Fraser Island is one of the top destinations on Australia’s east coast, known for its hundreds of freshwater lakes, 75 miles of beach highway, and of course their wild dingoes. It is the largest sand island in the entire world, and the only place on earth where a lush rainforest grows in sand.
Getting Around: Because the island is made entirely of sand, there are only a few ways to tour the island: by tour bus, your own or rented 4×4, or as part of a 4×4 tag-along tour with a guide. Renting my own 4×4 was not an option, as I can’t drive manual, and it is also much more expensive (between $200-225 per day). Another option is taking a tour bus, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It is barely cheaper than the 4×4 tag-along tours (about $50 less) and who wants to be stuck on a bus while exploring Fraser?! I had heard that the only way to truly experience Fraser Island is by 4×4, so I eliminated the tour bus option and started looking into 4×4 tag-along tour companies.
I ended up choosing Nomads Fraser Island Tours because the Nomads hostel I was staying at was offer $100 off the two night, three day tour which typically costs $469. This cost covers lunch and dinner the first day, all three meals the second, breakfast and lunch the third, fuel costs, ferry fees, and accommodation on the island for two nights. They also offer two nights accommodation at their Noosa hostel the night before the tour and the night returning from the tour for $20 altogether. I am lucky enough to have an amazing friend in Noosa who graciously hosted me, so I didn’t take the two-night hostel deal (thanks Meg).
Accommodation: Many of the other tours camp out in tents on the island, which may be a more authentic experience, but I wasn’t upset to be staying in a room with a bed and a private shower. Nomads put us up in the Eurong Resort which features hostel-like four bed dorms with en-suite bathroom, kitchen, picnic table style dining area, and a fun bar attached. The bar gave Nomads customers a free welcome drink as well as offered $5 beer, wine, cider, and spirits, which is really cheap for Australia! The bar management was so lovely, and really tried to keep patrons engaged by hosting beer pong tournaments and other fun drinking games. It may have been a bit juvenile, but I felt like I was back in college again and I didn’t mind one bit. The resort also features a general store where you can buy snacks, alcohol, souvenirs, and other little odds and ends you many need. That was handy when we needed to cool down the BYO alcohol you were allowed to drink in your room or in one designated area away from the bar. I also really liked how it was right by the beach, which made going down for a late night walk (always go with a group to avoid dingo attacks) really fun. Like I said, camping may have been a more authentic experience, but this was certainly more comfortable.
Where the Tour Takes You: I was very pleased with the itinerary, as I think our guide Tim took us to most, if not all of the hot spots on Fraser.
- Lake McKenzie: Ombré has a whole new meaning once you lay your eyes on the pristine crystal water of this famous perched lake. It’s so filtered and so clean that most plant and animal life can’t survive here. The white sands are as soft as it gets (next to Whitehaven Beach) and makes for a very peaceful morning stop.
- S.S. Maheno Shipwreck: Once a luxury ocean liner in the 1930s, the S.S Maheno was washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935 and is now a landmark of Fraser Island.
- Eli Creek: The water from this creek is naturally filtered so well, that you can drink it straight from source! The current is pretty strong and makes for a perfect lazy river to float down relaxing on your back until you hit the beach.
- Indian Head: This headland provides a spectacular view of 75 mile beach and is also an important part of the history of the island (you can learn more about this when you take the tour! 🙂
- Champagne Rock Pools: Named after the effect of ocean water rushing over the rocks and trickling down like a champagne tower, these rock pools are the perfect place to relax or go for a dip.
- The Pinnacles: These colored sands are an absolute natural wonder which are a result of hundreds of thousands of years of exposure to minerals and natural elements that have dyed the sands an array of yellow, browns, and reds.
- Lake Boomanjin: The red colored water of this lake might not look so appealing at first, but once you learn that it is actually dyed from the tannins of surrounding vegetation (which are incredibly good for your skin) you may not have to think twice about going for a swim!
Camaraderie & Tour Guide: A big reason I loved this tour so much was because of the interaction it encouraged between members of the tour. There were roughly 23 people on the tour, plus the guide, and by the end I had befriended mostly everyone. Although we were broken into groups per car (10 in the lead car with the guide, 5 in our car, and 8 in the last car), we still intermingled amongst the different groups. There was a good mix of ages, ranging from 18-33, as well as nationalities with travelers from Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, the U.K. and of course me, the one American. It was inspiring to meet so many young people traveling right after high school, as well as other solo female travelers like myself. It was an awesome trip to do solo and make friends from all over. And how could I forget our legend of guide, Timbo? Tim was super passionate about the history and natural environment of Fraser Island, always had knowledge to offer about the landscape and Aboriginal beginnings, and was able to answer every question that our curious group came up with. You could tell how much love and respect he had for the land, and he often went out of his way to teach us things about the island we otherwise would never know. He’s as Australian as they come (thick Queensland accent, surfer, and all around hilarious), and he absolutely added to the value of the overall experience of the trip, which I would rate close to a 10.
The only qualm I had about the tour was not really anyone’s fault, but it was a bummer that we had to take a two-hour shuttle from Noosa to Rainbow Beach in order to catch the 10-minute ferry ride to Fraser. That’s four hours of travel time that other groups who took off from Rainbow Beach were able to enjoy on Fraser Island instead of in a car. Even still, it really didn’t take away from my trip. It would’ve been nice to depart straight from Rainbow Beach and spend more time on the Island, but it was not a deal breaker.
Truthfully, this trip exceeded expectations. Every traveler I met built Fraser Island up to be absolutely incredible, and they were not lying! From the wonderful people, knowledgeable guide, and absolutely stunning natural scenery, it has definitely been one of my favorite places in Australia. If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Fraser and are not sure which tour group to go with, I highly recommend Nomads! If you can somehow get a deal and pay $369 for this three day tour like I did, absolutely no other company can offer you as much value.
