The ultimate 7-day K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) itinerary

As the largest sand island in the world, World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) has a certain reputation to live up to. A place where rainforests grow on sand, where wild dingoes roam free, where aquamarine lakes are filled with rainwater, and where sand dunes are taller than buildings. It’s an island wilderness of epic proportions.

Part of the Great Sandy National Park, this protected sand mass is unlike anywhere else on earth. Visitors flock here each year to plant their feet in its pure silica sand, swim in its volcanic rock pools, and marvel at its unique wildlife. You could spend weeks uncovering this truly unique Queensland island. But we’ll settle for a holiday!

Fantasising about your next Queensland getaway? As if you need more convincing: here’s your perfect 7-day K'gari Itinerary.

Day 1: Acquaint yourself with the mighty K'gari

So, you’ve arrived in paradise… what’s first on your K'gari itinerary? Drop off your luggage at your accommodation and settle into island time. K'gari is spoilt for accommodation options, with award-winning eco-lodge Kingfisher Bay and K'gari Beach Resort both great options for your first night or two.

Spend the day on the water at Kingfisher Bay, where you can hire canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Located on the sheltered western side, it’s safe for families to swim in these calm waters. For something straight out of a Bond movie, book the Fraser Island Jetski Safari, a 2.5-hour jaunt. You’re free to explore the island’s gorgeous west coast, as well as Moon Beach (which is completely inaccessible by land). You’ll almost definitely spot dolphins, turtles and stingrays – so keep an eye out for some of K'gari’s locals.

Not sure where to start? K'gari operators offer some fantastic half and full-day tours, the perfect way to make yourself acquainted with your home for the next seven days.

Day 2: Go off the beaten track

Hit the gas and spend the day along K'gari east coast. The island is renowned for its 4WD tracks – boasting over 123kms of tracks both inland and along the coastline – and one of the best ways to experience all it has to offer is on four wheels. 4WD rentals are plentiful on the island, so brush up on your skills, prep properly and enjoy your four-wheel-freedom.

The most famous drive? Tearing down K'gari Eastern Beach scenic drive along 75 Mile Beach. Depending on what side of the island you’re starting from your journey up the beach will take approximately 3.5 hours. To your left is a mix of soaring sandbanks and lush vegetation, to your right, the deep blue hue of the Pacific Ocean. Even if this was all you took in while heading north, the landscape alone is incredible. But K'gari holds a number of natural treasures – many of them this side of the island.

Stop at Eli Creek for a morning dip; the freshwater creek is a picturesque picnic spot – and a ride along the currents on a float is family-approved fun. The creek’s boardwalk winds its way inland through native banksia and pandanus if you’re keen to stretch the legs. Continue north along the sand, you’ll pass two K'gari icons; the famous wreckage of SS Maheno, just north of Happy Valley, and the sand cliff Pinnacles. An ancient sacred site of the Butchulla people, these soaring multicoloured cliffs are utterly breathtaking.

Heading north beyond Indian Head Cliffs (a fantastic lookout and whale-watching spot during migration season) is where you’ll find the world-famous Champagne Pools, coming off the sand at Middle Rocks. As one of the only safe places for saltwater swimming on the island, these volcanic rock pools (some as large as a swimming pool) make for the ideal spot to cool off. Experienced 4WDers will want to continue on to the very tip of the island at Sandy Point, noting conditions can be difficult to navigate at both South and North Ngkala Rocks – and should always be tackled only at low tide.

Where to stay:

You’ll pass a multitude of camping sites dotted right along the coastline – all of which offer either beachside or forest campsites – but continue on and camp at Waddy Point just over the headland from Champagne Pools for remote beach camping at Beach camping zone 8, Marloo.

Where to get supplies:

There are five spots where you can pick up food supplies on the island: Eurong, Happy Valley, Cathedrals on K'gari, Orchid Beach and Kingfisher. All have fuel, too – so you’ve got the bare necessities covered. A must-visit is the famous Eurong Bakery at the Eurong Resort. Stock up on goodies before heading out to your camping spots.

Day 3: Option 1 - sand dunes, lighthouses, and beach camping

There are worse places to wake than your beachside digs at Marloo. Stretching 14.5 km from South Ngkala Rocks to Waddy Point, Orchid Beach is moments away: an island mecca for beach fishing and boating. Stop for lunch at Orchid Beach Trading Post & Driftwood Bar. An island icon, this family-owned pub boasts uninterrupted views of the ocean – and some of the best burgers on K'gari.

Just north of the jaw-dropping Orchid Beach, you’re primed for an afternoon exploring the more remote outpost of the island at Sandy Point. Tackle the Sandy Cape lighthouse walk for an up-close encounter with Queensland’s tallest, and heritage-listed, lighthouse. A steep, 4.8km round-trip, your efforts will be rewarded with cracking ocean views and some of K'gari's earliest settlement history.

After taking in the local history, it’s time to hit the slopes before the sun sets. This is one of the best areas for sandboarding on the island, with both the dunes at Waddy Point, Orchid Beach, and further north some of the best.

