Fraser Island

Fraser Island lies at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, just a 35-minute boat ride from Hervey Bay and a 45-minute flight (or a three and a half hour drive) from Brisbane. It has a World Heritage Listing and is in fact the largest sand island in the world.

The island spans 125 km in length and is 30 km wide. It is a unique natural environment and is the largest sand island in the world and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows in sand. Fraser Island’s abundant pristine fresh water lakes and crystal clear creeks are one of the islands major drawcards.

Permits must be sought prior to landing on Fraser Island. All vehicles must have a current Fraser Island RAM (Recreation Areas Management) vehicle access permit, purchased before entering the island and fixed to the lower left side of the windscreen. Unregistered vehicles are not permitted on Fraser Island.

Fees valid from 1 July 2009
Ensure you obtain your permit before entering a recreation area. Permits may be purchased online.

They can be purchased from most Qld National Parks Office or on-line or by phone (see above). If you book by phone or on-line, you will be given a reference number and you will still need to call in to a National Parks office to actually pick up your Permit. For more information on this island - click here.

There are National Parks Offices located at 46 Quay Street, Bundaberg, (telephone (07) 4131 1600); at Cnr. Lennox and Alice Streets, Maryborough, (telephone (07) 4121 18000; on Rainbow Beach Road, Rainbow Beach, (telephone (07) 5486 3160); and at Tewantin in Moorindil Street (telephone (07) 5449 7792). The Offices however are only open during normal business hours Monday to Friday. Don’t forget to ask for your "Fraser Pack".

Camping fees

Before camping in a park, forest or similar reserve, you must obtain a camping permit and pay your camping fees.

Camping fees are $5.00 per person per night or $20.00 per family per night. A family group is up to two adults and accompanying children under 18, up to a total of eight people. Children under five are free.

School children on approved excursions are charged $2.75 each.

You can purchase permits for Fraser Island on the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service website or click here to go there directly.

Camping Permits may be obtained from River Head Barge landing, at Kingfisher Bay Resort reception and at Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service offices including Brisbane, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Rainbow Beach.

Some other things to see include: Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora), Central Station, the Maheno Wreck, Champagne Pools, Rainbow Gorge and Australia's purest breed of dingo.

Fraser Island is reached via a ferry, with both vehicular (barge) and passenger ferries leaving from various locations on the mainland and arriving on various locations on the island.

Permits are necessary if you intend camping and must be arranged in advance. You must also have a permit for taking a vehicle onto the island (whether it be hired or your own).

In terms of vehicle preparation you must carry essential spares as well as a snatch strap, spade, water and first aid kit and clearly understand that Fraser Island is strictly four-wheel-driving territory. You may drive your own or hire one from the many 4WD hire companies operating on the mainland or even from on the island itself.

Distances are long on Fraser and every spot is different. When planning a camping trip we suggest you base camp at various locations for a few days at a time to avoid long driving days and more leisure time.

Campers must bring own untreated, mill firewood not bush timber as no firewood is provided. From 1st February, 2005 the only campfires allowed on the island will be at Waddy Point beachfront campground, Waddy Point campground and Dundubara campground and only in concrete pits supplied.

Vehicle Ferry Transfers (barge)

Barge prices have changed due to a new operator. Revised pricing and locations as follows:

Departures from Inskip Point

The Manta Ray Fraser Island Barge
Locally owned and operated the Manta Ray Barge, Pedestrian passengers travel FREE

First Barge Departs Inskip Point 6:30 am Daily
Last Barge Departs Fraser Island 5:30 pm Daily
4x4 - $90 return
4x4 and Trailer - $150 return
4x4 (1 way) - $65
4x4 and Trailer (1 way) - $95
Motor Bike - $65 return

For more Information and Bookings phone Shell Tourist Centre Rainbow Beach on: (07) 5486 8888

Departures from Hervey Bay

Fraser Venture Barge
Travels between River Heads (just out of Hervey Bay) and Wanggoolba Creek on Fraser Island.
Traveling time is approx 30 minutes.
Return cost- $130.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $9 per passenger thereafter.
One Way - $75.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $5 per passenger thereafter.

Fraser Dawn Barge

Travels between Urangan Boat Harbour ( in Hervey Bay ) and Moon Point on Fraser Island.
Travelling time is approx 60 minutes.
Return cost- $130.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $9 per passenger thereafter.
$22.00 per walk on pasenger on Fraser Dawn
One Way - $75.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $5 per passenger thereafter.

Kingfisher Fraser Island Barge

Travels between River Heads and Kingfisher Bay Resort. (20 min south of Hervey Bay city)
Travelling time is approx 45 minutes.
Return cost- $130.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $9 per passenger thereafter.
$30.00 per walk on passenger on Kingfisher Barge.
One Way - $75.00 per vehicle & driver plus 3 passengers. $5 per passenger thereafter.

