First look: K'gari’s Illumina Debuts With Mesmerising First Show

Australian Traveller were among the first to witness the brand new light and sound show from the creative genius behind Uluṟu’s Wintjiri Wiṟu – and it is the next big must-see experience!

K’gari has long been known for its natural beauty, but now it’s offering visitors a whole new way to experience its breathtaking landscapes. On 30 September 2024, the Illumina stage officially launched at Kingfisher Bay Resort, debuting its first immersive light and sound show, Return to Sky. This magical nighttime experience promises to take visitors on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and stunning scenery, all while lighting up the island in ways never seen before.

But Illumina is more than just a one-time spectacle – it’s a permanent stage designed to host a variety of future shows, all of which will celebrate the cultural and environmental significance of the island. Just like the stunning Wintjiri Wiru show at Uluru, also created by renowned light artist Bruce Ramus, Illumina marks the beginning of what is expected to be a series of visual and cultural spectacles, bringing the island’s rich history and natural beauty to life in a truly unique way.

Illumina Light Show on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island)

Illumina has officially launched at Kingfisher Bay Resort. (Image: Supplied)

What is Illumina?

Illumina is a specially designed stage set on K’gari, an iconic UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the Butchulla people. The entire setup uses cutting-edge light and sound technology to illuminate the island’s landscape in an eco-friendly way. However, Illumina is more than just a visual experience – it is a platform created to tell stories that have shaped this extraordinary island.

Illumina uses cutting-edge light and sound technology to illuminate the island’s landscape. (Image: Supplied)

Enter Return to Sky

The inaugural show, Return to Sky, is nothing short of spectacular. Visitors are taken on a visual and auditory journey through the skies, seas and sands of K’gari, guided by stunning light projections and powerful soundscapes. As the sun sets and the island’s natural beauty becomes shrouded in darkness, Return to Sky lights up the landscape in vibrant colours and shapes that seem to transport you into another world.

The show’s use of eco-friendly lighting ensures that its impact on K’gari’s pristine environment remains minimal, while still delivering maximum visual impact. As you walk along the illuminated pathways, the natural features of the island are transformed into living canvases for the story to unfold.

Return to Sky is the inaugural show. (Image: Supplied)

The scope for future shows

While Return to Sky is the first of what will likely be many shows on the Illumina stage, there’s already buzz about what’s next. The design of Illumina allows for an array of future performances, each telling new stories from the Butchulla people and further celebrating the island’s heritage.

Just as Wintjiri Wiru has become a staple attraction at Uluru, Illumina is poised to become a must-see for anyone visiting K’gari. Bruce Ramus, the creative force behind both projects, is renowned for his ability to blend storytelling with technology, making each show a unique experience that’s tailored to its location.

At Uluru, Wintjiri Wiru celebrates the connection between the Anangu people and their land through a stunning display of lights, lasers and drones. In K’gari, Illumina will similarly offer a platform for the Butchulla people to share their stories in a way that captivates and educates visitors from around the world.

The flexibility of the Illumina stage means the possibilities are endless. Future shows could explore everything from the island’s flora and fauna to its environmental challenges, all through the lens of the Butchulla people’s deep knowledge and respect for the land. It’s a space where tradition meets innovation, and the results are bound to be breathtaking.

The possibilities are endless for Illumina. (Image: Supplied)

A visionary collaboration with Bruce Ramus

Much like his work at Uluṟu, Bruce Ramus has brought his visionary talent to K’gari, helping to create an experience that’s both visually stunning and deeply respectful of the land and its people. Ramus is known for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with light art, and Illumina is no exception.

His approach to Return to Sky focuses on creating a harmonious connection between technology and the environment, ensuring that the show enhances the island’s natural beauty rather than detracting from it. The result is a performance that feels as though it belongs to the landscape – a seamless blend of nature, light and culture that leaves visitors in awe.

