AliceL

Can someone recommend a good 1 day tour to Fraser Island? We will be there in the next two weeks. We are staying in a hostel in Hervey Bay and only have 1 full day to visit the island. We were thinking about the Kingfisher Bay Ultimate Tour because it visits Lake Wabby and Lake McKenzie but the owner of the hostel told us that it really doesn't visit much of the island. We want to see as much as we can in 1 day and enjoy getting out of the bus and hiking. We had also considered driving a 4WD but are a little too scared to do it.

wlzmatilida

Alice,

I highly recommend Fraser Magic 4WD!

Please feel free to email Sandy or call them at (07) 41 25 6612. They will treat you right!

I had clients last year who: 1) missed their flight AND 2) had a traffic accident while on Fraser Island (not their fault, some wacko driver going too fast around a curve plowed into them about 25 minutes after getting their rental vehicle).

That said, these two guys STILL said it was the highlight of their trip, and I don't doubt it -- I can't emphasize enough what a pleasure it was to deal with this company, Sandy in particular!

So often, I have clients in various parts of the world who get into trouble and the people I'm dealing with are just inept! Not so in this case!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

KayF

We are looking for a good 1 day Fraser Island tour as well so will check out Fraser Magic 4WD.

Melodie - are they drive your own vehicles or is it a tour with driver supplied?

We have friends who own a 4WD so are used to them and they drove on Fraser Island and said never again. There are many places to get bogged in creeks etc, and you have to really watch the tides coming in or risk getting stuck. They wished they had done a tour and had a more relaxing time.
Kay

pat_woolford

Kay F - I agree - last time we were there we took 2 4WD's as we had 4 teenagers and loads of camping gear. My husband managed to plough one into a tree at night; I had the other one and suddenly found myself almost surrounded by sea on both sides and one of the teenagers nearly rolled us by hitting an unseen creek. Maybe we're just terrible drivers!

tropo

I think its only a matter of time before the authorities "limit" the number of 4WD & people visiting this World Heritage site.
I have driven on Fraser Island, over many years, and stayed in beachside cabins, near Happy Valley & Eurong, whilst on fishing trips with mates. Since moving to Hervey Bay, my wife & her sister recently went over for a day trip, with Fraser Island Discovery Tour, which was fully guided, in a large 4WD bus from Kingfisher Bay Resort. It normally costs $105 per adult, but we mentioned we belonged to RACQ, and they knocked off $5. I believe they give discounts to pensioners,etc.
It was a full days outing, left on the Kingfisher Bay boat 8am, and returned to Hervey bay around 6pm. Morning & afternoon tea, and buffet lunch was included. It visited Lake McKEnzie, Wangagoolba Creek & the giant ferns, Maheno wreck, Central Station, Eli Creek, Coloured Sands.
All in all, they had a fabolous time.
Having driven on the island in 4WD, over the years, I find the driving easy, except for some idiots you get. The main thing to remember if you hire a 4WD, is to get to River Heads Ferry early, make sure you deflate your tires for driving on the sand, drive slowly on the sand tracks and watch out for other traffic. Make sure you know the high & low tides (for driving on the beachside of Fraser), keep to the well worn tracks on the beachside, don't go too far up into the soft sand, and again drive slowly over the areas, where you can see the fresh water running out into the ocean. (if you drive too fast over these little rivers, you will cause a hard bump, which is uncomfortable to your other passengers.
Unfortunately, Fraser Island, like other places in Qld, is getting "loved to death", with heaps of tourists visiting each day, hence the reason for the proposed limiting of persons on the island each day.

pat_woolford

Hi tropo - c'mon - lighten up a bit - Alice L just mentioned that she was "a bit scared" to drive a 4WD on Fraser Island and I thought I gave a lighthearted (if true) response to it. I too have visited Fraser Island many times over the last 30 years and at the right time of year its magnificent. I don't know if you've tried it for 2 weeks camping with 4 teenagers who very shortly became bored out of their brains, resulting stress and friction was what caused my husband to hit a tree. It wasn't "idiot driving" He can handle a much harder 4WD drive from Cairns to Cape York without a falter. If anyone wants to start a thread here called "holidays from hell" I could fill you in. But that was because of the teenagers in tow. Have also stayed there several times for many weeks when my children were small and had to worry about them being skittled by 4WD fishermen on the piss roaring along the beaches.

tropo

Pat, sorry, I think you might have taken my message the wrong way. When I said, "idiot drivers" - I wasn't referring to you or your husband, I was referring to some of the 4WD fishermen that people encounter on the ocean beach.
As for my advice on "driving on the island" I was trying to advise AliceL of some of the "main considerations" to remember, if she rents a 4WD. Unfortunately, people who are not used to driving in soft sand, often get bogged.
Pat, I could understand the frustration of a camping trip, where your children were a bit bored. On all of my fishing trips to Fraser Island, even some of my mates got "bored" when the fish weren't biting, or we had torrential rain for days, and were stuck in a beach house, playing cards.
Pat, I always consider your postings to be so informative & accurate, and I enjoy reading them, so please don't take my replies the wrong way, I would never want to upset you.
Cheers Leigh.

pat_woolford

Sorry Tropo - I should read things more carefully before I lose the plot - we'll blame the Olympics for lack of sleep. I'd also hate to imply that my children are still teenagers - we're way past that!

AliceL

Thanks for all your help. I think we will stick to a tour. The Fraser Discovery Tour sounds good. We are leaving tonight for Australia. I am so excited!