Fraser Island Flights

There are different ways to get on the island.

Most go by ship, but there is a faster and more interesting version: fly in.
In a Chesna they take you from Hervey Bay and they land right on the Beach of the island.
This only works if it is low tide.
And thats also the reason you should be there at the time they said when you want to fly back....

Air Fraser Island is one of the companies.
They also hire Cars (4WD) on the island, so you can combine it.

1999 the prices were as folow:

1 Day Trip 35 AUS (australian Dollars) per person (flight)

Fly-Drive-Fly: 85 AUS pp
(includes 4WD hire on the island and flight)

Fly-Drive-Camp 150 AUS
(2days, one night, incl 4WD hire and camping gear)
(we made this: it was just great!)

4 more images

We flew with Air Fraser Island - great experience, recommended!

On Fraser Island it is a must to have a 4WD, and even with a strong 4WD it is not guaranteed, that you never get stuck. But hey, that's the funny thing about it, isn't it???

There are several companies that offer self-driving trips to fraser and provide you with the 4WD and camping gear.
I was on a self-driving trip (with fraser escape) and had a very good time, seeing all the major sights as they provided us with kind of a plan when we should be at what point (also because of the tides!).
There are people with bad experiences on these self-guided trips and of course it depends very much on the group wether you have a good time or not.

On my last trip to Fraser Island I hire a Suzuki Jimny. There were only two of us travelling and this little 4WD was ideal. It was light and easy to drive and didn't tend to sink into the sand like some of the bigger vehicles did.

It was also the cheapest hire vehicle that you could get at AUD$115 per day plus insurance.

There are plenty of places at Hervey Bay to hire 4WDs, but limited numbers on the Island itself.

You can only get around by 4x4. You get there by ferry from Hervey Bay. We booked through Fraser Roving, a hostel in Hervey Bay. You can drive on the beaches and on the set tracks. Driving on the beaches can be dangerous and they show you a video before you go on the island. No one really lives there although there is a very expensive hotel for those not roughing it, and a shop wih beer and a few snacks.

Just be warned that ONLY 4-wheel drive vehicles are allowed on Fraser. The reason quickly becomes apparent moments after you first get stuck in the sand, and everyone has to get out and push. This is only an inconvienence, you will always get out!

Almost all persons and vehicles arrive to Fraser by ferry from Hervey Bay, in Queensland. There are numerous ferries each day, but check times with an agent or the park officials for the first and last times, so you don't end up stuck on the island. 4 PM is the normal last ferry time.

A few crazy people go to Fraser by plane, with a landing being performed on the sand at a beach along the eastern coast.

There is no other way around the island but by Feet or 4WD Car.
There are some roads, but they consist -like everything else here - of sand.

So this is the only way. There are tours taking you around, or you can hire a car and drive yourself.

It?s not as hard as it sounds.
There are just a few things to remember that are special here.
- You can drive on the beach and almost everywhere on the island (where there is a route), but don?t drive over the vegetation.
- Don?t drive through salt water (yes, this means the sea, so stay away from the beach if the tide is high) - the sweet water creeks that you have to cross from time to time are ok, though.
- Beware of Eli Creek: its the biggest of these Creeks on the Eastern beach and it is often deeper than expected.
- If you cross someone on the beach, indicate the side on which you are driving (doesn?t always have to be the same one, you can cross on the right or the left).
- There are planes landing on some strech of the beach: so also look up.