Hotel profile: K'gari Beach Resort

The remote K’gari Beach Resort is a hotel, pub, restaurant and bakery all in one, plus it’s home to some of the best doughnuts in the state.

Light, beach decor, just a minute’s walk to K’gari’s famous 75 Mile Beach and one of the best bakeries you’ll find in Queensland. Hands down, K’gari Beach Resort is the idyllic home base for a secluded beach getaway.

Formerly known as Eurong Beach Resort, the resort is only accessible by 4WD – like much of the island – making it a rather peaceful place to be year-round, especially during off-peak season. Enjoy stunning beach views, explore K’gari’s 4WD tracks, try your luck at fishing and spot some of the local wildlife.

Location

You’d be hard-pressed to even find somewhere to pitch a tent closer to the iconic 75 Mile Beach. Of course, beauty and serenity often come at a cost, and in this case, that cost is accessibility.

While Kingfisher Beach Resort does offer bus transfers from its ferry to K’gari Beach Resort, you really do need to have your own 4WD or join a tour to explore the full island. Having said that, this place is so serene with everything you need in one spot – that I couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to settle in and relax here, and here alone.

car driving along 75 mile beach on k'gari

75 Mile Beach is on your doorstep. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Style and character

Think coastal grandma chic. Rooms are simple and colour palettes match the beach, ocean and forest surrounding the property. Each room features a print of local photographer (and tour guide) Peter Meyer‘s works to really add to the sense of place.

It’s almost like a (very) small coastal town here, with simple but inviting accommodation, a bakery, restaurant and pub all on the property.

Facilities

Pool

Dive into the resort pool. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

A large, lagoon-style swimming pool forms the centre of the resort. Perfect for cooling down after a day of exploring.

Outdoor BBQ

Make use of the public outdoor barbecue to sizzle up your catch of the day, then eat it in the provided (and shaded) pavilions.

Tennis court

If racing along the very straight 75 Mile Beach isn’t enough to cure that competitive streak, challenge your holiday-mates to a match on the tennis court.

Housekeeping

Towel changes and amenity checks are provided on the third day of every stay, while full housekeeping services (including linen changes) are provided on the seventh.

Rooms

Resort Rooms

The coastal-inspired rooms have all the basics covered. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Simple but cute is the name of the K’gari Beach Resort room game. Relax into the beach holiday vibe in one of these coastal-inspired rooms.

Each room features a queen and king single bed, sleeping up to three people. You’ll also get your own deck or patio to take in the view and a full bathroom. Air-conditioned rooms can be purchased for an additional fee and are subject to availability – otherwise, you’ll need to make do with a ceiling fan.

King Rooms

Add a TV and air con. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

For groups of two, opt for a King Room, featuring a king bed, air conditioning and heating, a big screen television, a balcony or patio, an ensuite bathroom and a microwave so you can reheat your leftovers from McKenzie’s on 75.

Food and drink

McKenzie’s on 75

McKenzie’s on 75 is the resort’s main restaurant. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Serving indoors, outdoors and even by the hotel pool, pop in for a casual buffet breakfast from 7am to 9am every morning, or head over later in the day for a lunch buffet or signature house-made pizzas. From 5:30pm, the dinner menu offers up classic pub grub with burgers, steaks and salads. And let’s not forget dessert. They also offer a kids’ menu at night.

Of course, you can always just pop in for a snack or a cold beer and cocktails.

Eurong Bakery

Try the best doughnuts in Queensland at Eurong Bakery. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Who knew some of Queensland’s best doughnuts were hiding out at one of its most remote bakeries? This is where you would find me for lunch every day of my holiday. Besides the doughnuts, find a range of hot and cold pastries, muffins and freshly made sandwiches ready to be eaten at the bakery or taken away on your day’s adventure.

Open daily from 7am to 3:30pm, it’s a very cute place to spend some time. Be transported right back to your childhood days of begging your parents for lunch and/or treats at the end of a family beach day – but this time you don’t need permission. It’s open, simple decor is inviting, and its coffee and milkshakes will invite you to linger longer.

General Store

Forgot some essentials? Find everything from groceries, meat and fresh produce to resort wear, maps, ice, and fuel at the General Store. It’s open daily from 7:30am to 6:00pm.

Experiences

Island tours

aerial of Lake McKenzie on k'gari island

Dive into the unique colours of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Join single, two- or multi-day tours guided by passionate locals and designed to immerse you in the island’s unique ecosystem and cultural stories.

Pack in all the iconic sights – picturesque Lake McKenzie, Pile Valley rainforest, Eli Creek, the historic Maheno Shipwreck, the colourful sands of The Pinnacles and 75 Mile Beach – into one day. Or take your time to visit these spots and more at a more relaxed pace. Add in hidden gems like Lake Wabby and the Champagne Pools (with overnight stays at K’gari Beach Resort included in the price).

