Travel Guide Fraser Island - K'Gari

The island's history dates back to the early 19th century, when Captain Fraser ran his ship aground north of the island in 1836, and owed his salvation only to the help of the Aborigines, who took in the survivors until another ship arrived. K'Gari Island's trees are exceptionally resistant to water, so in the 1860s the Australians turned the island into a huge lumberyard and deported the Aborigines to missions. 120 km long and 15 km wide, K'Gari Island is the world's largest sand island. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1992. Its surface is covered with vegetation, punctuated in places by sand dunes and freshwater lakes ideal for swimming. Its pristine forests and beaches are home to dingoes (wild dogs), reptiles and turtles. Sharks also thrive here, so avoid swimming in the sea... There are a number of one-day and multi-day island tours departing from Noosa, Rainbow Beach and Hervey Bay. It's also possible to visit the island with your own vehicle or a rental car by taking a ferry from Rainbow Beach (Inskip Point with Manta Ray) or Hervey Bay (River Heads with SeaLink). After being known as Fraser Island for many years, the Queensland government officially renamed the island K'gari (meaning "paradise") in 2021, out of respect for the Butchulla aboriginal people.