4x4 over sanddunes, swim in freshwater lakes, trek through ancient rainforests, spot Dingos, eat amazing food and explore World Heritage listed Fraser Island.
Some of the highlights we'll check out are 75 Mile Beach, Lake McKenzie, Eli & Wanggoolba Creek, Maheno Shipwreck and The Pinnacles Coloured Sands. This means plenty of swimming, trekking, relaxing & learning about the islands flora and fauna.
Days
- 1 day
Group size
- Max 43
Start / finish
- Hervey Bay / Hervey Bay, or Rainbow Beach / Rainbow Beach
- Hervey Bay by 6:30pm, Rainbow Beach by 5pm
Return
- Hervey Bay by 6:30pm, Rainbow Beach by 5pm
Transport
- An air-conditioned 4WD bus with your guide, and the ferry across. Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation are included. From Hervey Bay you leave River Heads at 8:30am daily; from Rainbow Beach you leave at 7:45am via Inskip Point, Tuesday to Sunday.
Meals
- A buffet lunch at Eurong Beach Resort, with vegetarians catered for.
Route
Included experiences
- Lake McKenzie — a swim in the clear blue water off the white sand
- Central Station — the Wanggoolba Creek boardwalk, King Ferns and ghost gums
- Seventy-Five Mile Beach — the sand highway, with whales passing July to November
- Eli Creek — floating down the fast freshwater creek
- Maheno shipwreck — a photo stop at the wreck washed ashore in 1935
- The Pinnacles — the coloured sands and the Butchulla stories behind them
- Scenic flight over the island — bookable with your guide, at extra cost
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 83 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 83 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the tour's smooth organisation, from punctual hotel pick-ups and ferry transfers to well-timed stops, and repeatedly commend the guides, who are described as knowledgeable about the island's flora, fauna and history as well as being entertaining and safe drivers on difficult terrain. The most frequently mentioned highlights include swimming in the clear waters of Lake McKenzie, visiting Eli Creek, the Maheno shipwreck and the Pinnacles, driving along Seventy-Five Mile Beach, walking through the rainforest, and sightings of dingoes and whales, with many reviewers taking the optional scenic flight and rating it good value. Several note that the included buffet lunch was acceptable rather than exceptional. The most common caveat is that the sandy tracks make the drive very bumpy, so those prone to motion sickness are advised to take precautions, and some mention it is a long day that feels rushed at certain stops, with a few suggesting a two-day trip for more time; the tour is also noted as unsuitable for those with mobility or back issues or very young children.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Frestine enviroment so unspoilt”
This is one great fun day trip ,lovely tropical environment & so prestine good & a good amount of time for viewing & enjoying the island ,their was a fun flight to be enjoyed too as extra. Definitely a recommended tour.
“A fantastic day tour”
It is well organised and gives you enough time to see the highlights of Fraser Island. The scenic flight was optional and worth the money. The 4WD coach was comfortable and so much fun travelling on the sand roads. A big shout out to our guide and driver, Wayne. He is a wealth of knowledge and I walked away so educated about Fraser Island. Wayne was friendly with the right amount of good aussie humour. He is a great ambassador for your company. Would recommend to anyone heading to Hervey Bay.
“An excellent but busy day”
After Whale Watching on Saturday it was Fraser Island exploring on Sunday.
After the hotel pickup which was a little late - almost to the point of worrying we had been forgotten - there was a reasonable drive to River Heads to pick up the vehicle ferry to the island.
Weather was perfect with the sea virtually calm for the trip across.
The landing at Wanggoolba Creek was interesting since the tide was very low and the captain mentioned there might be a few bumps as we hit the sandy bottom.
Several buses were waiting - make sure you get on the right one as indicated by the colour-coded cards issued before you get on the ferry.
Steve was a very good driver and guide. Really a mine of information about the history of the island from the indigenous people to the early explorers and the logging industry. He also coped with the rough tracks well which he rated 6/10. I think some of the video taken by other people would induce carsickness. The beach was pretty smooth in most places.
The buffet lunch at Eurong Resort was good if a little rushed.
