How to spend 5 days camping on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island)

Reconnecting with the natural realm isn’t hard when K'gari is on the cards. The world’s largest sand island is the definition of rugged, with untamed wilderness presenting endless opportunities for the outdoors inclined.

Dubbed K’gari by the Butchulla people, the name is derived from an Aboriginal Dreamtime story about goddess K’gari, who falls in love with the island and never wants to leave. Like K’gari you’ll no doubt fall head over heels for this heritage-listed wonderland, and its collection of freshwater lakes, rainforests, and sand dunes.

Get better acquainted with the adored destination courtesy of this K'gari 5-day camping guide.

Day one

Pack up your 4WD; you’re on your way to K'gari, a place 300 kilometres north of Brisbane, and 15 kilometres off the coast of Hervey Bay. Your journey comprises two parts: a 3.5-hour drive from Brisbane to Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach where you’ll then board a ferry and cruise for 15-30 minutes until you arrive for your K'gari camping adventure. Fancy something a little more luxurious? Air Fraser Island’s fleet of light aircraft can whisk you away from the Sunshine Coast or Hervey Bay Airport directly to and from the island.

As you’d expect from any K'gari camping guide, your stay will involve sleeping out under the stars. You’ll find 45 diverse camping areas to choose from here, most boasting fenced sites to keep out dingoes.

Family in tow? Family-friendly locations are scattered around Central Station, Lake Boomanjin, Dundubara and Waddy Point. Seeking seclusion? There are 10 remote options here, including the Sandy Cape at the northern tip. Keep in mind that camping permits are required to camp in the National Park area.

Day two

It’s time to hit the beach highway - with 120 kilometres of it to traverse. All offroading again requires approval - a National Parks Vehicle Access Permit is needed to drive on the Island. Spend your morning exploring the sand dunes which fringe this majestic place, keeping an eye out for the local population of dingoes all the while. Don’t fret if you’re not that experienced with 4WDriving - you don’t have to do it yourself but can opt to join one of the many tour operators instead.

Keep an eye out for shipwrecks: The S.S. Maheno is the most famed - built in 1905, she was one of the first turbine-driven steamers and beached back in 1935, during a cyclone. A slice of Australian history, this shipwreck is a must-do while on your K'gari camping holiday and makes for a great snapshot. That’s not the only shipwreck you’ll find here - enthusiasts should keep an eye out for the Seabelle, Sterling Castle, and Panama shipwrecks.

Day three

Cool off with a dip at one of the 100 freshwater lakes that populate this idyllic region. One of the most well-recognised (and visited) is Lake McKenzie, a photogenic destination that’s actually a perched lake, meaning it contains only rainwater, no groundwater. Spend your morning splashing in its crystal, clear waters, a result of its white silica sands.

Another (equally refreshing) stand-out awaits you at Eli Creek, where an afternoon floating downstream comes highly recommended. This is the largest creek on the east of K'gari and pours up to four million litres of crystalline water into the ocean each and every hour.

Day four

If you’ve found yourself on a K'gari camping trek, you’re in luck - this is exactly the time of year when humpback whales and their young are a frequent sight in the protected waters surrounding the Fraser Coast. This is the whale watching capital after all. While you’re welcome to grab a pair of binoculars and try your luck from shore, you’re best joining one of the many tour operators in town (like Kingfisher Bay Resort) who specialise in taking guests out to sea to frolic amongst the giants of the deep.

Day five

The time has come to bid goodbye to K'gari. But before you go, take the chance to wander through the rainforest scattered across the island’s length - this is in fact the only sand island in the world with a forest growing out of it, with plants obtaining their nutrients (unusually) from just rain and sand. Throw on your walking shoes and set forth among the gathering of towering kauri pines, ancient giant ferns, eucalypt forest and rich rainforest - there are plenty of plant-rich regions to explore, but special mention goes to former forestry camp Central Station Rainforest.