As the creative mind behind some of Australia’s most iconic light installations, Ramus has a deep understanding of how to use light to tell stories. Whether it’s illuminating the sacred lands of Uluru or the forests of K’gari, his work is always grounded in respect for the culture and history of the places he transforms. His ability to create meaningful, immersive experiences is what makes Illumina such an exciting new addition to K’gari’s tourist attractions.

Illumina leaves visitors in awe. (Image: Supplied)

Why Illumina is a game-changer for K’gari

For visitors to K’gari, Illumina offers a completely new way to experience the island. While most tourists spend their days exploring the island’s many wonders – its crystal-clear lakes, ancient rainforests and endless beaches – Illumina gives them a reason to stay and see K’gari in a new light (quite literally) after dark.

The show’s ability to transform the island into a glowing wonderland at night adds an extra layer of magic to any visit. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or someone who’s been to K’gari before, Return to Sky will make you feel like you’re seeing the island for the very first time. And with the promise of future shows on the horizon, there’s always something new to look forward to.

Like Wintjiri Wiru at Uluru, Illumina offers more than just entertainment – it’s an opportunity to connect with the land in a meaningful way. By sharing the stories of the Butchulla people and highlighting the island’s cultural and environmental significance, Illumina ensures that visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for K’gari’s history and its future.

Illumina is already shaping up to be one of the hottest new attractions in Australia and tickets for Return to Sky are in high demand. Whether you’re planning a trip to K’gari or simply looking for a reason to visit, this immersive light experience should be at the top of your list.

With future shows already in the works, Illumina promises to be a highlight of K’gari’s tourism scene for years to come. Don’t miss your chance to be among the first to experience it!

Tickets for Return to Sky are in high demand. (Image: Supplied)

The future of light art in Australia

With the success of Wintjiri Wiru at Uluru and now Illumina at K’gari, Australia is quickly becoming a global leader in immersive light art that celebrates both nature and culture. These shows are setting a new standard for how we experience iconic destinations, allowing us to connect with the land in ways that are both innovative and deeply respectful.

As more stages like Illumina are created across the country, we can expect to see even more incredible stories told through light. Whether you’re mesmerised by the cultural significance, the environmental awareness, or simply the beauty of the displays, these shows are proving that light art is here to stay – and it’s shining a spotlight on Australia’s most spectacular landscapes.

Explore K’gari and you will not only discover the rainbow-coloured cliffs sacred to the local Indigenous people, or a coastline that swoops and soars, or the astonishing turquoise waters of a lake so translucent you want to stay immersed in it forever.

For the world’s largest sand island, there is a surprising number of things to do on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). From wandering through thick rainforest, to spending the whole day hopping from lake to pool to lake, to experiencing the island’s ancient and modern history. It’s clear that a trip to K’gari is more than just a day trip.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing holiday or a natural adventure, buckle up. Here are 12 things to do on K’gari, appropriately named by the local Butchulla tribe to mek’gari an ‘paradise’.

1. Explore the rainforest

pile valley on k'gari fraser island queensland

Find yourself in the middle of lush rainforest, like Pile Valley. (Image: TEQ)

Fraser Island is the only place in the world where rainforest is found growing on sand dunes at elevations of more than 200 metres. The low-lying shrubs and heaths on the island are of great evolutionary and ecological significance as they make up the most complete age sequence of coastal dune systems anywhere in the world.

The diverse vegetation on the 184,000-hectare island also includes towering kauri pine and piccabeen palms, flora-rich shrubland and heath and subtropical rainforest. Don’t miss: The magnificent wildflower displays in spring and summer on the island, which is about three and a half hours’ drive north of Brisbane.

2. Lake McKenzie

aerial of Lake Mckenzie on k'gari queensland

Relax on the silica sand shores of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Sit and watch the way young children approach Lake McKenzie/ Boorangoora: they advance at speed, arms pinwheeling, and propel their bodies into the water again and again. This is the way to do it. The crowds that converge around the lake make this a top spot for people-watching. Choose your tribe: dreadlocked hippies sitting in the shade of an eucalyptus tree; flashpackers with their selfie sticks prodding the sky; and families advancing and retreating from the water.