“I will never forget this day”
It was really easy to book through trip advisor, they sent confirmation almost immediately with all the relevant details! They picked us up, Murray our driver was amazing! As he took us to the ferry he gave us a bit of a history overview, hints and tips to get the best of the day. He was a driver when we arrived on Fraser Island too, we went on the 1 day tour as we left it too late for anything else, so do book early! As we went by he talked us through the history of the island which was great. He named a lot of the plants, trees and animals on the island, wow was he knowledgeable it made the whole experience complete. It was a filled day, surprised the day went so quick, we even saw a breaching humpback whale off the sure! I will never forget this day and highly recommend you do as you won’t be disappointed
“Roller coaster, sand and fun”
Went on the day long premium tour to Fraser Island. Everything was taken care of, all we had to do was sit back, hold on and enjoy the day. Rough tracks were negotiated with confidence and skill by our driver Wayne. Lovely lunch at the resort which was a nice oasis after exploring the island. Loved everything about this trip.
“We had a great time on Fraser Island.”
We were picked up pretty much from our accommodation right on time to transfer us to the ferry. Once we arrived on Fraser island we were put onto another bus, this time a 4WD. Peter was our tour guide, he was very informative. He also makes the journey exciting by his driving! Great fun. So much to see and do on the island. We also took the scenic flight over the island. Only 15 minutes, but it was amazing landing on the beach. I would recommend this trip, it went by so fast. Definitely one of my highlights from my time in Australia. Maybe not so good for those who get car sick..ever so slightly bumpy but I would say it's worth it.
“Better than expected”
My brother and niece were visiting from the UK for my 70th birthday and wanted to see Fraser Island. We had an amazing day and our tour guide, Kev, was extremely knowledgeable. He talked about the island history, fauna and flora and had obviously done some extensive research. The buffet lunch at Eurong, while not a gourmet meal, was better than expected with quite a variety of food options. I took the opportunity to have short flight over the island (not included in the tour) which was also a great way to see the island. We had plenty of photo opportunities and we all thoroughly enjoyed our day out.
“We enjoyed a fabulous day at Fraser Island”
We were transferred to the ferry from our accommodation. The staff explained everything well so we knew exactly what we had to do and where we had to be. Our guide for the day was Wayne. He was absolutely fantastic. His wealth of knowledge about Fraser Island made our touring of the island fascinating. We were on the premium tour and worth every dollar. I would highly recommend seeing the Island with this company and if your lucky enough to have Wayne as your guide it will be an even more memorable day.
“Simply perfect”
Our 1 day tour was simply perfect for our budget and the time we had. We covered Lake McKenzie, the beach with the shipwreck, Eli Creek, Central station forest walk and the coloured sands. The weather was perfect, and a group of 35 was just right.
Huge buffet punch half way through, plenty of toilet stops and a pit stop at the end. All followed by a gorgeous sunset view on the ferry going home.
What made our tour special was our tour guide Kev. He made the bumpy bus journey enjoyable at the start and bearable at the end with his detailed explanations and information on wild life and plant life on the island. His historic knowledge was second to none and we feel we take more than photographs away from this gorgeous island.
I would 100% recommend this 1 day tour, and ask for Kev! (Although I'm sure all the other tour guides are just as good!) Money well spent!
Note* Take some trava calms if you suffer travel sickness! The bus can get quite bumpy
“Incredible day on Fraser”
We had a great day from start to finish. 4 of us in total (two groups of two) and our driver and guide Greg in the Hummer. Greg tailored the day to us, showed us things a little off the beaten track and gave a detailed rundown of pretty much everything about the island. He has 39 years of experience which helped us to see dingoes, whales and dolphins and see many of the best sights all within a 12 hour period, whilst navigating insanely difficult sand roads! One of the best days of my life :)
“Excellent tour of the island”
Myself and the other half are currently on a 3 and a half week, east coast jaunt and wanted to see asuch as possible. Fraser island was a biggie on the list and this tour was recommended by the camper Park we stayed at and it didn't disappoint. Our host booked it and took our hard earned and we were picked up at the park the following morning. Short drive to the barge and we were ushered onto the 4x4 bus for our tour.
Our tour guide, Pete B was very chatty and knowledgeable, took us through the locations/attractions and during the beach ride we stopped at some light planes and offered the chance for a ride over the island for 80 bucks each. We took up the offer and it was very much worth it.