Private 4WD tour

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island

Go your own way with a bespoke tour. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

If you can, this is my absolute top tip for exploring K’gari when you’re not confident to hit the sandy tracks on your own (this option is for a maximum group of four people). It’s not just about being alone on the tour – although it is a bonus – it’s about the freedom to create your own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who will have plenty of stories and expertise to give context to what you’re looking at. It’s also about stopping at the icons between the waves of tourists, and only going where you really want to.

Access for guests with disabilities?

It would be difficult to get around the resort and K’gari Island with mobility issues.

Family-friendly?

kids looking over hotel room balcony at k'gari beach resort

Kids are welcome here. (Image: Courtney Atkinson)

Absolutely, although K’gari Beach Resort is more about families making their own fun in nature, rather than Kingfisher Bay Resort, which has extra entertainment on site.

Details

Transfers are available from Kingfisher Bay Resort (where the K’gari ferry docks), but for exploring the island, you’ll need a 4WD.

Address: K’gari Beach Track, K’gari Island
Website: Visit eurong.com.au
Contact:(07) 4120 1600
Cost: Rates start at $183 per night.

Discover why UNESCO defined K’gari as a place of exceptional natural beauty.

K’gari is home to expansive beaches, roaming dingoes, cliffs of coloured sand and astonishing turquoise waters. Spanning 166,000 hectares in size, it also offers a range of terrains and views that other places just can’t compete with. The best way to experience them? Pitch a tent and camp, of course. K’gari camping is like nowhere else.

Thankfully, K’gari is packed with plenty of formal and informal campsites to choose from. Here, we answer all your most pressing questions on everything from permits, packing lists and tips for avoiding those pesky dingoes in our guide to camping on K’gari.

Before you arrive at K’gari

man sitting on 4wd in the middle of Pile Valley on k'gari camping

Camping on K’gari can be an unforgettable experience. (Image: Kyle Hunter)

Before you embark on one of the most rewarding outdoor adventures you can have in Queensland, you’re going to need to prepare.

Weather conditions on K’gari can vary greatly throughout the year and can have a significant impact on factors such as how you get there, track closures, dingo safety tips and where you can set up camp. To stay up to date on all this information, do your research beforehand.

K’gari is only accessible via 4WD, which means you will need your own or a rental 4WD if you intend to camp. If you’re a novice or would like time to get more comfortable behind the wheel, you can fine-tune your skills by booking a lesson with the Australian Offroad Academy on the island behind the Kingfisher Bay Resort (although some of the unavoidable tracks really are high-level driving, so you want to be quite competent).

Fuel is available for purchase on K’gari at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Eurong Beach, Happy Valley, Cathedral on Fraser and Orchid Beach.

Permits

shop at The Cathederals on k'gari fraser island

Fuel is available for purchase at The Cathedral. (Image: Courtney Atkinson/ TEQ)

A vehicle access permit and a camping permit both need to be organised before your arrival on the island.

Vehicle permits on K’gari

A vehicle access permit must be clearly displayed on your bonnet for inspection by authorised officers. Permits can be obtained online in advance via the Queensland National Parks Booking Service. They cost about $57.40 for one month or less, or up to $481.80 for longer stints on the island (depending on the campground). Head here for more information on vehicle access permits.

Camping permits on K’gari

Planning on setting up camp in one of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service areas? You’ll need camping permits for that too. Purchase your camping permit at their website before heading off to the island – and we strongly recommend booking your K’gari campsite six months in advance to beat the crowds also wanting to enjoy a spot of beach camping in the peak season.

What to pack

Aside from the obvious camping essentials, several important items are commonly left behind when it comes time to pack for a camping trip. To ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible, double-check that you have the below.

First off, pack a first aid kit. You never know when you’ll need one. Secondly, insect repellent certainly comes in handy on those humid island nights. Also bring a fuel stove, rubbish bags, extra camping pegs/ropes and lockable food containers.

How to get to K’gari

4WDing on 75 mile beach on k'gari fraser island

Bring your own 4WD, or hire one to bring with you on the ferry. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You (and your 4WD) can grab a barge or ferry from either Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach.

From Hervey Bay in River Heads: The SeaLink ferry departs several times a day. Take the 30-minute journey to Wanggoolba Creek or the 50-minute journey to Kingfisher Bay.

From Rainbow Beach: the Manta Ray Barge leaves regularly from Inskip Point, with the last barge to Fraser leaving at 5pm. The trip to Hook Point takes just 10 minutes.

For high-flyers: Air Fraser Island’s fleet of light aircraft departs from the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay airports.

If you’re going to be fully focused on driving around with your 4WD once you arrive on the island, best to check out this detailed map of the island’s camping sites. Another solid reason to check out this K’gari map in advance? The often weak mobile signal on the island.

Choosing a camping site on K’gari

person with 4wd camping on a k'gari beach

Beach camping is a popular camping option for K’gari. (Image: Tyson Mayr/ TEQ)

There are lots of camping areas to choose from on K’gari, each as blissfully picturesque as the next. Which one you pick will depend on what you’re looking for from your adventure. Do you want to be close to amenities? Do a spot of beach camping? Sleep in total solitude? Wake up to world-class sunrises? Go fishing all day? There is the perfect camping ground for you here on K’gari.