The white sandy beach tinged with a turquoise swirl of water is one of the most visited natural wonders in Australia. Lake McKenzie is a ‘perched’ lake, meaning it contains only rainwater, and it is set into the landscape like a precious stone.

It’s accessible by 4WD or on foot when following a 20-kilometre return loop trail from Kingfisher Bay Resort.

3. Indian Head

people walking on Indian Head Headland at one end of Seventy Five Mile Beach opn k'gari

Walk to Indian Head. (Image: Mark Fitz/TEQ)

Located on the eastern side of K’gari, Indian Head is a rocky outcrop said to have been originally created by volcanic activity up to 80 million years ago.

Captain Cook first caught sight of the Butchulla people in 1770 and named the eastern beach after them; the term ‘Indian’ was used to describe Indigenous people centuries ago. Known to the local Indigenous people as tuckee (stone), the distinctive head shape of the rocky cliffs made it one of K’gari’s most notable attractions.

It’s both an iconic landmark and a natural lookout for spotting sea life: look out over the ocean for manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles and whales.

4. The Cathedrals

Aerial shot of 4WD driving along the beach at The Cathedrals on k'gari

Drive passed the rusty-coloured Cathedrals. (Image: Kyle Hunter/ TEQ)

These cliffs of coloured sands are permanently stained in various shades of rust and ochre and are one of many sacred sites on the island for the local Butchulla people. According to Dreamtime legend, the cliffs were formed long ago as a result of a love story gone wrong.

Watching The Cathedrals change colour as the sun moves across the sky and the first rays of dawn paint the pinnacles is like watching the final touches being applied to an artwork. Over time, the elements have clawed at the cliffs and resulted in this breathtaking construction.

5. Champagne Pools

aerial of champagne pools on k'gari queensland

Enjoy the natural fizz of the Champagne Pools. (Image: TEQ)

Why Champagne? Because of the pleasant fizzing sensation that happens when waves crash into the water of the pools. Sit back and relax in the blue-green water of this natural spa bath – or we should say, baths. The Champagne Pools are a series, hemmed in by rocks and polished smooth by the sea. Soak in the gorgeous ocean views while you do.

The pools are about 2.2 kilometres north along the 75 Mile Beach from Indian Head. Go at low tide when the sea is calm – while they are relatively safe, caution should be taken at high tide.

6. 75 Mile Beach

a dingo walking along the water on 7r mile beach on k'gari fraser island queensland

Spot resident wildlife, curve off to explore more sections of the island, or stay to fish. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

75 Mile Beach is long, surprisingly long despite its very obvious name. Yes, it is 75 miles long – or over 120 kilometres – but it’s not until you’re standing on this straight, sandy stretch that you realise the reality of those numbers. Looking out onto the horizon here makes you understand why people once thought the world was flat: it’s all straight lines of blues and yellows, from the sand between your toes to the cloud-spotted skies.

This spectacular stretch of sand traces the eastern side of K’gari, and is officially a national highway and runway – it’s one of the few beaches in the world where light aircraft can actually land and take off.

You’ll spot plenty of 4WDs pulled over along this beach, its occupants trying their luck catching a fish or two. It’s a great place to pass a few hours, or to carve off a trail to places like Eli Creek or stop at the famous shipwreck (more to come).

7. Eli Creek

Mother and daughter enjoying Eli Creek, as part of the Beauty Spots 4WD tour on k'gari

Ride the tide along Eli Creek. (Image: Courtney Atkinson/ TEQ)

Speaking of Eli Creek pours up to four million litres of clear, fresh water into the ocean every hour. The result? A pleasantly steady – but not scary – current that will also carry humans on floatie devices along it. I don’t care how old you are; it’s surprisingly fun.