Pete's knowledge of the island was astounding, obviously knows his stuff. Between all in information and anecdotes he made the trip very interesting. Saw pently of native flora, a humpback whale when we were on the plane, a kook in the forest and a dingo on the way to Makenzie Lake.
Would highly recommend the tour. We did the 1 day trip, picked up at 7.45 and got back about 6.30ish and I'm writing this shortly after (so I don't forget)... A long day, and now I'm ready for bed. Recommended.
“Fantastic day on Fraser Island”
Great day, well organised. All staff from booking office, barge staff and the 4wd tour guide Scotty were wonderful and Scotty very knowledgeable as well
“Fantastic day trip around the Island”
All inclusive with buffet lunch.Craig my tour guide has a wealth of knowledge about Fraser Island, from the flora and fauna to the Dreamtime indigenous history.
A great day out and value for money.I didn't see any dingo but will come back one day to stay longer.
“Day Tour of Fraser Island”
A very nice tour of the island visiting iconic sights. Our tour guide was Murray, he was very passionate about the island and taught us a lot about the history of the island. The date we toured the island was 3/7/19. The only problem was the lunch we had at Eurong Beach Resort NOT NICE at all.
“Great Day on Fraser Island”
We did the one day tour of Fraser Island. It is a long, jam-packed day, but definitely well worth it. The trip over to the island on the barge is relaxing. Once on the island we boarded our 4x4 bus. The roads are mainly sand tracks. Our guide/driver did a great job taking us to the various attractions. His commentary was very informative and interesting and he was able to answer any questions from those on the tour. The island is a fascinating place with many different types of sights. We visited Lake Mackenzie first, then had a buffet lunch at Eurong Beach Resort. After lunch we drove along Seventy-five Mile beach and saw the Maheno Shipwreck, Eli Creek and The Pinnacles. We then went to Central Station. At each place we had plenty of time to do activities and enjoy the beautiful island.
“Outstanding!”
Thanks to the Operators of Fraser Explorer for such an outstanding tour experience. Wayne was our driver - smiley, helpful, interested and interesting - he made our day flow - and fun. Unexpectedly, the time spent in the WD bus was exciting and a great experience on the sandy tracks. Wayne knew how to get that girl moving!
And talk about moving, we really did that in the 1-day tour - so many stunningly beautiful things to see on Fraser - McKenzie Lake and the tropical rainforest of Central Station - and the other places were fantastic too. Just moving at more than a crawl along the beach is a memorable experience in itself!
We are just so fortunate that some wonderful person 30-40 years ago had the foresight to ensure than logging stopped and that the World Heritage listing was achieved! To be able to see Fraser in all its "original" glory was fabulous. We are lucky!
The day was just an magnificent experience and more than excellent value. We just loved it! THANK YOU:)
“Awesome Trip”
The trip on the ferry (barge = whatever) was AWESOME; The bus tour and the driver - just AWESOME; the information he relayed to us - just AWESOME and AMAZING; lunch at the resort was delightful offering a great range of foods; day was packed with interesting people and sights.
“Tour With Peter”
My friend and I took a tour with Peter in July 2019 and he was GREAT! Ask him to ride the "rollercoaster," apparently you can only do this on his tour. In addition to being pleasant and informative, Peter went above and beyond the call of duty after the tour to make sure that we were able to get our luggage and to catch our bus out of Hervey Bay on time. I highly recommend his tour!
“A great day and learned a lot!”
We spent a day with guide Mark, visiting the east side of Fraser Island. It is a busy schedule to visit many of the island's highlights, but Mark had a lot of useful information to share during the bus ride and we learned a lot about this sand island ecosystem. We enjoyed it very much, it gave us a taste for what is there. If you want more time (eg at Lake Mckenzie) to stay and relax, it is probably better to take the two day trip. We took the opportunity to do a scenic flight over the island and that was super!
“Fantastic day”
What a beautiful island, Amazing day touring round in the 4wd vehicle, we saw whales from the beach and Dingos. The trip included lunch which was lovely. The driver was funny and very informative- overall a brilliant experience just wish we could have done the over night trip, just not enough time
“We all loved it”
My whole family had an amazing day with Mark on bus 8. Mark was passionate about the island and taught us a lot about the island and it’s history. We will be back for a longer tour as we all loved it. It was great to see someone so passionate about their job. Mark looked after us all so well and made sure we had a fabulous day. Thank you !!! A day we will never forget.
