K’Gari (Fraser Island) is one of the best family destinations in Australia. Beaches, lakes, swimming, fishing, rainforests, hiking, 4wding – its got it all! But when thinking about camping with kids on the Island, there are many considerations! Hopefully I can assist with these tips and things to do when camping with kids on Fraser Island – K’gari
Getting There
Barge tickets can be picked up in Rainbow Beach (the township). Just follow the “Barge Tickets” signs as you come in to town. I thought these signs looked a little suspect like it was leading me to a scam, but it was indeed the right place – a little office tucked behind an industrial shed. You can also pay cash onboard the barge will we save you a quick stop at the office. See below detail on permits for more information.
With tickets in hand, follow the signs towards inskip point. You’ll eventually come to the end of the road where a track leads on to the beach. Let your tyres down here! Follow the tracks out to the coast and wait for the barge to come. Easy as!
It’s best to time your run around low tide, so you can scoot up the main beach once you’re on K’gari. There is an inland track that bypasses a big section of beach, but it would definitely be quicker to stick to the beach if possible. And its a biiiig beach, so time saved here is worth while.
Dingo Safety
There’s a lot of media hype around the dangers of Dingoes (or ‘Wongari’ as they’re referred to locally) on the island. Whilst some of it may be hype, there are very real dangers for the young family members. Dingo interactions are quite common, particularly in areas where people are fishing or may have food out. They will come up and inspect – harmlessly most of the time – but you can never be too careful. Read the warnings, do as they say, and you’ll be fine. However, you’ll likely want to give serious consideration to camping in a fenced area if you’ve got little ones. Read on.
Camping
The first consideration will be where to camp on the island. The rangers on the island recommend having children within arms reach at all times – any parent would know how difficult this can be though! Luckily, there are a number of fenced off areas on the island that provide a safe space for children to roam around, and give parents a chance to relax without worrying.
The Queensland Parks page provides an updated list of areas which have dingo deterrent fences around them. Here are some of my recommendations:
Dunduburra
Located quite central to a lot of the attractions, this is a great base. Camping areas allocated to trailers are huge and its a massive campsite in general. Its set back from the beach, so protected from winds. There are shower and toilet facilities.
If there’s one thing kids love to do when holidaying – its playing with other kids. Because this camp is quite large, there’s a good chance there will be other kids running about!
Central Station
Located inland, in the forest – this campsite provides a different feel to the usual beach front locations. Close to the great swimming lakes, and has shower and toilet facilities. Also closer to the barge – so may make a good stopover on the way home, if you’ve been camping up further north.
Beach Camping
Among the many area’s of beach camping, there are a few fenced areas – Cornwalls, One Tree, and Eli camping areas. Sites here are generally smaller and can be on sloppy ground which isn’t ideal for trailers. They’re set behind the dune to keep out of the wind and may be a good option for the fishing families who want to stroll out from camp to chuck a line in. Dingoes know fishing = bait though, so keep a close eye on the kids!
Cathedrals
There’s also Cathedrals on Fraser – a private camp ground / caravan park. It has plenty of facilities including a shop for supplies and a nice central location. It will cost you a few extra dollars than the park sites for the added comforts, if that’s your thing!
Forward Planning
Depending on the time of year you are going, you may need to book a campsite a long time in advance. If going in the cooler months, you can probably get away with booking close to your arrival date (and even just booking one or two nights and then booking somewhere else whilst you’re on the island).
In peak times, you’ll need to book your campsite well in advance. In less popular times, you may book a site for the first night or two and then assessing your options and book on the day. It can be risky though, particularly if you’re in need of a camper trailer site in a fenced area, so it would be preferable to have it all locked in before you leave.
Top things to see with kids on Fraser Island (K’Gari)
Eli Creek
#1 on my kids things to do at K’Gari Fraser Island was go to Eli Creek – as much as possible! The best part about that is this is one of the easiest and most accessible things to do. Bring an inflatable tube and float down the creek, and then splash around in the fresh flowing water as it runs out to sea. Park your car, set up some shade, have some lunch and enjoy watching the kids splash around. They absolutely love this one.
The Lakes
There are a number of lakes to visit and swim at on the island, but by far the most popular is Lake McKenzie. Follow the signs along the inland tracks and be greeted by some of the freshest, clearest water you’ll ever swim in! Just brilliant. To keep dingoes away, you are not allow to take food down to the lake at Lake McKenzie – there are a few fenced off picnic areas up near the car park for having lunch.
