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Want to go on a Fraser Island day trip from Noosa? We are here to help!
It’s the largest sand island in the world and has so much to offer! It’s a must-see on the East Coast of Australia. Often compared to the Whitsunday Islands, it’s actually completely different.
They are both amazing places to visit in Australia but offer a very different experience.
Visiting Fraser Island is a popular day trip from Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach but it’s also one of the best day trips from Noosa.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect day trip to K’Gari from Noosa.
LOOKING FOR THE BEST DAY TOUR TO FRASER ISLAND FROM NOOSA?
This tour from Rainbow Beach is perfect. The guides are great, it’s amazing value for money.
There are various ways to get there and make the best of your day.
In this article, we tell you exactly how to go on a Fraser Island day trip from Noosa and make the best of your time and money.
Where is Fraser Island and why is it a good day trip from Noosa?
Fraser Island is located 150 km from Noosa Heads. It takes about 2h30 to get there.
Going on a day trip from Noosa to Fraser Island is entirely doable, however, let’s be honest, it will be a bit of a tiring day. Especially if you are driving yourself!
How to get to Fraser Island from Noosa
First things first, let’s set the basics. Fraser Island is entirely made of sand which means you must have a 4WD vehicle to get around the island.
You won’t be allowed to even get on the ferry without a 4WD.
Self-driving and ferry
LOOKING FOR THE BEST 4WD CAR RENTALS IN NOOSA?
Check out the Discover Car Website and filter on 4×4 vehicles.
If you own a 4WD, you can take it to Fraser Island however you must get a permit for Fraser. It costs $53.65 for up to a month. You can buy it on the official website.
If you don’t have your own 4WD, you can rent one from Noosa.
To do this, go to Discover Cars website and search for your dates (please note that you might have to rent the vehicle the day before departure since a lot of car rental places in Noosa don’t open too early).
Once you get the results, make sure to filter on the 4×4 option and you can pick one of the vehicle then.
Please note, even with a rental, you still need to get your permit!
From Noosa, drive up to Rainbow Beach and head to Inskip Point. There, you will find the Manta Ray Fraser Island Barges which is the ferry to Fraser Island.
Make sure to pop by the office first to buy your ticket. If you are visiting during the high season, you can also give them a ring beforehand at +61 7 5486 3935.
The ferry service operates from 6.00 am to 5.15 pm.
The return ticket to Fraser Island costs $130 for a 4WD and its passengers. It’s a bit more expensive if you have a trailer but if you are only coming for a day, you shouldn’t have one.
The ferry ride lasts 15 minutes. You will arrive at the Southern end of Fraser Island. From there, you can head north and start exploring!
Fraser Island Tours from Noosa
If you don’t have a 4WD and want to go to Fraser Island from Noosa for a day trip, you can also opt for a day tour from Rainbow Beach.
Although self-driving gives you more freedom, it’s also a lot of hassle and money. It will cost you at least $250 and that’s if you have your own car. Driving on Fraser Island can also be tricky and risky.
Opting for a Fraser Island tour from Noosa is way easier. The tour company will organise everything for you. The only thing you have to do is having fun!
If you are travelling on your own (or 2 people) it will also work out way cheaper.
The only inconvenient thing is that the tour doesn’t start in Noosa but in Rainbow Beach. This means you will need to drive to Rainbow Beach (which takes about 1 hour) or arrange a transfer.
Once you get there though, everything for the day will be included.
Ferry, petrol, lunch… everything!
The K’gari Fraser Island Full-Day Coach Tour is ideal.
You will be meeting in Rainbow Beach and hop on a 4WD minibus. You’ll travel all the way up through the Great Sandy national park to Inskip Point where you will take the ferry to Fraser Island.
Once on Fraser Island, you will visit Lake McKenzie and Central Station. On the way back, you will also be dropped off in Rainbow Beach.
Meals are included. Your driver will cook you an authentic Aussie barbecue on the island!
It’s the perfect way to make the best of your time, money and truly enjoy Fraser Island without stress. You can easily book the tour online and keep your ticket on your phone.
Click here to see the latest prices.
Fraser Island one day itinerary from Noosa
Fraser Island is a bigger island that it seems so one day is not that much to explore however, you can still get to see some of the most beautiful places on Fraser Island.
Here is how to plan your day.
7 am: Start driving from Noosa to Inskip Point
We recommend an early start if you want to make the best of your K’Gari day trip from Noosa.
For that, you should be leaving at 7AM (or even before). If you’ve opted for the day tour from Rainbow Beach, it will take you about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the meeting point.
If you chosen to hire a 4WD, it will take you about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Inskip Point where you can take the ferry.
9 am: Take the ferry from Inskip Point to Fraser Island
The ferry to K’Gari operates from 6AM to 5PM so you can easily get one at around 9AM (or before if you are an early bird).
Make sure to contact the ticketing office first to get your tickets and permits.
Once you arrive, the ferries are every 30 minutes and it only takes 10 minutes to cross.
9:15 am: You arrive on Fraser Island and start driving to Lake McKenzie
You will arrive on K’Gari in the southern part of the island, at Hook Point. From there, you can take the Fraser Island Beach track and start heading north to Eurong.
Eurong is the main town on Fraser Island and where you can find the resorts.
From there, you will start driving inland to go to Boorangoora (Lake MacKenzie). Altogether, it takes about 2 hours to get there.