“It was good! ”
I enjoyed most aspects of it. The Whitehaven beach and Fraser Island parts especially!
“It was a great tour”
Our guide explained everything. The Drive in the 4WD Bus was exciting and crazy but funny. We recommend this tour!
“Return to nature”
As two grey nomads travelling north, we decided to go on the one day Fraser Explorer. We were picked up at our caravan park by bus and taken down to to the ferry. Once on Fraser Island we travelled in a comfortable 40 seater 4WD bus. It was exciting driving along the beach and then along the winding sandy tracks. Our driver (Peter) has a wealth of knowledge and a good sense of humour - he certainly made the day memorable. We would definitely recommend this tour.
“Amazing day at Fraser Island.”
Our tour guide on the day was “Butch”. I think he said his name was Ian Butcher. Butch was fantastic throughout the whole day. From the very start he made us feel very welcome and he was very informative providing an on-going commentary about the history of Fraser Is and various other interesting facts. During breaks he also interacted with us all and it was obvious he really loved his job. I couldn’t fault his level of customer service at all and he made the day extremely enjoyable. Thanks Butch and Fraser Explorer Tours.
“We had a great day of adventure”
We went with two friends to Fraser Island last weekend. Our driver/tour guide Pete B was great. All the history and information was told to us plus a fair amount of humour too. Well worth the bumpy roads for a lovely Saturday. Thanks.
“We covered a great many highlights in one day”
We enjoyed a fabulous day exploring Fraser Island on this tour. Our guide, Pete B, was friendly, helpful, extremely knowledgeable and a very competent & safe driver. We felt that we covered a great many highlights in one day and, thanks to Pete, learned much more than we would have had we tried to explore the island on our own. The option of seeing the island from the air in a short plane flight was an unexpected bonus. We very much enjoyed the convenience of being picked up and returned to our caravan park and considered the day to be great value for money.
“Great way to explore Fraser Island”
This tour was a great way to explore Fraser Island for the day! Our driver & guide Pete B was brilliant, not only at getting us around in the 4WD monster truck but providing insight into the history of the Butchulla people, the island itself and what the future holds also. The day started with a barge over from Hervey Bay before embarking onto the vehicle and setting off. We visited Lake McKenzie for a swim, where the sand and water were pristine and provided a great photo location. We then went to central station where you walk around the old station which provides information on the logging history. We then headed along 75 mile beach cruising along the sand and up and around rocks! This was great, it was like a theme park ride. On the drive we visited the Pinnacles and the Maheno shipwreck. Finally we stopped at Eli creek which is akin to a lazy river which was a great place to leisurely stroll along and finish the tour. Also here we got to see some of the infamous Dingoes that inhabit the island. All in all a great day and a fantastic way for those short of time (1 day) to visit and see some of the best bits of Fraser (K'gari).
“Awesome tour, Great tour guide!”
This is a fantastic day trip and worth every cent. The second time I’ve visited Fraser Island and enjoyed it just as much as the first.
Peter, our tour guide, was exceptional! Give that man a pay rise!
“Excellent - Highly Recommended”
Could not fault this trip other than the lunch is a bit basic. Our guide Steve was excellent and made sure we got the most out of the trip. Could not have possibly seen everything on our own. Highly recommend for families. Smooth trip from start to finish.
“Great Tour and even greater Guide”
We took the one day tour with the 4WD Bus and it was an experience we wont forget soon.
Even though the weather wasn’t that good and it rained a lot, I wouldn’t want to miss that tour. We saw some dingos and walked through parts of the rainforest, took a swim in lake McKenzie and saw the maheno shipwreck.
Driving with a 15t bus trough very difficult terrain is an experience for itself. At some point it felt like a rollercoaster ride.
As if doing this wasn’t hard enough, our guide Big Dave told one story after another, while everybody was bouncing on their seats.
It was a great mixture of facts and entertaining storys about the island.
