Fraser Island (K’gari)
The K’gari bushfires started on 14 October last year near Orange Creek in the island’s north-east. They burnt west into inaccessible swamp, lake and dune country, before spreading north and south as winds shifted. In mid-November, popular camping grounds at Cathedral Beach were evacuated as the fires burnt to the shoreline, leaving a trail of charred trees. Although other areas, including Happy Valley and Kingfisher Bay Resort, were also evacuated as fire approached, the central area, including Pile Valley, Central Station, Lake McKenzie and surrounding rainforest, were untouched. Eli Creek, the Maheno shipwreck, Indian Head, Champagne Pools and Lake Wabby on the eastern coastline were also unaffected. Fire activity was deemed contained by 16 December, but Sandy Cape continued to relight and burn until after Christmas, according to the Institute of Foresters of Australia. No camping grounds or areas remain closed as a result of last year’s fires.
GETTING THERE
Travelling northbound via vehicle from Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, it’s a three- to four-hour drive to reach Hervey Bay. Once you’re in the city of Hervey Bay, you can take a 50-minute boat or vehicle ferry ride from the River Heads boat ramp. If you’re taking your four-wheel-drive over to K’gari you can also leave from Inskip Point, located at Rainbow Beach. You don’t need a 4WD to access Kingfisher Bay Resort, but note that you cannot access any other parts of Fraser Island without a 4WD vehicle.
WHERE TO STAY
Kingfisher Bay Resort, established in 1992 and its SeaLink Travel Group sister property the Eurong Beach Resort remain good starting points for first-time travellers to K’gari, with accommodation and guided tours available. For those wanting to get off the beaten track, K’gari Fraser Island Adventures on the east coast offers beach cabins and glamping safari tents, as well as 4WD hire and touring options. There are also 45 camping spots on the island, including at Lake Boomanjin, the largest perched lake in the world, and the Moon Point camping area accessible only by boat.