Lake McKenzie can be very popular in the peak times. Lake Birabeen is a quieter alternative with equally (nearly??) as good swimming and scenery.
Champagne Pools
Champagne Pools is towards the northern end of the island, and provides some magnificent rock pool formations for swimming in or relaxing around. It is a bit of a walk from the carpark across some boardwalk and down some steps, but nothing too hard (we carried two toddlers and had another walking – along with all our gear!). Definitely put this one on your to do list.
Orchid Beach Pub Lunch
Ok this one might be for the adults instead. The Orchid Beach township is completely fenced off, and after a few nights of cooking up around camp, a pub lunch is irresistible. The prices, considering the location, are quite decent too (though I don’t recommend the calamari – 5 rings was a bit stingy I thought!). Enjoy a cold beer on tap and views out over the ocean. There’s also a little shop to top up on supplies and ice cream treats for the kids.
If you are camped down at Dunduburrah or further south, it’s a nice drive up the beach with a couple of detours around the headlands.
Go West
Take a journey through the inland tracks, seeing the giant trees along the way, and come out on the western side where you’ll be met with bahamas like views! Calm waters, sunsets over the sea, and pristine beaches. Brilliant.
There’s not much in the way of fenced camping on the west side, so it may be a day trip option for those with little kids, but for those with kids a bit older – setting up camp over the west could be a really tempting proposition. Just remember the bug spray!
Can I take a Caravan or Camper Trailer?
I get it – those kids and their assortment of luggage take up a load of space in the car! A caravan or camper trailer gives you so much more room. Whether or not you tow a camper or caravan over is really going to depend on your car’s capabilities, and your driving on sand confidence. Obviously, the bigger the tow, the harder its going to be. Be sure to air down your tyres (including the trailer), not only to assist in not getting bogged, but to avoid tearing up the tracks for other holiday makers.
Driving on the beach, particularly around low tide is like a highway (albeit, with the odd dip and water running across that you’ll need to slow right down for). I had no problem doing this in 2wd which saved some fuel. Its the entrances and exits that can get very soft and boggy where you’ll need to keep alert. Overall though, I think towing a small van or camper trailer is a great idea if you’re equipped. Get it to your camp base, set it up, and then do your touring without the trailer in tow.
One extra thing to be careful about when towing, is make sure you’re taking the right route before turning inland. Once you’ve committed to an inland track, it can be a long drive before you get any turning around points (I may or may not know this from experience).
Food / Supplies
Buying supplies on the island is not cheap. Try as best as you can to be self sufficient for the stay. If you do run low on supplies though, there are a number of shops on the island you can stock up.
Fuel was going for about $1.30 a litre more expensive than the mainland last time I visitted, so although you’ll best want to avoid needing an on island top up, it may be inevitable if you’re doing lots of sight seeing (just consider it the price of admission – its worth it)
When to Visit?
The Summer months and school holidays are peak time, and it can get busy. You’ll need to book your campsites well in advance to secure a spot. All the touristy areas are going to be jam packed, and hot, dry sand with plenty of traffic can making driving conditions trickier. The issue of other sightseers getting bogged on a one way track and having to wait or help them get out is real!
Winter gets far less visitors, and whilst still popular, there should be plenty of space to move around at your leisure. Day time temperatures can hover around the low 20s which for me is borderline for having a dip or not, but for the kids, they seemingly don’t feel the cold!
The Tailor run starts around September each year and can be busy with fisherman chasing a catch.
I prefer to camp with less people around – so the non-peak time is preferable for me, and even in the middle of winter, shorts and t-shirt were still common outfits for the day.
Permits
To visit K’gari / Fraser Island, you’ll need both camping permits and a vehicle permit. Both of these need to be secured in advance from Queensland Parks.
A one month vehicle pass to the island will set you back $57.80
Up to date fees can be found here, but expect around $7.25 per person per night for the Parks camping zones. As noted above, in off peak times, you may get away with booking your first night or two beforehand, and then book further nights on the go.
Barge tickets from Inkip Point (Rainbow Beach) are $130 return, or $230 return with a trailer.
How long is long enough?
That’s a tough question – you could definitely have a great time in just 3 nights. But you wouldn’t be seeing as much as you should, particularly if its your first time on the island. 6 nights would give you plenty of time to explore all the attractions, and if possible book a few extra nights to allow the kids those extra days at Eli Creek!
So there you have, Camping with Kids on K’gari / Fraser Islands – be prepared, get out there, and enjoy!