Big Dave also had time to greet everybody (!) we encountered on the road and he seemed to be full of positive energy. Very nice and kind person!
We can definitely recommend it!
“Best Fraser Island Experience!!”
Hands down the best way to see Fraser Island and to learn all about the island! Be ready to buckle up for a rollercoaster of a ride through the rainforest, swimming in amazing lakes, spectacular picture taking and for a true adventure! BIG SHOUT OUT to our main man Big Davo who is one hell of a driver and tour guide! Learned a ton from you about the forest, the creatures of Australia and the indigenous history of the island! Definetly will not forget to keep our heads away from the window!
Thanks again to Big Davo and the Fraser Island Explorer crew!
“What a wonderful day out and great value for money”
The tour picked us up from our hotel. This was followed by a ferry ride over to the island. Once on the island we went to the really long beach. Where we visited the shipwreck and other points of interest. Lunch on this tour was a buffet it was ok nothing special. After lunch we went to lake Mackenzie for a swim. This tour was good but the tour guides made it great. They were full of information and very funny.
“It was absolutely perfect”
1 Day Fraser Explorer Tour - Me my daughter (9) and my partner LOVED this tour it was absolutely perfect. We were picked up very near our accommodation, and the bus and ferry transfers were straightforward. The bus was nicely air conditioned, bumpy rollercoaster roads provided some excitement, the stops were wonderful and we never felt rushed or bored, a lovely buffet lunch was provided with options for any diet, the driver Peter was like a nature/history encyclopaedia and always had more to tell us. It was very educational. You also were given the option of adding a scenic flight in if you wanted to but it wasn’t a hard sell, just a quick chat with the pilots. My daughter had the best day ever, it was perfect for her age group. The sunset cruise at the end of the day topped it off perfectly. We had a glass of wine and chatted to the other tourists who were very friendly.
It’s a LONG day (pick up 7am and you’ll get home about 7pm) and very bumpy so I wouldn’t recommend it for under 5s.
I would actively recommend this company to anyone who wants to see Fraser Island. It was perfect!
Have a marvelous day!
“Premium tour: great value”
We did the premium tour which costs a little extra, and which offers restaurant service for lunch rather than a buffet, smaller tour groups, and an optional ($80 per person) 20-minute sightseeing flight. Whilst it is a full day, with a significant amount of time spent driving, and there is limited time at each stop, the time allowed for each stop was reasonable, and we didn't feel rushed. We did the sightseeing flight on a whim and were very glad we did - it was a definite highlight on a day with perfect flying conditions.
Pros: 1) Paul was a knowledgeable, friendly, & organised bus driver/tour guide who told the stories well without all the usual tall tales which some guides feel they have to spin. 2) Tour bus a lot less bumpy than I expected. (Although those not used to 4WDing may still find it too bumpy.) 3) Sightseeing flight much better value than expected, and well worth it. 4) Prompt & friendly pick up & drop-off from Hervey Bay accommodation.
Cons: (Not the fault of the tour.) 1) Crowded swimming spots at lake McKenzie and Eli Creek, 2) Other tour operator who parked his bus right in front of the SS Maheno wreck, wrecking photo opportunity. 3) Small barge seating options not great: top deck in hot sun, in stuffy cabin, or on noisy vehicle deck. 4) Having to share our national parks with people who are just there to drink, smoke, and look at girls in bikinis, who have no respect for the land, and who don't care that they are destroying the planet for their children.
“Fabulous Fraser Island Tour”
Fraser Island was so different from any other island we have visited. Des, our amazing tour guide, promised us a “roller coaster” ride and we sure got one from the outset. Every sandy road we travelled was full of deep ruts. We visited all the places listed and listened to facts and historical data about each. Swimming in Lake McKenzie was idyllic. The buffet lunch was delicious; there was lots of choice and plenty of it. It’s a long day - we were picked up at 0745 and got back to pick up point about 19:00. Would recommend taking water, although you can top up at lunch time and you may want to take a snack to eat during for the morning; we wish we had. In my opinion the difference between a good tour and an ok tour is down to the guide and ours was great. Des interacted with his group, was ready to help anyone who needed it and kept everyone entertained as we criss-crossed the Island. Would definitely recommend this tour.