Resorts

You'll be blown away by the size and prosperity of the resorts on Fraser. The 2 largest and palatial resorts are Kingfisher Bay and Eurong Beach Resort. Happy Valley, Cathedral Beach and Dilli offer a less fancy but still comfortable style of accommodation.

Camping

At all locations on Fraser Island you will need to have proof that you've paid your camping fees.

The options are either designated campsites with facilities (these are all at inland locations) or "beach" camping without facilities anywhere along the eastern beach. All along the eastern beach are spots for beach camping, nestled amongst scrubby trees behind the dunes. All beach camping sites are set back just beyond the main dune ridge that skirts the high tide mark. If you take a trailer, some of these spots are a little difficult to get in and out off, with soft sand and tight turning areas bounded by steep sand banks. Note, many people do take trailers so it is not "impossible". The sand is very soft and often deep. At high tide some sites are virtually locked in.

If fishing is high on your agenda we would recommended camping further north up the eastern beach towards Eli Creek to enable easier access to other good fishing sports such as the Maheno, Moon Point, Orchid Beach and Sandy Cape. Eli Creek is a great spot to freshen up in fresh water and it's a great place for kids and those not keen on ocean swimming.

If you don't mind being trapped in by the high tide, Waddy Point is also a convenient location to setup camp as you can go inland and west to Wathumba Creek, walk around the headland south to Champagne Pools or north up to Sandy Cape. Waddy Point is a designated camping area.

Fraser Island attained its World Heritage Listing in December 1992 in recognition of the island's exceptional sand dune systems, its rainforests on sand, and its beautiful freshwater lakes.

The island spans 125 km in length and is 30 km wide. It is a unique natural environment and is the largest sand island in the world and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows in sand. Fraser Island’s abundant pristine fresh water lakes and crystal clear creeks are one of the islands major drawcards.

There is prolific wildlife throughout the island, where you can expect to see some of the 325 species of birds, wallabies, possums, flying foxes, echidnas and Australia’s purest population of dingo. In addition, unique species of freshwater tortoise’s can be found in some of the lakes, while surrounding the island, you may see dolphins, turtles and humpback whales (in season). Fraser Island Dingoes have been known to fatally attack children.

Unfortunately, there is now much controversy regarding the fate of the Frazer Island dingo and travellers must ensure they and their children know how to behave if approached by a dingo.

Fraser Island dingoes have been exposed to enormous numbers of humans in recent years and their natural instincts have been altered by the constant rubbish left around for them to scavenge upon and hand-feeding.
Some basic Dingo tips: do not run if approached, do not feed them and no food should be left at camp, eskies should be locked shut. Rubbish bags must not be left unattended. Fines are in place for ignoring these rules.
You will see plenty of dingoes trotting along the beach, drinking from the fresh water creeks that flow to the ocean but they are unlikely to approach your camp while people are present. It is a fact that dingoes will literally eat through a tent to get at food. Campers are advised to leave tents totally empty during the day.

Inland it is a different story. Due to the higher numbers of people and therefore food, dingo numbers are much higher around the designated camps, particularly Central Station. By thinking about your rubbish and not enticing them to make contact will ensure that you don't have any problems. There's heaps of information about the dingoes mating, birthing and weaning seasons available and a good booklet in the island permit pack.

Recreational fishing, 4WDing and camping is allowed.

The first European to sight Fraser Island was Captain James Cook in 1770, but it wasn't until 1836 that the first people actually landed on Fraser Island and this occurred due to the shipwreck of the Stirling Castle.

Fraser Island is named in honour of Eliza Fraser a formidable survivor. Eliza survived the shipwreck of Stirling Castle; the death of her baby; and 2 months under capture by the island's aboriginals.

In 1870, as a result of a series of shipwrecks, a lighthouse was built at Sandy Cape. This was the first permanent European settlement on the island.

With an estimated Aboriginal population of around 3000 in 1850 this number was reduced to just 300 by 1890 as a result of the usual plights that saw such a massive diminishing of this race at this time - disease, alcohol and abuse from slavery. By the 1930's the island's indigenous population had been totally destroyed.

Since the 1960s Fraser Island has battled a series of environmental disputes. Firstly sand mining, then logging. The first attempt to establish the island as a National Park was made in the late 1800s but the timber interests which were already on the island managed to dissuade the government and for the next 60 years the island was logged.

Today Fraser Island is World Heritage listed and almost the entire island is a protected National Park. It preserves ancient Aboriginal sites, a unique rainforest system growing in sand, and a diverse range of wildlife.