K'gari Highlights

K'gari Highlights

K’gari – aka Fraser Island – is the largest sand island in the world, showcasing a stunning array of diverse natural beauty across rugged land and tropical sea.

Following in the footsteps of Uluru (Ayres Rock), this UNESCO World Heritage island’s name was officially changed in 2017 to its original indigenous title and forms a key part of Australia's Great Sandy National Park.  

Sandman Dreams

Nestled just off the Queensland coast in the Coral Sea, K’gari has over 150 miles of clear sandy beaches, which include more than 25 miles of strikingly coloured sand cliffs. These beaches are so long and wide that they’re used as natural highways for 4WD vehicles to carry travellers, which is handy, as the island has no paved roads!

The Blue Lagoons

Towering rainforests are, amazingly, found growing on raised sand dunes, a phenomenon believed to be unique in the world. Half of the world’s freshwater dune lakes are also found here, including the crystal-clear Lake Mckenzie (below), producing a spectacular and varied landscape.

Hervey's Humpbacks

Hervey Bay on the nearby mainland is regarded as the Whale Watch Capital of the World, aided by the calm, sheltered waters protected by K’gari. More than fifteen hundred humpback whales visit Hervey Bay on their migration south to the Antarctic in August, September, and October, and stay in the bay for up to two weeks, dazzling spectators aboard whale-watching boats.

Shipwreck Ahoy!

These waters were not quite so tranquil when tropical cyclones landed in the past, however, as became the fate of the most famous of the twenty-three shipwrecks recorded in Fraser maritime history between 1856 and 1935: the S.S. Maheno. This ship beached near The Pinnacles during a storm to create a now popular landmark – and was even used as target practice by WWII pilots during the war! The wreck is easily accessible by 4WD during your trip to the island. 

Champagne Super Nature

By day, great white shark viewing can be enjoyed from cliff-top outlook points, but the only safe place to swim in seawater is the delightful Champagne Pools. These pools are formed where rocks have built up in between the land and sea and are regularly topped up with rippling waves… so all you’ll have to do is top up your own champagne glass!

By night, the skies reveal some of the most breathtakingly clear stargazing on the planet, with wonderous views of the southern hemisphere constellations. Sit back and feel like you're on your own spaceship observation deck, as celestial sights visible by the naked eye light up the heavens.