Walking

Take a short stroll with the family along the K'gari Great Walk from Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Short walks

• Dilli Village to Wongi Sandblow—8.3km return (3–4hrs)
• Dilli Village to Markwell’s Break—21.6km return (7–9hrs)
• Lake Boomanjin to Wongi Sandblow—4.2km return (1.5–2hrs)
• Lake Boomanjin to Dilli Village—12.6km return (4–6hrs)
• Lake Boomanjin to Markwell’s Break—21.6km return (7–9hrs) (There is vehicle access to Lake Boomanjin.)
• Central Station to Wanggoolba Creek—0.9km return (0.5–1hr) (Wheelchair accessible)
• Central Station to Basin Lake—5.6km return (2–2.5hrs)
• Central Station to Lake Birrabeen—12.8km return (4.5–6.5hrs)
• Central Station to Eurong—21.2km return (7–9hrs)
• Kingfisher Bay Resort to Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie)—25.5km return (8–10hrs)
• Kingfisher Bay Resort to McKenzies Jetty and Fraser Island Commando School—6.6km return (2–3hrs)
• Lake Wabby carpark to Lake Wabby—3.1km return (1–1.5hrs)
• Lake Wabby carpark to the eastern beach—8.2km return (3–4hrs)
• Valley of the Giants to the giant tallowwood—2.6km return (1–1.5hrs)
• Valley of the Giants to the giant satinay—7.3km return (2.5–3.5hrs)
• Lake Garawongera–Bogimbah historical walk—15.2km return (5–7hrs)

Walk past crystal-clear lakes, vast sand dunes and impressive subtropical rainforest.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Long walks

The K'gari Great Walk is a wonderful long-distance walking track, designed to take you past some of K'gari's best natural features.

What to expect:

• 90km long
• 6–8 days to complete
• many access points where vehicles can pick you up or drop you off
• well-defined and signposted
• generally stable track surface—firm sand mostly covered with leaf litter
• some sections of soft sand—especially over sandblows
• some exposed sections with no shade
• remote with little or no mobile phone reception
• some sections take in popular tourist sites—expect crowds.

What you need

This walk needs good planning, pre-booking of camp sites and a topographic map brochure available for purchase from a variety of sales outlets.

Ensure:

• you do the walk with a small group—be dingo-safe and never walk alone
• you are reasonably fit and can carry a full pack
• you or someone in your group has bushwalking experience
• you plan your walk.

Dilli Village to Lake Boomanjin—6.3km (2–3hrs)

Cross a boardwalk over a sedge-filled creek where melaleucas, swamp banksia, sedges and coral ferns thrive along the swampy verges. Walk through open forests and scribbly gum woodlands and see the spectacular views from Wongi Sandblow. Continue through eucalypt forest to Lake Boomanjin, the largest perched lake in the world.

Lake Boomanjin to Lake Benaroon—7.2km (2.5–3.5hrs)

Stroll around Lake Boomanjin's north-western beach. Follow the track up to a ridge and continue through open woodland and regenerating forests of blackbutt and brush box. Here, the vegetation changes and rainforest plants such as kauri pines, vines, staghorns, palm lilies and mosses dominate. Descend to follow the track along the shoreline to the walkers' camp at Lake Benaroon.

Lake Benaroon to Central Station—7.5km (2.5–3.5hrs)

Follow Lake Benaroon's shore and pass by Lake Birrabeen. Continue along an old logging road and through the tall forests of the central high dunes. Descend into historic Central Station, which is set among vine forest, kauri pines and palms.

Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie) (Option 1 via Basin Lake)—6.6km (2.5–3.5hrs)

Follow the boardwalk, cross the bridge over Wanggoolba Creek and ascend through different types of forest before reaching the shores of Basin Lake. Continue through banksia woodland, tall open forest and melaleuca wetland, before ascending to the shores of Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie).

Central Station to Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie) (Option 2 via Pile Valley)—11.3km (3.5–4.5hrs)

Follow the boardwalk along Wanggoolba Creek, then continue through Pile Valley. Follow an old forestry tramline through cool, shady rainforest before continuing on through blackbutt forests to Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie).

Boorangoora (Lake McKenzie) to Lake Wabby—11.9km (4–5hrs)

Pass through some of the island's most spectacular tall, open forests and rainforests before entering the open forests of the east coast dunes. Stroll to the Lake Wabby lookout for views of the lake and Hammerstone Sandblow. From here, walk to the shore of Lake Wabby, the deepest lake on K'gari.

Lake Wabby to the Valley of the Giants—16.2km (5.5–7.5hrs)

From Lake Wabby, re-enter the closed forest of the central high dunes. Walk along a ridge and visit a lookout for views over the vast, desert-like sands of the Badjala Sandblow. Descend into the Valley of the Giants which contains some of the largest living trees on K'gari. The walkers' camp is located in the heart of this valley and is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area.

Valley of the Giants to Lake Garawongera—13.1km (4.5–6.5hrs)

From the Valley of the Giants, pass through some impressive stands of brush box and satinay trees and rainforest, as well as areas of open forest and heathland. Follow Bogimbah Creek to an historic area that contains the remains of the earliest logging camps and forestry trial sites on the island. Continue along the track and enjoy scenic views before arriving at Lake Garawongera.

Lake Garawongera to Happy Valley—6.6km (2.5–3.5hrs)

After skirting Lake Garawongera's north-western shore, follow a steep ridge before arriving at the open forests of the east coast dunes. Continue along the track and complete your Great Walk adventure at the seaside village of Happy Valley.

