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9 K’gari tours to help you see the whole island

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
It’s time to sit back and let the experts show you how to really experience their slice of paradise.

Discovering remote swimming holes, hiking through lush rainforests, exhilarating 4×4 drives on white-sand beaches and diving into a crystalline perched lake. With so much to see and do on K’gari, getting yourself organised can be intimidating!

Instead, treat yourself to some insider knowledge, and book one of these top-billing K’gari tours.

How long to spend on K’gari?

You can definitely see some of K’gari’s highlights on a day trip. But we should warn you: it will be tricky to fit everything in. This is particularly true if your itinerary includes more remote experiences, such as dipping in the Champagne Pools or hiking across the dunes to Lake Waddy.

To fully experience this UNESCO World Heritage-listed location, stretch out your trip to three or more days. As well as being able to see and do more, by sleeping overnight on the island, you get first dibs at famed K’gari’s beauty spots, like Boorangoora/Lake McKenzie when you beat day-trippers there in the morning.

K’gari tours on the island

1. Beauty Spots 4WD tour

Kgari Beauty Spots Tour bus in rainforest
Explore in air-conditioned 4WD coaches. (Image: TEQ)

While the island is all accessible by 4WD, it’s not always easy – especially if you’re not experienced. So jumping on Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Beauty Spots tour is an incredible solution to see all the iconic K’gari spots without the hassle. Your transport for the day will be an air-conditioned, custom-designed 4WD coach.

Taking a full day, take a dip into Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek, drive the long stretch of 75 Mile Beach and explore head inland to subtropical rainforests.

2. Personalised 4WD tour

a 4wd driving on a sandy road on k'gari fraser island
Pick your own adventure, without needing to drive. (Image: TEQ)

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.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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3. Kingfisher Bay Resort ranger tours

aerial of kayakers exploring the mangroves on k'gari fraser island
Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt)

There are several reasons to stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort, but it’s the ranger-led experiences that take the cake. Every day, a selection of ranger-led tours are offered to guests – from day and night walks to discover the history and habitat of the island, to mangrove explorations, to experiences tailored for kids 12 and under.

My personal favourite was the canoe paddle through a nearby mangrove system of Dundonga Creek. As we weaved and wound our way through the narrow waterways of the mangrove, our guide explained how everything here survived and thrived.

K’gari tours from Hervey Bay

The nearest start-off point to K’gari, Hervey Bay, is the other major location to visit for out-of-towners on the Fraser Coast. Once you’ve done the must-do meet-and-greet with the majestic humpback whales this coastline is famous for, it’s time to head to K’gari.

4. Blue Dolphin Marine Tours

whale jumping on Blue Dolphin Marine Tours, k'gari tours
See the marine life around K’gari. (Image: TEQ)

Say ahoy to adventure and hop aboard one of Blue Dolphin Marine Tours’ sailing tours. Explore the coast of the world’s largest sand island and meet local marine residents like whales, dugongs and turtles over a half-day or full-day tour. Top off your day (and your glass) with the sunset yacht tour with all-inclusive bubbly.

5. K’gari Walking Tours

K'gari Walking Tours
See the island on foot. (Image: Sean Scott)

Longing to do a hike on K’gari, but wince at the idea of lugging around tent poles? Fret no longer, because K’gari Walking Tours has the tour for you. Go pack-free with all-inclusive meals over two days or do the Great Walk Transfer in style over four days with deluxe accommodation and catering included. Committed to the burn (and saving dollars)? They also offer a full-on camping tour, with walking groups, hiking equipment and 4WD drop-offs.

6. Tasman Venture

Explore K’gari and the waters nearby. (Image: Picture Co)

Take the path less travelled on this one-day adventure tour of K’gari’s lesser-known spots . Snorkel in search of sting rays at Wathumba Creek, kayak through verdant mangroves, check out the teeming array of birds and dive into secret water holes. In winter, you can add a spot of whale-watching to your itinerary too.

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K’gari tours from Rainbow Beach

You can get to K’gari from its south side via the coastal town of Rainbow Beach. From there, visitors can either drive the 14km to the Inskip Peninsula to get to K’gari under their own steam or jump on a tour that has pick-up included.

7. Dingo’s K’gari

line of 4wd on Dingo’s K’gari Adventures tour
Let Dingo’s K’gari lead the way. (Image: TEQ)

Are you itching to get the keys in the ignition of a 4WD … but a tad nervous about getting bogged in all that sand? Dingo’s K’gari offers a 4WD tag-along tour, meaning you’ll be part of a convoy led by the tour guide.

Take the three-day tour and undergo the 4×4 driver training before setting off for an adventure that hits up all the top K’gari sites by day stopping only to camp under the stars at night (learn more about K’gari camping in our guide). Aimed at the 18 to 35 set, this tour is one for the young – or at least, the young at heart!

K’gari tours from Noosa

Coming from the Sunshine Coast will take you just over two-and-a-half hours to a departure point for K’gari. While this may add a bit of extra effort for the average daytripper, it is still very manageable to take a tour from Noosa to K’gari (particularly if you extend it to a few days).

8. Air Fraser Island

Air Fraser Island flight above K'gari fraser island
See K’gari from above. (Image: TEQ)

See the magnificent island and sparkling ocean from the skies, on a flight with Air Fraser Island . Options include a short scenic flight, a one-day flight/4WD exploration combo, and a multi-day island stay with accommodation. Air Fraser Island flights depart from the Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay Airport, as well as from the island itself.

9. Drop Bear Adventures

three people floating in water on k'gari fraser island during with Drop Bear Tours
Drop Bear Tours has options for the whole family. (Image: TEQ)

Get in touch with nature with the eco-conscious tour company, Drop Bear Adventures (formerly K’gari Fraser Island Tours). Offering a range of sustainable tours, options include tours that are partially guided (so some wriggle room to do your own thing), tag-along 4WD adventures, ones that focus on sharpening your photography skills, as well as an ‘Eco-Warrior’ conservation tour. Departs Noosa and Rainbow Beach.

This article was originally written by Kate Bettes, with updates by Kassia Byrnes.
Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.