How to get to Fraser Island

The best way to get to Fraser Island is by taking a 4WD on the ferry, either from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. You can also take a light aircraft from Hervey Bay and land right on the beach.

K’gari (Fraser Island) is the world’s largest sand island located in the Great Sandy Strait off Queensland's East Coast. The only way to get there is by sea or air from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach. There are also some public and private transport options from destinations in Queensland and New South Wales.

No matter how you decide to get to Fraser Island, it's important to plan in advance.

By boat

You can jump on a ferry or barge either as a foot passenger or in your 4WD from River Heads (20 mins south of Hervey Bay), or Inskip Point (also known as Manta Ray Barge) at Rainbow Beach. The journey takes 30 to 50 mins depending on which Fraser Island port you get off at.

Note: Barges from Hervey Bay are operated by Fraser Island Ferry, while Manta Ray operates barges and ferries from Inskip Point.

By air

The closest airport to Fraser Island is Hervey Bay (HVB). You can also fly into Bundaberg (BDB) or Caloundra (CUD) and take the train to Maryborough West. From here, you can transfer on the RailBus Coach to Hervey Bay.

There's also the option to fly from Hervey Bay in a light aircraft. After some incredible bird's eye views, you'll land on 75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island's sand highway (or 'runway' in this case).

Self-driving

If you're driving to Fraser Island, it’s important to note that only 4WDs are allowed. If you don’t have a 4WD, you can rent one in Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach and leave your vehicle in one of the free or paid car parks. You must purchase a vehicle permit from Queensland National Parks to enter Fraser Island with a car.

Below are the average driving times from nearby destinations:

Brisbane: 3.5 hours to Hervey Bay, and 3 hours to Rainbow Beach via the Bruce Highway
Noosa: 2.5 hours to Hervey Bay, and 2 hours to Rainbow Beach
Byron Bay: 8.5 hours to Hervey Bay, and 8 hours to Rainbow Beach
Sydney: 13 hours to Hervey Bay, and 12.5 hours to Rainbow Beach. You can also take the train (see below).

By rail

There are no direct trains to Fraser Island, but there is a Queensland Rail service between Brisbane, Rockhampton and Cairns to Maryborough West (the closest train station to Fraser Island). From here, you can transfer to Hervey Bay on the RailBus Coach operated by Queensland Rail.

You can also take the Tilt Train from Brisbane to Cooroy and then transfer to Rainbow Beach by bus (the journey takes about 4.5 hours).

If you travel from Sydney, you can take a NSW TrainLink to Brisbane and then onto Maryborough West or Cooroy. From here, transfer to Hervey Bay or Rainbow beach via the RailBus Coach.

By bus

There are no public bus services to Fraser Island, but there are a number of private bus companies including Greyhound Australia, Oz Experience and Premier which operate daily coach services from Childers, Maryborough and Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay and/or Rainbow Beach.

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