Dingoes are wild and unpredictable animals. They roam all over K'gari. Stay alert and be dingo-safe.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Walk safely

Sections of the K'gari Great Walk are remote and isolated. Be well prepared. Safety is our concern, but your responsibility.

• Read more about planning your walk.
• Download and read Be dingo-safe! flyer (PDF, 8.6MB)

General safety guidelines

• Keep track of your location at all times; use a map and take a compass for longer walks.
• Don't take risks—help can be many hours away.
• Never walk alone—small groups of four are ideal.
• Wear sturdy, enclosed boots or shoes.
• Avoid the midday sun—protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved loose fitting clothing, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
• Be dingo-safe! Never walk at night—plan to reach your camp well before dark.
• Carry enough drinking water, food and a first-aid kit.
• Treat all water taken from creeks, lakes and tanks before drinking.
• Stay on marked tracks. Taking shortcuts can cause erosion and you may get lost or suffer serious injury.
• Ensure an experienced adult accompanies children.
• Obey all safety and warning signs. Accidents have happened, even to experienced bushwalkers.

Contingency plans

• Tell a responsible person where you're going and when you expect to return.
• Let them know your exact route and contact them on your return.
• If you change your plans, tell them.
• Have a contingency plan in place if you fail to make contact by an agreed time.
• Do not rely on mobile phone contact, but it is still handy to have one with you.
• Carry a satellite phone and/or personal locator beacon—both can be hired commercially—as most of the Great Walk track is in remote areas.

In an emergency

• Know your location at all times.
• Carry a mobile phone and call 000 in an emergency. If you are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment, call 106 using a text phone.
• If there is no mobile phone reception, send the two fittest members of your group to get help, leaving someone behind to care for the injured walker.

Fire safety

Bushfires can pose a threat to walkers and can occur without warning. Be prepared—check park alerts for updates on fire danger and planned burning before you go.

In case of a bushfire, follow the track to the nearest road, beach, lake or creek for refuge. Large logs, a ditch or burnt ground can also provide protection. Avoid areas of heavy fuel (such as deep leaf litter). Stay low to the ground where the air is coolest and contains the least smoke.

Observe all signs. In extreme conditions, the walking track may be closed for your personal safety. Never enter areas that have been closed to the public.

If you see a fire, get to safety and please alert a ranger or the police as soon as possible.

During periods of high fire danger, the entire Great Walk or sections of it may be temporarily closed. For your safety, heed all signage and do not enter closed areas.

Wildlife safety

• K'gari's dingoes are wild and unpredictable animals. Make sure everyone in your group knows how to be dingo-safe.
• Never feed dingoes or other wildlife: let animals find their own natural food.
• Dingoes, goannas, possums, kookaburras and butcherbirds have caused serious injuries because people have fed them or encouraged their attention.
• Native birds and animals need their natural diet to survive. Eating processed foods can cause them to become sick or die.
• Leave your pets at home. Pets can harm native wildlife and are not permitted on K'gari.

Snakes live on K'gari! Some are extremely venomous.

• Stay alert at all times.
• Keep tents zipped.
• Try to walk well around a snake if it is on the track.
• Never provoke a snake or throw things at it to get it to move.
• Never trap or confine a snake; give it space and time to get away from you.
• If a snake is rearing up, it may be ready to strike. Move away quickly.
• Know what to do in case of a snake bite.
• Carry at least three large pressure bandages in case someone is bitten.

Walk softly

K'gari is one of Queensland's natural treasures recognised as a World Heritage area. Minimise your impact on this fragile environment and help keep it special. This area is totally protected. It is an offence to remove anything—living or dead—from the area.

Keep waterways clean

Soap, detergent, personal insecticides, skin and sun creams, toilet waste and food scraps affect water purity, so look after Kgari's creeks and lakes.

• Do not use detergents, toothpaste or soap in waterways.
• Use hot water and a scourer to clean dishes.
• Bathe, wash dishes and clothes at least 50m from waterways.
• Use toilet facilities provided. Do not toilet in or within 100m of waterways.
• Wear protective clothing when swimming to reduce the amount of sunscreen you need to use.

Use a fuel stove only

• Open fires (campfires) are prohibited anywhere on the Great Walk and all walkers' camps.
• You will need to use a fuel stove for cooking.
• Do not leave stoves unattended when lit.

Camping

• Keep it tidy! Use existing sites at the walkers' camps.
• Keep it clean! Leave your site in the same or better condition than you found it.
• Leave nothing! Check your site thoroughly before leaving to ensure nothing is left behind including little bits of rubbish.

Toilets

• Use toilets in camping areas.
• Carry a personal hygiene kit for your toilet waste.
• Where there are no toilets, bury human waste and toilet paper at least 100m from campsites, tracks and waterways and about 50cm deep.
• Take all sanitary items with you—they do not decompose, and they attract dingoes.
• Use clip seal bags and bring secure airtight rubbish boxes.

Rubbish

Solid waste and litter are unsightly and can injure and kill wildlife.

• Reduce your rubbish by bringing as little packaging as possible, as there are no rubbish bins on the Great Walk.
• Bring out all your rubbish and dispose of it properly.
• Do not hang rubbish or rubbish bags from trees.
• Smokers! Please carry a small container to collect cigarette butts and then dispose of them properly.