Beach camping zones

The cheap camping options on K’gari provide very little in the way of luxury, but much in the way of natural beauty. Some of the more formal camping sites deliver basic facilities, including tap water and toilets. And most have barbecues and communal washing-up facilities for use.

On K’gari there are 45 camping areas overall to choose from, including nine beach camping zones that you can pick from on the Eastern Beach.

Beach camping zone 1 (Dilli Village to Eurong)
Beach camping zone 2 (Eurong to Poyungan Rocks)
Beach camping zone 3 (Poyungan Rocks to Happy Valley)
Beach camping zone 4 (Happy Valley to Eli Creek)
Beach camping zone 5 (Eli Creek to The Pinnacles)
Beach camping zone 6 (The Pinnacles to Dundubara)
Beach camping zone 7 (Dundubara to Tukkee wurroo (Indian Head))
Beach camping zone 8 (Waddy Point to Ngkala Rocks)
Beach camping zone 9 (Browns Rocks to Sandy Cape)

You’ll need to be confident behind the wheel of a 4WD (and have a high clearance vehicle) to get to these beachside camping sites. And take note: if you’re worried about dingoes or camping with young children, you may be better off with another option that offers dingo-deterrent fences.

But our overall favourites on the island? Central Station, Dundubara and Waddy Point are your best options for camping on K’gari. All campgrounds have a 9pm noise curfew and generators are not permitted.

Remote campgrounds

There are 10 remote camping sites on K’gari, most without amenities. Here you can bypass the crowds and truly immerse yourself in what the island has to offer.

The Sandy Cape at the tip of the island is a great place to start. Otherwise, sites on the north-western side of the island – between Moon Point in the south and Wathumba Spit in the north – are your best options for remote camping.

There are more informal camping areas behind the foredunes on the eastern beach (check out our notes on the various camping zones there, above). Set-up is only permitted within signposted zones and at least 50 metres away from water.

Family campgrounds

Waddy Beach is a gorgeous campground option. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

Visitors with children should opt for the fenced sites on the island. The grounds at Central Station, Lake Boomanjin, Dundubara, Dilli Village and Waddy Point are all good kid-friendly accommodation options.

Similar to the aforementioned formal sites, most of the family-friendly ones provide basic facilities like tap water and toilets. There are also barbecues and communal washing-up facilities.

Other notable mentions:

Best for fishing: Ungowa on the south-western coastline
Best for sunrises: Marloo, Ocean Lake camping zone on the eastern beach
Best for fire pits: Dundubara
Beach camping: Waddy Point on the north-east coast
Best camping near Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie): If you’re planning on doing the K’gari Great Walk, check out the Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie) walkers’ camp.

For more information on individual campsite specifications visit the Queensland Parks and Forests website.

How much does it cost to camp on K’gari?

It can cost as little as seven dollars (that’s the same as two flat white coffees) to camp on K’gari. While it’ll only get you entry to one of the more basic campsites, these are the kind of prices that are enough to make even cash-strapped backpackers envious.

Eco-camping tips

man wearing a backpack on Basin Lake, K'gari camping

Leave only footprints. (Image: Tyson Mayr/ TEQ)

Thankfully, we have already penned some helpful guidelines that eco-conscious campers can abide by.

In addition to this, there are a few K’gari-specific tips that you can follow during your visit to help preserve its beauty for generations to come.

Avoid reapplying sunscreen or insect repellent before swimming. Unless your sunscreen is reef-safe, the chemicals can impact the water quality and negatively affect its wildlife.
K’gari is one of the best places in Australia to see dingoes. And while they roam freely around the island, it’s important to keep your distance. They are opportunistic hunters and scavengers, so be cautious if you see these wild animals. Do not feed them or leave food scraps around. Lock your food inside your vehicles and never eat inside your tent.
Do not bury your rubbish. Use the bins provided or take rubbish with you when you leave the island.
Open fires are not allowed on K’gari, except for the communal fire rings provided by EPA at select campgrounds.
Observe the prescribed speed limits in your 4WD. The maximum limits are 80km/h on beach tracks and 30km/h inland. Having a map of the island is also recommended.

Is swimming safe on K’gari?

Although they may look alluring, K’gari beaches are not safe for swimming. Strong rips and sharks can be found lurking beneath the surface, as well as stingrays between October and April.

But will you find crocodiles basking in the shallows of the island paradise? While sightings of saltwater crocodiles are reasonably rare this far south, they have in the past been spotted stopping off at K’gari on their travels abroad.

Just another pointy-teethed reason that – if you are keen for a swim – you head for one of the many lakes and creeks – all of which are freshwater and safe.

K’gari Beach Resort has a bakery that’s hiding Qld’s best doughnuts