“We had an incredible experience”
Great Tour, great chauffeur/guide (Pete B) def be back
We had an incredible experience, when we had a tour with this company about 2 months ago
“We had a fantastic day on Fraser Island”
We drove to the following spots: lake Mckenzie, central Station rainforest, the Maheno ship wreck, Eli creek, seventy-five mile beach.
Our tour guide was David. He is a fun and nice guy and explained everything very detailed. He did a great job!
We highly recommend a trip with Fraser Island explorer tours!
“Brilliant tour”
The large 4x4 buses are air conditioned and pretty comfortable. The first and last hour are very bumpy (not the tours fault) so I’d recommend seats closer to the front. Lake Mackenzie is paradise, the shipwreck is cool and the walk through the creek is amazing, very unique. Lunch decent.
“We really enjoyed this tour”
Everything ran smoothly, from pickup to drop off and it was a relaxing and fun experience. Great way to see some of the hot spots on Fraser Island, including Lake McKenzie, Eli Creek, the shipwreck and the eastern beach.
Our guide Hayden was absolutely fantastic and made it a great experience! He was well organised and made sure everything ran smoothly so we could just sit back and relax which was great. He provided great enthusiasm and information about Fraser Island and made a real effort to make sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying the tour.
Would highly recommend!
“AWESOME”
Really liked the tour. Des was a very nice tourguide. Be prepared because the ride can be very bumpy. The extra tour via plane is worth it, beautiful!
“Long day but very worthwhile”
Booked the one day Premium tour of Fraser Island which included delicious lunch, snacks, and drinks. Our tour driver and guide was Butch who’s fantastic. Very knowledgeable with so much information and history. Comfortable 18 person coach, but driving on deep sandy roads is very bumpy. Actually, bumpy doesn’t describe it! Suggest anti-nausea meds for anyone who experiences even mild motion sickness. Saw 4 wild dingos and lots of sights including a swim in McKenzie Lake. Tour allows for ample time to experience different sights and for photo ops. So much of the island is rain forest which we didn’t expect since the island is all sand. Nice ferry ride to and from the island. We were well looked after by the company and Butch. Would not recommend this trip for those with mobility issues since some of the tour includes walking through hilly rain forests and deep sand.
“Loved this trip”
Well organised and Des was a great guide - informative and entertaining- also coped really well with a cranky bus. Trip to the Lake was the highlight for us but all of it was good
“What a great experience!”
To say we had the best day would be an understatement. This tour is a full day on the island and you see all the top sights. The swim in lake McKenzie was beautiful. Shout out to “Big Dave” who was our tour guide for the day. He was full of chat, had lots and lots of information about the island and all the things on it and can drive a bus over those deep sandy roads like a true professional. We ended the day with a scenic flight over Fraser Island (which of course was an optional extra) and it was the best experience of my life so far.
The only thing I would say is that it wouldn’t be a tour for those who get travel sick easily as the roads are very bumpy. Obviously this can’t be helped and honestly it made the trip even more fun but if you get travel sick you may struggle with this.
So thank you for the wonderful day out on Fraser Island, I would highly recommend this tour to anyone considering a day trip to Fraser Island!
“worth the money - even for one day trip”
Thanks to PT our tour guide and coach driver, we enjoyed a pleasant day on Fraser Island/ K'ghari. Well organized tour from booking through pick-up, barge transport and coach ride on the island. Certainly, one dy is way too short to really capture the beauty of the island and its magical scenery. PT made our day special with short guided walks, tea and lunch break. Just that the one day tour doesn't cover the champagne pools....
overall recommended for families and convenience travelers. Backpackers and adventurers need to do the real thing; Jeep 4WD plus camping!
“Glad we did it - even in bad weather!”
We booked this on a rainy day because the other tour operator offering a trip to the other side of Fraser had to cancel because of bad weather. We weren't excited about a bus trip with a lot of people in the rain and were pleasantly surprised. The bus did great on the bumpy roads--the driver was awesome and had super commentary ranging from flora and fauna to the history of the island and made adjustments to take advantage of any breaks in the weather. Wish it was a bright summer day, but wouldn't have missed this fascinating place!
“Should've booked the 2-day trip...”