Where to stay:

Even this far north, you still have choices. Orchid Beach Trading Post has some cosy rooms for those wanting to sleep with a roof over their head or go fully wild with a beachside camp spot at Carree, just west of Sandy Cape.

Day 3: Option 2 - lazy days by the lake

Alternatively, if you prefer to take it easy, relax alongside one of K'gari's gorgeous freshwater lakes. Drop a towel on Lake McKenzie’s pure, white silica sand and dip a toe in its turquoise waters. Surrounded by lush forest, hidden walking trails and nature, it’s the definition of a tropical paradise.

If you prefer your downtime a little more secluded, head to the quieter (but no less breathtaking) Lake Wabby. Getting there is quite the adventure – and well worth the effort. Known for its impressive sandy landscapes, Lake Wabby is hidden behind one of the island’s great natural wonders; the Hammerstone Sandblow. With golden sands on one side, lush forest on the other, it’s worth a 3.1km return hike for the outlook alone. Stay a while though, admire the deep green waters, go for a swim, or doze under the trees on the water’s edge.

For a more ‘active’ day by the water, BYO kayaks and hit up the remote Lake Birrabeen for a spot of water sports and exploration of the rugged shoreline. Adorned with white sandy coves and tall scribbly gum forests with winding walking trails, there’s every chance you’ll have the entire lake to yourself.

Where to stay:

Where better than pitching your tent lakeside? The Lake Wabby Great Walk campsite lies 4.1km along Lake Wabby walk, and Lake McKenzie walkers’ camp is only a few minutes from the edge of the lake. Both sites offer tent campsites, toilets, and picnic facilities.

Day 4: Hit the trails

The K'gari Great Walk can easily take upwards of six days to complete, and while this 90-kilometre track winding through the heart of the island should be on any visitor’s bucket list, you can skip the hard yards and tackle some of the most beautiful sections in a day.

If you’re using the Kingfisher Bay Resort as your base, an ideal track to tackle is the relatively easy 8km Beerillbee trail. Follow the signs to the lookout over the Great Sandy Strait. Head inland for a truly magical (and relaxing) boardwalk trail along Wanggoolba Creek and Central Station, the old forestry camping grounds, for some of the best wildlife sightings on the island.

Those up for a challenge, (and if you’ve camped overnight at either Lake McKenzie or Lake Wabby walkers’ camps) walk through ancient forests between Lake Wabby and Valley of the Giants. A 16km, 7-hour walk dishes up the spectacular scenery of the Badjala Sandblow and towering trees over 1,000 years old.

Where to stay:

Head to the spoils of Kingfisher Bay Resort for two nights– just in time for sundowners. Take a seat either on the expansive timber deck or down on the beach, cocktail in hand, and bask in that famous golden glow at Sunset Bar.

Day 5: Animal encounters – island style

K'gari's wildlife is abundant, with hundreds of reptile, mammal and bird species all calling this part of Queensland’s coastline home. Sugar gliders, small-eared mountain possums and swamp wallabies are easily spotted on the trails, while dugongs, dolphins, turtles, and rays can be spotted off the coastline.

It’s two, (literally) big-ticket mammals, however, that people travel to K'gari to see in the flesh: humpback whales and wild dingoes.

The best whale watching spot on K'gari is Platypus Bay on the western side, but for up-close encounters, join a whale watching tour. K'gari is also one of the best places in Australia to see wild dingoes. These incredible apex predators roam the island freely, as they have for thousands of years, almost completely isolated from the mainland. Approximately 20-30 packs call K'gari home and can be seen along the beach fringes as the sun begins to set each day. The best places to spot them are along 75 Mile Beach, but for the best chance of a sighting join one of the guided tours.

And, while seeing them play on the beach is a memorable experience, a word of warning: these are wild animals and unpredictable, so keep a respectful distance at all times.

Day 6: Uncover the stories of the Butchulla People

K'gari's Indigenous history goes all the way back to the Dreamtime, where the Butchulla people talk of K’gari’s creation. A major archaeological project in 1976 uncovered over 500 heritage sites of spiritual, social, and archaeological significance on the island.

Leaving from Kingfisher Bay resort, join a guided walking tour hosted by National Park rangers to get an understanding of how the Butchulla people thrived on K'gari before European settlement, and hear incredible stories told by local Indigenous elders on the history of the land.

Alternatively, join Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours on their full-day Tasman Venture cruise, to see some of the most remote, most culturally significant spots on K'gari; Wathumba Creek, Awinya Creek, and Coloured Sands. Spend the day snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, and bushwalking through these magical lands – with an expert as your guide.

Where to stay:

Tonight, make K’gari Beach Resort on the east coast your home from home. It’ll come in handy for the morning…

Day 7: Get a bird’s eye view of K'gari 

On your last day, it’s time to get a different perspective of K'gari. Air Fraser Island takes off along the beach between Eurong and Maheno, boasting the island’s best view of the island. Soar over the Great Sandy Straits, Kingfisher Bay, Lake Mckenzie, Central Station and Lake Wabby – even spot sharks, rays, turtles, and humpback whales - before landing back on the sands of 75 Mile Beach.

Spend the rest of your final day relaxing either on the golden beaches of Eurong or beside the resort’s tropical lagoon pool.