11:30 am: You arrive at Lake McKenzie
Once you arrive at the lake, you will find a large carpark where you can leave your vehicle. Park your car and start walking down to Lake McKenzie.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk down to Lake McKenzie but once you get there, there won’t be any amenities so make sure you take everything you need.
💡PRO TIP: There are toilets in the car park, make use of them while you’re there.
Once at Lake McKenzie, you can go for a swim and relax on the beach for a couple of hours.
The water is absolutely stunning. It’s so blue, you won’t believe it! It’s a great spot to take beautiful photos so don’t forget your camera.
If you have a GoPro, it will be even better!
Also, since the sand is so soft, you can use it to do a natural scrub on your legs. Simply take the sand in your hands and scrub your legs.
1 pm: Go back to the car park for lunch
While we know it can be tempting to take a picnic to the beach, you should not be taking any food to the lake as it can attract dingoes so make sure to leave any food in the car and eat at the picnic area.
The idea of having a picnic by a car park might not be the most appealing thing but it’s actually a nice place and there is a lot of shade.
Alternatively, you can stop on the beach later and eat there.
1:30 pm: Start driving to Central Station
Central Station is an area of the rainforest on K’Gari where you can find beautiful walks along the river.
It’s about 20 minutes drive from Lake McKenzie.
1:50 pm: You arrive at Central Station
Once you arrive at Central Station, park your vehicle near the campsite.
You can then start walking along the boardwalk to discover the creek and the beautiful strangling trees.
This part is way better with a tour guide I must say. If you’ve opted for the tour from Rainbow Beach, your guide will give you loads of facts about Fraser Island. It’s very interesting.
💡INTERESTING FACT: Central Station was a sacred site for the aboriginal communities. It was a sanctuary where women would birth their babies.
It’s such a peaceful place, you will love it.
2:50 pm: Start driving back to the ferry
Once you’re done with the walk at Central Station, it will be time to head back to the ferry. Don’t forget, the last ferry to Inskip point is at 5PM so it’s very important you make it on time.
It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there so you shouldn’t leave any later than 2:50 PM.
5 pm: Take the ferry to Inskip Point
Once you get to Hook Point, take the ferry back to Inskip Point. The crossing lasts 10 minutes but you should be there a bit early to check in.
7 pm: You are back in Noosa
From Inskip Point, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get back to Noosa so you should be there around 7 PM.
It will usually be early enough to return your car but if you want to be on the safe side, make sure to extend the booking until the morning after.
It will also potentially give you the opportunity to do another great day trip from Noosa.
💡PRO TIP: If you are not too tired, you can also stop in Rainbow Beach on your way back. It’s a very pretty area and it’s worth checking out.
Map of your Fraser Island 1-day itinerary from Noosa
You can find below the map of your itinerary for your Noosa Fraser Island day trip.
What to wear on a day trip from Noosa
When going on a day trip from Noosa to Fraser Island, make sure you pack the following items:
- Comfortable shoes (you will be walking at Central station)
- Swimming costume
- Towel
- Eco-friendly sunscreen (Lake McKenzie does not drain so please don’t apply sunscreen before swimming)
- Camera and phone
- Shorts and t-shirts
- A jumper just in case
- A bottle of water
If you are driving, make sure to also pack a lunch that you can leave in your car. If you are on a tour, this will be included.
Fraser Island day trips from Noosa: Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know everything to plan your perfect Noosa Fraser Island day trip, it’s time to answer some of your most frequently asked questions.
Can you do a day trip from Noosa to Fraser Island?
Absolutely! Fraser Island is about 2 hours from Noosa which means that you can do a day trip to K’Gari from Noosa. However, it’s important to note that it will be a packed day.
We highly recommend opting for a tour to make this day more optimised. Unfortunately, you can’t book a Noosa to Fraser island tour but you can from Rainbow Beach.
How far is Fraser island from Noosa?
Fraser Island is located 150 km from Noosa Heads. It takes about 2h30 to get there. The drive from Noosa to Inskip Point (where the ferry is) takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The crossing on the ferry is 10 minutes long.
Can you do a Sunshine Coast to Fraser island day trip?
Technically yes but it’s important to note that it will take about 3 hours to get from Sunshine Coast to Fraser Island so it’s preferable to go for a couple of days if you really want to see what Fraser Island has to offer.
Where is the ferry from Noosa to Fraser island?
There is no ferry from Noosa but you can still go to Fraser Island from there. You simply need to drive from Noosa to Inskip Point (1h45) and take the ferry from there (10-minute crossing).
What is the best way to go from Noosa heads to Fraser island?
If you have a 4WD, you can drive from Noosa Heads to Inskip Point (1h45) and take the ferry to Hook Point from there.
How to get from Noosa to Fraser island?
There are two ways you can get from Noosa to Fraser Island. The first one is to drive to Inskip Point and take the ferry to Fraser Island from there. This takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. You will need a 4WD and a permit to visit K’Gari.
Alternatively, you can book a day tour from Rainbow Beach. It will all be organised from there, you simply need to drive 1 hour and 15 minutes to Rainbow Beach from Noosa.
Now you are all set to organise your Fraser island day trip from Noosa! Have fun!
You may also be interested in:
- Things to do on Fraser Island, Queensland
- Fraser Island day trip from Hervey Bay
- Visiting Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island: Ultimate travel guide
- Visiting the Champagne Pools on Fraser Island: Ultimate Guide
- Travel guide to visiting the Fairy Pools in Noosa National Park
- 12 Best Pet-Friendly Airbnb in Noosa
- Pet-friendly accommodation in Rainbow Beach, QLD
- Australia Travel Guide