A very long day, to be sure, with an 07:30hrs pickup in Hervey Bay, but our driver/guide, Mark, stayed with us all the way through. A great balance of informative and anecdotal facts about the flora and fauna, punctuated by white-knuckle transport down bumpy single-track rain forest "roads", to end up in the utmost bizarre situation of thrashing along at 80kph on a sandy beach. I know, mental!
Well paced breaks for washrooms and the buffet lunch provided was totally acceptable.
The afternoon ended with a trip to Lake McKenzie and thanks to Mark's timing control (if it had been me, I'd have left the 3 constant latecomers behind), an hour for swimming and relaxation.
Ferry trip back to Hervey Bay into the setting sun, was an added bonus.
There's so more to see and if we had researched this in more detail, we would have stayed a day less in Hervey Bay and taken the 2-day Fraser Island trip with these guys.
Strongly recommended.
“This isn't your regular coach trip!”
Picked up from accommodation and ferry to Island. Comfortable 4wd coach with thrilling ride over the islands sand tracks with really knowledgeable drive. Full commentary from Murray the driver who seemed to know everything about the islands history and everything that remains on the island. Left turn onto the 75 mile beach and 80kph drive up to Eli creek. Brilliant! Really good lunch provided in local resort and a trip up to Lake McKenzie with spectacular scenery and time for swimming in the most beautiful freshwater lake ever. Excellent trip. I don't normally do coach trips but this isn't your regular coach trip! Highly recommended
“Great Tour”
PT (our guide) provided an excellent and informed tour in a 4WD air conditioned bus. The access "roads" (deep ruts in the sand over tree roots) meant the drive (other than on the beach) was so rocking & rolling that the seat belt was only way to stay in the seat. It was still worth it. Anyone with back issues should not consider the tour.
“Great tour!”
Wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know that Fraser Island is all sand. Our guide Peter was awesome! He was narrating while driving the 4 wheeler coach through the sandy paths. His stories were like listening to a podcast!
Highly recommended!!
“Well worth the money”
My wife and I did the Premium tour with Wayne and had a top day. The tour is well organised and Wayne with his corny jokes and friendly banter really make it a day to remember. Wayne is very passionate about the island and it shows in his commentary. He handles the bus with consummate ease, and knows the island like the back of his hand. Would highly recommend.
“A lovely way to see the highlights of Fraser Island!”
My tour guide was Gary!! He was absolutely awesomrle. He did the morning pick up run and evening drop off. He was really pleasant and added so much to this trip. His commentary and general attitude were invaluable. The trip took us via ferry to fraser island, then we got on a bus that took us through a rainforest drive. Arriving at Eurong resort for a quick pitstop, we were then off on our beach drive. I paid the extra A$80 for a scenic flight which was worth every penny. Got a view of Indian head, Lake wabi, lake mckenzie and a lot of the amazing ocean. The coloured sands and shipwreck were ok, but the bush walk and all the cool facts about flora and fauna were awesome. Walking around Elli Creek was great, wish i had brought a tube to float down on. Water was so clear and clean! Lunch was fine, plentiful and well made. The highlight however was swimming in Lake McKenzie! Wow! A more beautiful lake and beach of lake i have never seen. The water was lush! Absolutely divine. Overall this trip was awesome. Perfecg amount of time, not sure I would do more than 1 day tour of fraser island though, 1 day however . Absolute great value for money.
“The island is amazingly beautiful”
The 1-day tour was very intersting, becuase our guide David gave us a lot of information while he was driving the 4 wheel bus. The island is amazingly beautiful and on the 1-day tour you get a perfect impression of the nature and wildlife there.
Thanks David for the nice tour
Best regards
The family from Spain
“Variety world in an island”
This is a wonderful trip and you don't need to worry about anything.
very beautiful island and original scenery.
the amazing beach traveling with bus.
Strongly advise you to swim in the lake, it is fantastic.
But notice that the road from kingfisherbay to the lunch position is bumpy, bring dramamine if you are motion sickness
“Something of a surprise”
Not normally one for out-door stuff like this and we were swayed not to do the 2 day 2 night gig - which, in all fairness, we were glad we didn't. There is only so much sand, creeks, trees you can see. However, the tour guide was out of this world. regrettably though i forgot his name. he was about 6ft 6++ ex coach driver and was such a lovely guy who was so interesting. Never thought i would find my self interested in aspects of trees, beach etc. Definitely one to tick off the list - I would defo go a gain, BUT i would still only go for the day!
