Planning a Trip

Getting There

Hervey (pronounced Har-vey) Bay is the main gateway to the island. Take the Bruce Highway to Maryborough, then the 34km (21-mile) road to Hervey Bay. From the north, turn off the highway at Torbanlea, north of Maryborough, and cut across to Hervey Bay. Allow 3 hours from the Sunshine Coast, a good 5 hours from Brisbane.

Virgin Blue (tel. 13 67 89 in Australia) flies direct from Sydney to Hervey Bay four times a week, with connections from Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne. Jetstar (tel. 13 15 38 in Australia) flies direct from Sydney.

Greyhound Australia (tel. 13 14 99 in Australia) coaches stop in Hervey Bay on the Brisbane-Cairns-Brisbane routes. The 5-hour trip from Brisbane costs A$57 (US$46/UK£23). From Cairns, the fare is A$213 (US$170/UK£85) and the trip is almost 24 hours.

The nearest train station is in Maryborough West, 34km (20 miles) from Hervey Bay. Passengers on the high-speed Tilt Train (Sun-Fri) can book connecting bus service to Pialba (a suburb of Hervey Bay) through Queensland Rail (tel. 1300/131 722 in Queensland; www.traveltrain.com.au). The fare from Brisbane for the 3 1/2-hour Tilt Train trip is A$67 (US$54/UK£27) in economy class and A$96 (US$77/UK£38) in business class, including the bus fare. Fares are A$193 (US$154/UK£77) in a seat and A$389 (US$311/UK£156) in a first-class sleeper from Cairns (trip time: just under 27 hr.). Train passengers from the north must take a courtesy shuttle from Maryborough West to Maryborough Central, then take the next available local bus to Pialba.

Guests at Kingfisher Bay Resort can get to the resort aboard the Kingfisher Bay Fastcat, which departs Urangan Boat Harbour at Hervey Bay at 8:45am, noon, 4pm, 6:30pm (7pm Fri-Sat), and 10pm. Round-trip fare for the 40-minute crossing is A$50 (US$40/UK£20) adults and A$25 (US$20/UK£10) kids 4 to 14. The resort runs a shuttle from Hervey Bay's airport and coach terminal to the harbor; the cost is A$7 (US$5.60/UK£2.80) adults, half price for kids. You can park free at the Fastcat terminal. Drive to the terminal first to unload your luggage at the Kingfisher Bay reception desk, then return to the parking lot and walk back (only 100m/328 ft.).

MI Helicopters (tel. 1800/600 345 in Australia, or 07/4125 1599; www.mihelicopters.com.au) provides transfers from Hervey Bay to Kingfisher Bay Resort for A$176 (US$141/UK£70) per person round-trip (minimum 2 people) as well as other parts of Fraser Island.

Getting There & Getting Around by Four-Wheel-Drive

Four-wheel-drives are the only vehicle transportation on the island. Many four-wheel-drive-rental outfits are based in Hervey Bay. You must be 21 or over to rent a 4WD. You'll pay around A$200 (US$160/UK£80) a day, plus around A$20 to A$35 (US$16-US$28/UK£8-UK£14) per day to reduce the deductible (usually A$4,000/US$3,200/UK£1,600), plus a bond (typically A$500/US$400/UK£200). You must also buy a government Vehicle Access Permit, which costs A$33 (US$26/UK£13) from your rental-car company, Urangan Boat Harbour, or the River Heads boat ramp; or A$40 (US$32/UK£16) from a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office on the island.

Bay 4WD Centre (tel. 1800/687 178 in Australia, or 07/4128 2981; www.bay4wd.com.au) rents four-wheel-drives and camping gear, offers four-wheel-drive packages that include camping or accommodations, organizes Vehicle Access Permits, barge bookings, camping permits, and secure storage for your car and will pick you up from the airport, the coach terminal, or your hotel. Aussie Trax 4x4 Rentals (tel. 1800/062 275 in Australia, or 07/4124 4433; www.fraserisland4wd.com.au), has offices in Hervey Bay and at Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island . A four-wheel-drive will cost you between about A$175 (US$140/UK£70) and A$240 (US$192/UK£96) a day, plus a A$33 (US$26/UK£13) Fraser Island driving permit and a A$500 (US$400/UK£200) security deposit (by credit card) held until return of the vehicle in the original condition. The company allows 1-day rentals. Rates are cheaper if you book for a week. Book well in advance.

Four-wheel-drives reach the island on the Fraser Venture barge (tel. 07/4125 4444), which runs three times a day (four times on Sat) from River Heads, 17km (11 miles) south of Urangan Boat Harbour. Kingfisher Bay Resort also runs a barge from River Heads. The round-trip fare for a vehicle with up to four occupants is A$130 (US$104/UK£52), plus A$8 (US$6.40/UK£3.20) per extra passenger. It is a good idea to book a place for the 45-minute crossing.

The Rainbow Venture and Fraser Explorer barges (tel. 07/5486 3154) provide access to Rainbow Beach and operate continuously between Inskip Point and Hook Point between 6am and 5:30pm daily. The cost is A$75 (US$60/UK£30) return for a vehicle and four passengers.

Fraser Island Taxi Service (tel. 07/4127 9188, or 0429 379 188 mobile phone) is another option for getting around. There is only one taxi on the island (a 4WD, of course), so it's important to book ahead. They will pick you up anywhere on the island, and will give you a quote on price before you set off. The taxi seats five, and there's also room for your luggage and fishing rods.

Visitor Information

The Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centre is at 262 Urraween Rd. at Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road, Pialba (tel. 1800/811 728 in Australia, or 07/4215 9855; www.frasercoastholidays.info). It is open daily 9am to 5pm, except Good Friday and Christmas Day. Another online source of information is www.hervey.com.au. The Marina Kiosk (tel. 07/4128 9800) at Urangan Boat Harbour is a one-stop booking and information agency for all Fraser-related travel. Several Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service information offices are on the island.

There are no towns and very few facilities, food stores, or services on the island, so if you're camping, take all supplies with you.

Please Don't Feed the Dingoes

The dingoes that roam the island are emboldened by visitors who have -- sometimes deliberately, sometimes unwittingly -- fed them over the years. These dangerous wild animals have been responsible for one death and several serious attacks in recent years. Do not feed them, and keep your distance. If you don't, rangers can impose on-the-spot fines of A$225 (US$180/UK£90). And be warned: The laws are strictly enforced by the rangers and the maximum penalty is A$3,000 (US$2,400/UK£1,200).