Advice about Fraser Island?
 

Need some help on tour ideas. My husband and I want to do a one day tour of Fraser Island, we have decided against self-drive due to some advice read on other threads. We would like to leave from Rainbow Beach, because of where we will be staying the night before. We would love to hear of experiences that will guide us in our choice. Are all tours about the same sights? Or is there something that is a "must see" that only a few tours go to? Thanks so much for any input!

Fiesty 1 - I might be able to help you on this one. I live in nearby Hervey Bay. If your not used to driving in sand in a 4WD, then take a tour with an experienced driver.
(I have driven on Fraser Island and I have seen a lot of inexperienced people driving 4WD's get stuck in the sand, or worse still in the high tide zone, trying to get around coffee rocks, or not keeping on eye on the changing tides. Also keep an eye out for fishermen who run back from the surf with a fish on their rod line (they sometimes don't see 4WD vehicles driving along the beach) Take an organised tour, you can relax & see more. They mostly go to the same places, which are the best on the island.

I forgot to mention the places you would see on a organised 4WD trip out of Rainbow Beach -
* Beach landscape from Inskip Point to Eurong.
* Coloured Sands enroute
* Eli Creek
* Lake Mackenzie (a good spot for a swim)
* Central Station, dingoes, palm rainforest along the creek, crystal clear water in the creek.
Some tours may even take in Indian Head, and possibly go over the other side of Indian Head, and up to Champagne Rock Pools.
Whatever tour you take, you will enjoy.

I also forgot to mention a bit about Rainbow Beach village.....
* Drive up to the lookout, and park the car, & walk to Carlo Sandblow (it can be a bit strenuous, due to walking in sand)
* Alternatively, walk down on the beach & look to the right, towards Double Island Lighthouse, walk along the beach in that direction, for about 300 metres, and look up at the sandhills, adjacent to Carlo Sandblow.
* Not sure if the new Hotel is finished yet, if its finished, then it should be good for a meal, otherwise check out the Surf Club, nice sitting out on their sundeck having a cold beer/or wine & nibbles. Last time I was at the Surf Club, they had good fish dinners.
* If your driving a 4WD, the Caravan Park, directly opposite the beach & next to the new Hotel, has excellent amentities, and just a short stroll across the road, through the park, down the stairs to the beach, but watch out for hidden rocks in the surf, might be better to drive around to their main beach.

tropo- thanks for the input. We have decided to go with a tour, rather than self-drive. It just sounded too stressful when it came to everything that COULD happen. We are used to 4WD, but more for snow. We currently have about 6 feet! Are all tour groups, then, created equal? Have you had good experience with any? And, is it hard to get the tours from Rainbow Beach. Most of those that we looked at seemed to leave from Hervey Bay. Some said it was different from Rbow Beach, but I couldn't see where to request that departure. Last question, we will have our own vehicle, but will want to park it and leave it there for the day while we take the tour. Any suggestions? Do the ferries have "parking areas" for people? Thanks so much for the info!

fiesty1 - I just got back onto Fodors website & read your reply. I haven't been an organised 4WD tour of Fraser Island for some years now, but I can assure there operators that depart & return from Rainbow Beach, usually smaller groups & more intimate. If you stay 2 nights in rainbow beach, you can leave your vehicle at your accommodation, as the tourist operators will pick up from your Rainbow Beach accommodation & return you there. I will get off Fodors for a minute & see what I can come up with in regard to tours operating out of Rainbow.

Fiesty1 - I just remembered...there's another accommodation place I would recommend, and that is Fraser Shores Resort, which is situated in bushland, on the road leading from Rainbow Beach, to Inskip Point (where the barge takes all 4WD vehicles, including the tour ones as well).
As for one day tours check out this website www.rainbowbeachinfo.com.au
its the information centre, which can arrange accommodation & tours in advance. The photos on the website will give you an indication of how nice this part of the country is (when its not raining that is)
Rainbow Beach is a quiet village, outside of school holidays or Christmas periods.
I forgot to mention that when you sit on the timber deck outside the Surf Club at Rainbow Beach, sipping on a nice wine, look north & take in a beautiful vista of coastline that stretches along Fraser Island in distance. Enjoy

tropo- Thanks for all the great input. I will check out the link you gave me. I think that will be very helpful. Can't wait to check out that view myself! I'll keep my fingers crossed for no rain. :-) Thanks again!

Happy to oblige