K'gari — pronounced 'gurri', and meaning 'paradise' in the language of the Butchulla people — is the largest sand island on Earth, stretching about 120 kilometres along Queensland's Wide Bay coast. Its traditional name was officially restored in June 2023, replacing the colonial name Fraser Island.
Built from sand carried north over hundreds of thousands of years, K'gari is World Heritage-listed for its freshwater dune lakes, tall rainforest and ever-shifting sandblows. There are no sealed roads: the island runs on 4WD, tide tables and a healthy respect for a wild place that is still very much Butchulla Country.
There's no bridge to K'gari — you arrive by vehicle barge. From the Hervey Bay side, SeaLink ferries leave River Heads (about 20 minutes south of Hervey Bay) for Kingfisher Bay on the western shore, a roughly 45 to 50 minute crossing that should be booked ahead. From the south, a frequent 4WD barge runs from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach across to Hook Point at the bottom of Seventy-Five Mile Beach in about 15 minutes.
Driving on the island requires a high-clearance 4WD and a Vehicle Access Permit for the Great Sandy National Park, bought in advance online or from a Queensland Parks office. If you'd rather leave the driving and the tide-watching to someone else, a guided day tour is the easy way in.
Most visits orbit the eastern beach and the lakes. Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby for swimming; Eli Creek for a float down a fast, clear freshwater stream; the Maheno wreck and the Pinnacles further north; and Central Station's boardwalk through ancient rainforest. Indian Head (Tukkee Wurroo) is a dramatic headland for spotting rays, sharks and turtles from the beach — though note its clifftop lookout is closed through 2026.
Drones are no longer permitted at Lake McKenzie or the island's camping areas, so plan your photography accordingly.
K'gari is a year-round destination, but the cooler, drier months from roughly May to October are the most comfortable for 4WD touring, with firmer sand and clearer skies. This window also overlaps the Hervey Bay whale season, so a K'gari trip pairs naturally with a whale-watching cruise.
Whenever you go, plan around the tides — Seventy-Five Mile Beach is only driveable for a window either side of low tide, and you should be off the beach about two hours either side of high tide.