good shelter for mothers and their calves, making it a popular spot for them to stop-off before they continue their journey.

This offers excellent opportunity to view these magnificent sea creatures up close in their natural habitat, and it really is one of the best Fraser Island trips you can do.

I cannot stress enough how special whale watching in Hervey Bay is. It truly wipes the floor with any other whale watching experience I’ve had.

Hervey Bay whale watching season runs from July to November.

Click here to find the Best Whale Watching tours in Hervey Bay.

Take a Helicopter Ride

If you think K’gari is spectacular from the ground, just wait until you see it from above!

Taking a helicopter flight is a great way to get a different persepective of the area. You’ll gain a new appreciation for the colours of the ocean and the density of the rainforest on K’gari.

You can even spot whales and dugongs from above!

Great Ocean Helicopters offer a range of scenic flights from a 30-minute trip over K’gari, to full-day packages that include whale watching and lunch at Kingfisher Bay Resort.

I have done the 30-minute flight from Hervey Bay and it was incredible. I highly recommend it for a memorable experience. You can see my Instagram reel here.

Click here to learn more.

K’gari Map

The above attractions can be found on the map below:

Accommodation on K’gari

There is a range of accommodation options on Fraser Island, from resorts to private house hire and of course camping.

Kingfisher Bay Resort

Every time I have visited K’gari I have stayed at the Kingfisher Bay Resort. You can read my full Kingfisher Bay Resort review here.

This eco-friendly K’gari resort offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotel rooms, villas, houses and lodges to suit all group sizes and budgets.

There is a good choice of restaurants, a choice of swimming pools, nature walks, a small playground and a shop. A junior ranger program runs during school holidays, to keep kids busy with nature-based activities.

Click here to check prices and availability for the Kingfisher Bay Resort.

K’gari Beach Resort

Located on the East Coast of K’gari, with direct access to 75 Mile Beach, K’gari Beach Resort offers has a range of accommodation, from rooms to apartments and even a beach house.

There are two onsite swimming pools, a casual restaurant & bar, BBQ area, general store and bakery all on offer.

Click here to check prices and availability for K’gari Beach Resort.

Camping on K’gari

Camping on K’gari is popular and you have several different options, with around 45 campsites to choose from.

Note that these K’gari campsites do get busy during peak periods and so you are advised to book ahead. Bookings can be made 6 months in advance here.

If you are camping on K’gari with kids, it is highly recommended that you choose one of the campsites with dingo fences. These include those at Central Station, Dundubara, Waddy Point and Lake Boomanjin.

Camping permits are required to be purchased in advance and these must be displayed on your campsite. You can check camping fees here.

How to Get to K’gari

Getting to K’gari from the mainland is by ferry, either from Rainbow Beach or River Heads.

K’gari Ferry

You can take the ferry to K’gari from either Rainbow Beach (if you have your own 4WD vehicle – ensure you have a permit first) or take the barge from River Heads, located just 20-minutes south of Hervey Bay.

The barge to K’gari takes around 50 minutes from River Heads. If you are staying at Kingfisher Bay Resort, you can check into the resort at their mainland check-in at River Heads and your luggage will be taken care of from there.

Drive time from Noosa to River Heads is around 2.5 hours.

Helicopter to K’gari

Want to arrive in style? You can take a helicopter to K’gari too! Great Ocean Helicopters offers scenic flights over K’gari from Hervey Bay Airport, as well as helicopter transfers to Kingfisher Bay.

Closest Airport to K’gari

The closest airport near K’gari is Hervey Bay / Fraser Coast airport. From here you can transfer to River Heads to catch the K’gari ferry.

Getting around K’gari

You need a hardy 4WD vehicle to drive around K’gari. You also need to be comfortable driving on sand and on pretty rough off-road conditions within the interior of the island.

You can choose to self-drive, organise K’gari tours from Hervey Bay, join a tour from Kingfisher Bay Resort on K’gari or join a K’gari tag-along tour, where you follow the leader while self-driving.

The Best Time to Visit K’gari

As it’s located in Queensland, you can expect the K’gari weather to be warm all year round, and there isn’t really a bad time to visit.

Temperature wise, you can expect Summer (Jan-March) to be between 23-30 degrees Celsius, and Winter (May-Aug) to be around 14-25 degrees.

If you want to experience the awesome Hervey Bay whale watching, then you’ll need to visit between July and October.

Dingoes on K’gari

The most famous K’gari animals are the dingoes and getting to spot one of these wild animals is a highlight of visiting the island. It is estimated that there are around 250 dingoes living on K’gari.

However, it is important to be dingo safe! They look cute, but they are wild animals. By observing some basic rules, you can remain safe and help protect these animals:

Never feed the dingoes
Never approach the dingoes
Keep children within arms reach all times
Walk in groups
Don’t go jogging along the beach
Camp in fenced campsites
Keep food locked away
Don’t take picnics to the lakes
Dispose of rubbish properly

If you see a dingo, keep your distance and keep still and it will likely ignore you and go on its way. If a dingo approaches you:

Stand at full height and slowly back away
Remain calm and call for help if necessary
Do not run!

K’gari History

The history of K’gari is as interesting as its varied terrain.

K’gari was home to the indigenous Butchulla people for more than 5,000 years, but was ‘discovered’ by the British in 1836, when the ship Stirling Castle shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef just north of here.

Captain Fraser, his wife and a few of his crew washed ashore on K’gari in their rowing boat and bartered with the local indigenous population for food and shelter.

According to his wife, Captain Fraser died after being speared during a disagreement with a local aboriginal man and the other crew also soon perished. The sole survivor was Eliza Fraser, who lived with the Butchulla people for a couple of months before being rescued when she travelled to the mainland with the community.

As her stories spread of her time on K’gari, the island became known as ‘Fraser’s Island’, a name that remained until very recently.

In the 1860s Fraser Island was a hub for timber logging, thanks to its abundance of valuable kauri pines. Logging continued on the island until 1991, but by then tourism had taken over.

The northern part of Fraser Island became a national park in 1971, with more areas added later. The island was awarded World Heritage status in 1992. The island returned to its original name, K’gari, in 2023.

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Disclaimer: Mum on the Move was a guest of Fraser Coast Tourism and Kingfisher Bay Resort during our visits to K’gari. Many of our activities were also complementary. As always, all opinions are honest, and our own.

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Things to do in K’gari (Fraser Island)