Before you visit

Bring a well-stocked first aid kit and know how to use it.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Campfires are permitted in the QPWS-provided fire rings in Dundubara and Waddy Point camping areas. Bring your own untreated, timber mill off-cuts, not bush wood. Fires are prohibited elsewhere in the Fraser Island Recreation Area.

Prepare and pack well

Prepare well for your visit and ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time.

• The sandy tracks and beaches on K'gari are only suitable for high clearance 4WD vehicles, preferably with low-range capacity.
• Vehicles with low clearance are not recommended as drivers of these may find some inland tracks and beach access tracks impassable.
• Ensure your vehicle is mechanically sound—recovery is costly and can take hours.
• Unregistered vehicles are not permitted on K'gari.
• Concessionally-registered recreational vehicles, such as quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles, are not permitted on K'gari.
• Load your vehicle evenly, with heavier items inside and low down—top heavy vehicles can topple easily.

Read the Driving on sand safety guide (PDF, 2.3MB)

Essentials to bring

First-aid kit and prescription medicines

There is no pharmacy or resident doctor on the island.

• Bring adequate supplies of prescription drugs you need.

Be aware that urgent medical help is not always available; it can be hours away.

• Always carry a well-equipped first-aid kit.
• Be aware that marine stingers are in the waters off K'gari especially in the summer months.
• At least one person in your group should have a current first-aid certificate in your group.

Read the Marine stinger warning notice (PDF, 53.3KB) .

Drinking water

It is always best to bring your own drinking water.

Bring your own water containers as extra drinking water, if you need it, can be collected from taps at:

• Central Station
• Dundubara camping and day-use areas
• Waddy Point camping areas and day-use areas
• Eurong—the tap is located on the beach in front of the QPWS ranger base and police station.

Be aware! It is advisable to treat all other water before drinking.

Water from other taps, lakes or streams on the island is not suitable for drinking unless treated first. Use either water treatment tablets or boil the water rapidly for at least 5–10 minutes.

Fuel stoves

Use fuel stoves for cooking.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Use fuel stoves for cooking. Campfires are not permitted (PDF, 73.2KB) on K'gari except in the QPWS provided fire rings in Dundubara and Waddy Point camping areas, except when a total fire prohibition or ban is in place. Penalties apply.

Cooking and heating appliances must meet the following requirements:

• The appliance must use gas or manufactured fuel (heat beads, briquettes). Manufactured fuel does not include timber or wood.
• It must be used only for cooking and/or heating.
• It must be a minimum of 20cm off the ground and more than 2m from flammable material, which includes vegetation.
• It must not have the potential to generate airborne embers, or possibly ignite nearby ground fuels.
• It must be fully self-contained (heat source enclosed and no exposed flame) and never be left unattended when in use.
• All appliances, materials and burnt fuel must be removed from the protected area on your departure.

For more information see permitted cooking appliances when camping during fire prohibitions and fire bans (PDF, 729.3KB)

Things for the vehicle

Mishaps or break-downs on K'gari can be costly, as rescues are difficult and may impact on the island's fragile ecosystems. Good preparation is essential and may save you the cost of expensive recovery.

Remember to pack:

• spare tyre
• well-equipped tool kit
• tyre pressure gauge
• air pump
• tow rope
• snatch strap
• D shackles
• traction mats (in case you get stuck in soft sand)
• shovel.

Extra hints for your island visit

• Bring sand pegs, tarpaulins, extra poles, ropes and torches if camping.
• Bring $2 coins for showers.
• Bring 50c and 20c coins for public telephones.
• Mobile phones can be handy, but understand reception is very intermittent—consult your service provider.
• Don't bring firearms or fireworks.
• Chainsaws cannot be used.
• Generators are not permitted in formal camping areas but can be used in beach camping areas, unless signposted otherwise.
• Smokers: kindly bring small sealable canisters for your cigarette butts and only dispose of them in a bin.
• See also the frequently asked questions for K'gari.

Opening hours

The park is open every day, 24 hours a day.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service offices at Eurong and Dundubara are generally unattended for visitor enquiries as rangers are working in the field. These locations do provide information signs, and self-serve permit packs—with brochures, a current conditions report and a camping tag—are available for people who wish to change or extend their stay. See the K'gari map (PDF, 570.5KB) for locations.

