Off Roading on Fraser Island

Fraser Island , located in Queensland, Australia, is the world’s largest sand island. Moreover, it’s one of those “must sees” on Australia’s east coast travel trail . The majority of people who visit do a 4WD self-drive tour around the island. You’ll spend 3 days camping, getting sand everywhere, swimming in lakes and streams, eating, avoiding dingoes, and drinking by the campfire.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6V0fCfG3MM]

Travel Tips for Fraser Island

• If you do a self-drive tour, you need to bring your own food and alcohol. While there is a small store at the island’s resort, it’s very expensive and should only really be used in an emergency.
• If you do a self-drive tour, don’t worry if you are traveling alone. You will be placed with a group of other travelers and share a car with them. A self drive tour costs around $300 AUD and lasts 3 days, 2 nights.
• If 3 days camping with strangers isn’t your thing, you can do a 1 or 2 day guided tour.  Guided tours will take you to all the major sites on the island. I’d save your money and do a day tour though. I found the two day tour to be way too long.  Only a few extra sites were added in but you have a lot of “dead” time sitting in places. I mean how long does it really take to see the shipwreck?
• Tours leave from Hervey Bay (northern entry point onto the island) or Rainbow Beach (southern entry point).  Hervey Bay is a lot bigger than Rainbow Beach with more things to do.  Rainbow Beach is a small, small town with a nice beach, a few hostels, and some restaurants. It’s supposed to be the “main backpacker destination” but I found that just as many people planned to stay in Hervey Bay. If given the choice again, I’d stay in Hervey Bay. There’s just more to do there.

I had a ton of fun on my trip to Fraser Island and I recommend that anyone who goes does so for more than one day. While I was short on time, I think it is much better if you go camping there for a few days than just go for one day and see the highlights.

For more information on planning a trip, you can visit my Australia travel guide for what to do, see, how to get there, and more ways to save money.

Disclaimer: King Fisher Tours gave me 50% off my guided tour.