Even if you don’t want to ride the tide, it’s a popular picnic spot with a boardwalk following the creek inland. So you can still have a gander at it, and the surrounding banksia and pandanus.

8. The Maheno Shipwreck

aerial of the ss maheno on 75 mile beach k'gari fraser island queensland

Drive by the SS Maheno. (Image: TEQ)

The SS Maheno is a beacon for visitors to K’gari because it’s a bit of lingering evidence of history: a cyclone devastated parts of the Queensland coast in 1935. The ship was on its way to a Japanese shipyard to be turned into scrap metal when its tow line snapped; it is now better known for being washed ashore on Fraser’s Eastern beach than for being the fastest ship to cross the Tasman between Australia and New Zealand.

Formerly a First World War hospital ship, the skeleton of the SS Maheno has a broken hull that looks like cracked ribs. It’s worth seeing, especially with that backdrop of waves, dunes and tangled trees.

9. Lake Wabby & Hammerstone Sand Blow

aerial of Lake Wabby & Hammerstone Sand Blow on k'gari fraser island

See striking sand dunes and a crescent-moon lake. (Image: TEQ)

As the deepest lake on the island (it’s 11.4 metres deep at its lowest point), the half-moon shape and dark green water of Lake Wabby is a popular sight on K’gari. It’s what know as a barrage lake, meaning it was formed when sand dunes shifted over time, blocking a body of water before it could reach the ocean. Brush box, satinay, tallowwood trees and more form a striking, thick green border around the lake.

Perhaps even more striking than the lake is the massive collection of sand dunes right next to it, creating Hammerstone Sand Blow. Walking along here feels like you’ve stepped right onto a desert moon out of Star Wars.

There are two ways to get here. The most common way is to park on 75 Mile Beach (where signs point to Lake Wabby) and walk 1.5 hours (return) along the bush track. The secret way is to park at Lake Wabby Car Park off Cornwall’s Break Road, and walk a steep but short 15-20 minutes.

10. Central Station

Couple with a guide at Central Station things to do on k'gari

Discover the boardwalks of Central Station with a guide. (Image: TEQ)

Central Station was originally home to a community of more than 100 people during its days as a forestry camp when timber logging was the thing here in the 1920s. Thankfully, chainsaws are a thing of the past on World Heritage-listed K’gari.

Lace up your boots for a walk along the boardwalk that hugs the curves of Wanggoolba Creek as it snakes through the rainforest. The creek was used for Secret Women’s Business before the land was cleared for forestry operations. These days, the picnic area sits amid a botanical garden.

11. Indigenous history

Bush Tucker Talk and Taste at kingfisher bay resort things to do on k'gari

Try native ingredients. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

The original inhabitants of K’gari were the Butchulla people, who occupied the land for about 5000 years. There are around 500 Indigenous archaeological sites located across K’gari, which are rich with Dreamtime stories.

It is also equipped with ingredients from the original Indigenous pantry. You can taste some of these native Australian flavours during a Bush Tucker Talk + Taste session at Kingfisher Bay Resort. See, touch and taste native ingredients in their raw state before the chef turns them into a tasty meal.

12. Kayaking through the mangroves

Kayaking near Bowarrady Creek things to do on k'gari fraser island

Explore mangrove systems on a kayak. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

Another brilliant way to get out on the water (and get a very good workout) is taking to a kayak and exploring K’gari’s beautiful mangrove system.

Hire one (or a canoe or stand-up paddle board) from Kingfisher Bay Resort to explore on your own. If you’re not so comfortable with a paddle and would like extra support, or you’d just like to learn more about the ecosystems you’re adventuring through, join a tour led by Kingfisher Bay Resort’s rangers. Check at the resort’s front desk for timings.

Still want more K’gari tips? Let the experts guide you on one of our picks of top K’gari tours.

K’gari’s Illumina light show is one visual spectacle you need to see