Hervey Bay Fraser Island Tour

There are several day tours that visitors can take from Hervey Bay to Fraser island and one in particular is an absolute stand out, in my opinion. With pick-up and drop-off at your Hervey Bay accommodation door, the 4WD tour conducted by Fraser Explorer Tours is not just a great day, it is value plus for your money and definitely one tour that tries to take in the most important sites on the worlds biggest sand island.

After the accommodation pick-up’s are finished, starting point for the tour is at River Heads, where the 8.30am barge makes the 30 minute crossing to the Wanggoolba Creek landing on Fraser island. Keep an eye out for dolphins as you cross from the mainland and enjoy the glorious views while sipping on a coffee or cool drink, which are available on board the barge, “Fraser Venture”.

Once on Fraser Island you board your 4WD bus which will take you across the island, stopping at all the best tourist sites such as Lake Mackenzie, Central Station, the wreck of the Maheno, the Pinnacles (coloured sands) and Eli Creek. Lunch is an all you can eat grand buffet at Eurong Beach Resort where you have time to enjoy your meal and freshen up for the afternoons activities on the eastern beach.

The eastern beach of Fraser Island is called the Great Sandy Highway, a 75 mile long stretch of beach which gets very busy in the peak tourist seasons. The advantage of touring Fraser Island with a large tour operator is the peace of mind that comes by travelling with experienced guides/drivers, as they understand the dangers associated with changing tides and shifting sands. You also get the advantage of their knowledge of the island and learn the history and environmental significance of the worlds largest sand island.

There is a scenic flight available from the beach, which is an extra cost of around $70 pp. The flight really shows the enormity of Fraser Island, in particular the sand blows, huge shifting sand dunes which are like deserts surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. You see the beautiful freshwater lakes from the air and the seemingly endless beach which stretches from horizon to horizon. You get a particular “buzz” taking off and landing on a beach shared with an array of 4WD vehicles. Well worth the extra cost if you like an arial experience.

Each stop gives you around 30 minutes to appreciate the unique features found on the island. Some, such as Lake Mackenzie, allow you a little more time to enjoy a swim, a walk through dense rainforest or photo opportunities such as that found at one of the most photographed shipwrecks anywhere in the world, The Maheno. The day is full of interesting information, fabulous photo opportunities and a wonderful sense of appreciation that something so rare, such as Fraser Island, can be protected from developers in this day and age. The only commercial undertakings on Fraser Island is the tourism industry. It was World Heritage listed in 1992 and is regarded as a place of huge natural importance for all mankind.

So if you are ever thinking of visiting Fraser Island, we highly recommend this wonderful day tour as a way to see the beauty and natural features of the worlds largest sand island without the stress of self driving. The roads are treacherous and dangerous, at certain times of the years almost unpassable with the sand so dry and soft the best drivers get bogged, or in the wet season, slushy and slippery. The beach must be navigated with care and tide times checked so as not to get caught on the beach at high tide. It really is better to take all that stress out of the equation, sit back and enjoy the sights with an experienced tour operator in charge. There are other Fraser Island tours available from Hervey Bay, we consider this particular one to be the best.

Fraser Island is a wilderness area with no sealed roads. There are wild dingos roaming Fraser Island, and while these creatures have become accustomed to humans, they are still wild beasts and as such are dangerous. Do not approach dingos and do not attempt to feed them. If you do come into contact with dingos on the beach keep eye contact and move away slowly. Remember dingos are dangerous.