Visitor and safety information is available on signs in all major visitor areas across the island, in the K'gari Discovery Guide (PDF, 6.2MB) and the K'gari Conditions Report (PDF, 1.6MB) .

Permits and fees

Ensure you buy your camping and vehicle permits before entering Fraser Island Recreation Area.

• More information about K'gari's camping fees and vehicle access permit fees.
• Buy your vehicle access permit and camping permits online.
• If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.

Vehicle permits

All vehicles with the exception of those remaining within the boundary of Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village (KBRV) must have a valid vehicle access permit before entering Fraser Island Recreation Area. Permits should be affixed to the lower left side of the windscreen. If your vehicle does not have a windscreen, you must display the tag somewhere prominent on the vehicle.

24hr number plate surveillance cameras in use

All vehicles entering and exiting the recreation area may have their vehicle number plates recorded. Vehicle registration details are checked against the Queensland National Parks Booking Service and a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) may be issued to the registered owner of any vehicle that does not have a valid vehicle access permit. To avoid receiving a PIN, you must purchase a vehicle access permit before entering the recreation area. Please ensure vehicle number plate details are correct on your permit to avoid penalties. For more information see:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (cameras) - FAQs (PDF, 173.1KB)

Hiring a vehicle or purchasing a vehicle with a vehicle access permit attached

On each occasion a rental vehicle is in a recreation area, the person who hired the vehicle for that occasion must be the person who applies for the vehicle access permit. The same applies if you have recently purchased a four-wheel drive that has a vehicle access permit. Permits are not transferable, and you must purchase a vehicle access permit under your own name for the vehicle.

Camping permits

Camping permits are required for all camping, except in privately run campgrounds, and must be prominently displayed at your camp. School and public holidays are very busy. Purchase permits well in advance and be aware that some camping areas have limited capacity.

Permit refunds

For information on permit refunds, please read Camping and vehicle access permit fee and gift card refunds operational policy.

To apply for a refund please email qpws@des.qld.gov.au.

Domestic dogs and pets

• Domestic animals are prohibited in the K'gari (Fraser Island) section of Great Sandy National Park, including Fraser Island Recreation Area.
• The keeping of any dog or cat on K'gari is prohibited under Fraser Coast Regional Council local law.
• Visitors with a certified guide, hearing, assistance dog or trainee support dog are permitted to access all public areas of lands managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
• Certified support dogs must wear an identifying coat or harness and have the approved badge or tag.
• Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has the right to refuse access to assistance animals that do not comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Non-compliant animals include animals that do not provide assistance to the person that alleviates the effect of a disability and are for the purpose of comfort and companionship only.
• K’gari is considered a high-risk area due to the presence of wongari (dingoes) and it is recommended that assistance dogs remain inside fenced areas or vehicles at all times.
• If a member of the public sees a domestic dog on K’gari and reports it to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, rangers will investigate immediately if they believe the animal is still on the island. Rangers take reports of domestic dogs on the island very seriously as this is a threat to the conservation of wongari (dingoes) on K’gari.

Please contact a ranger regarding assistance dogs and dingo safety prior to your visit via email dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au or call (07) 4127 9150.

Climate and weather

K'gari has a subtropical climate with temperatures moderated by proximity to the sea. Average coastal temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C in December and 14°C to 21°C in July. Temperatures can be more extreme inland.

Annual rainfall varies across the island, from 1200mm on the coast to 1800mm inland. The wettest months are January to March with about 160mm rainfall per month. The drier months are winter and early spring. Moderate winds predominate from the south-east. Storms—occasionally quite severe—are common in spring and early summer.

Check forecasts just before you head off to K'gari as weather conditions can change quickly. Two weather forecasts are relevant to K'gari:

• Coastal Waters Forecast for Southern Queensland
• Wide Bay and Burnett District Forecast.

Fuel and supplies

Available at all townships:

• fuel (not autogas)
• restaurants or takeaway food outlets
• shops with gas and ice
• shops are generally open from 8am to 5pm

EFTPOS is only available in some places.

Telephones

Mobile phone coverage is intermittent on K'gari.

Public telephones require coins and are located at:

• Eurong
• Happy Valley
• Kingfisher Bay
• Central Station.