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You’ve probably heard of Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, and the Champagne Pools on K’gari (Fraser Island) and you should totally visit these amazing places. However, if it’s your second (or fifth) time visiting or you’ve got a few extra days up your sleeve, check out these five lesser-visited beauties on K’gari.
Shhhh. It’ll be our little secret!
#1 – Ocean Lake
It doesn’t have the dazzling white sand and clear water of Lake McKenzie but it makes up for it with a questionable rope swing, no crowds and water that majestically reflects the sky overhead. If you’re not up for a dramatic swing and bomb into the tanin-stained water, just ease yourself in by foot over the sand and gnarled roots.
This is a top spot for a kayak or SUP but there is also an interesting scenic circuit walk through massive white cypress pines and twisted paperbark trees.
Where to camp and how to get there:
- Camp at Beach Camping Zone 8
- Find Ocean Lake in the northeast of K’gari. Drive up 75-mile beach on the eastern side of the island, pass the Champagne Pools and you will find the turn-off track halfway between Orchid Beach and Ngkala Rocks.
#2 – Wathumba Creek
With the Queensland sun shining, Wathumba Creek is simply stunning. If the tide is in, it’s great for canoeing, SUPs and splashing about and when it’s out, get the kids pumping yabbies. Speaking of yabbies, fishing here is usually pretty good with whiting, bream and flathead. It’s not uncommon to spot sea turtles here too.
During the winter season, there is every chance of spotting whales from the beach. Especially if you kayak over to Wathumba Spit and cast your gaze out towards the deeper ocean. Regardless of the season, the birdlife here is prolific with brahminy and whistling kites as well as smaller honeyeaters, finches, doves, and woodswallows.
Where to camp and how to get there:
- Camp at Wathumba Trailer Camping or Wathumba tent camping
- Find Wathumba Creek in the northwest of K’gari, almost directly opposite Champagne Pools in the east. Take the inland tracks to connect to Wathumba Rd in the centre of the island or if you’re already on 75-mile beach, you’ll find the start of Wathumba Rd just behind Orchid Beach.
#3 – Sandy Cape
Sandy Cape is found at the northernmost point of K’gari and is where to head for a spot of remote camping. The off-road tour trucks don’t come this far and in fact, many K’gari visitors don’t venture up this way either. I suspect they are a little put off by the lack of facilities (by lack off I mean none) and the sometimes difficult Ngkala Rocks, which you must conquer to reach Sandy Cape.
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Hike up to the Sandy Cape Lighthouse while you’re there and check out the little on-site museum. Built in 1870, the lighthouse stands at 26 metres and runs on solar, with a backup diesel generator. The lighthouse was deemed necessary due to the notorious Breaksea Spit, which extends over 30km underneath the water from Sandy Cape. Many a ship were accidentally sacrificed to the ocean gods here.
Pack your rod as most campers come here to enjoy fishing, where you’re almost guaranteed to catch whiting, tailor or bream. From May to October, it’s not unheard of to see turtles slowly make their way up the beach to lay eggs.
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Where to camp and how to get there:
- Camp at Beach Camping Zone 9
- Seek out Sandy Cape at the northernmost point of K’gari. Follow 75-mile beach on the eastern side of the island up to the very tip. Once you pass Ngkala Rocks it’s smooth sailing but keep an eye on the tide so you don’t get caught out.
#4 – Basin Lake
Basin Lake is an awesome perched lake that involves some off-roading on foot to reach it. As you can’t park your 4WD right beside it, this means it’s blissfully uncrowded. Don’t worry though, the 2.8km hike in through lush rainforest is particularly scenic.
Roughly the size of a football field, the vegetation that borders the water gives you plenty of private spots to change into your bathers, which you will definitely want to do. Swimming here is epic!
Where to camp and how to get there:
- Camp at Central Station tent camping or Central Station trailer camping
- Anyone doing the K’gari Great Walk will bump right into it on the hiking track that connects Lake McKenzie and Central Station. For those on a 4WD adventure, most people park at the Central Station day-use area and kick off from there. It’s 2.8km to reach Basin Lake (5.6km return).
#5 – Valley of the Giants
The Valley of the Giants is another K’gari secret in which you will need to utilise foot power to reach – and lots of it. However, once you do reach it, you’ll remember that you previously scoffed at the term ‘forest bathing’ and start to wonder if there’s something to it. Here at the Valley of the Giants you can just sit and take in the 1000-year-old treasures of the rainforest. If only they could talk!
Where to camp and how to get there:
- Camp at Winnam Camping area – Beach Zone 3
- Getting here is only for the dedicated. For those on the K’gari Great Walk, you’ll find the Valley of the Giants Hiking Camp (you’ll need to prebook this) between Lake Garawongera and Lake Wabby Hikers Camps. For everyone else, there is an 8km one-way (16km return) minor access track that leaves from the southern section of the Winnam camping area.
Need to know
K’gari is 4WD access only with some tracks requiring high clearance. No seriously, don’t take your AWD here and hope for the best. Book vehicle access permits and camping permits before you head over to the island. These are usually checked on the barge and if they’re not, you will certainly get caught by a ranger.
There are three options for vehicle barges:
- The Manta Ray departs from Inskip Point at Rainbow Beach. Line up and wait your turn with no bookings required.
- The Kingfisher Bay Ferry departs from River Heads in Hervey Bay. Book in advance.
- The Wanggoolba Creek Ferry also departs from River Heads in Hervey Bay. Book in advance.
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