“Truly memorable and informative experience.”
Thanks to “Buch” our tour guide, an immensely professional and knowledgeable gentleman, we just got the best day tour experience in the world heritage listed Fraser Island. It has been truly memorable and informative experience. I offer my sincere thanks to “Buch” and all other staff of Fraser Explorer Tours to work so professionally and render a truly memorable trip of Fraser Island. I will strongly recommend “Buch” of Fraser Explorer Tour to be your next Trip guide.
“Fantastic tour”
Fantastic tour, tour guide Mark was very informative and made us feel like we were the only one who mattered. Really well organized tour. had a ball
“Exciting, fun and educational”
We loved the whole day. Went very fast. Would have liked to have some time to swim at eli creek and mckenzie lake. Only had 10 mins at both. Lunch was great. A tick off the bucket list. Well worth the money we paid. Highly recommend doing.
“Absolutely cracker day and worth every dollar”
My partner and I went on the Fraser Island Premium Tour (AU$240 each) on Friday, August 10, 2018. It started at 7.30am at River Heads and finished back there about 5.45pm. An absolutely cracker day and worth every dollar. But the main reason I am writing this review is to thank Hayden for making it such a GREAT day! He knows his stuff and is very knowledgeable about the island, the nature and the history. And he really knows how to drive that 18 seater 4WD bus.
The island is one of the wonders of the world. 1140 square kilometers of sand but covered in lakes and forest. We saw Lake McKenzie - such a pure water lake with no inlet or outlet, only fed by the rain. Lovely picnic there in a dingo proof fenced area! (Did you really get up at 3am to bake those pastries Hayden?)
Went to Central Station and learned about logging and walked in the rainforest. A good lunch served promptly at Eurong Beach Resort. And Hayden told us about the AU$80 each plane flights over the island so we did one of those, awesome. A voucher for evening drinks on the ferry on the way back. Terrific end to a wonderful, interesting, fun day.
Absolutely recommend the tour - and Hayden!
“Highlight of our road trip!”
Took a Day tour from Hervey bay with Fraser Explore Tours... on an incredible 4x4 coach (number 98) with driver and tour guide, David.
The ferry crossing took around 35mins and the Captain was very hospitable. We were lucky enough to spot dolphins which he pointed out to us passengers which was fantastic.
Lake McKenzie was our first stop. Such a beautiful place... Crystal clear waters, pure silica sand and the opportunity to swim.
Next was our interactive bush walk through the rainforest at central station. This was a very informative activity, David kept us on our toes and was good fun.
Good buffet lunch at a resort, would of been perfect with a better view. But the bonus was a 10$ cocktail.
After lunch we went off roading along 75 mile beach. This was probably the highlight of our trip! Extremely lucky to see 2 dingoes on beach. David gave us opportunity to take photos from the safety of the bus. Incredible to witness them in the wild!
We followed breaching humpback whales as we drove parallel to the ocean and made our way to Eli creek, Pinnacle sounds and the Mohana shipwreck.
Timing was perfect throughout the day without feeling under pressure.
For two people that aren't the biggest fans of organised tours, this exceeded our expectations.
We had an awesome day, making speacil memories whilst feeling safe under the watchful care of a friendly, experienced and knowledgeable tour guide.
We'd thoroughly reccomend it as a brilliant experience and a great way to see Fraser island.. I just wish we could have stayed longer!
Perfect day, perfect weather, perfect host!
From the two blonde Poms that bounced around happily on the back seat
Jane and Hatty x
“Simply spectacular”
Peter our guide was fabulous and went out of his way to make sure we were looked after and got to experience the wonders of Frazer Island. He was knowledgeable about local plants and traditional uses, and also considerate about ensuring everyone was respectful of the land and the wildlife. He was a great driver on the rough sandy roads (they would be so hard to drive if you don't know what you are doing) and he was hilariously funny. Really going out of his way to ensure that we were all looked after on the trip.
Seeing multiple pods of whales travelling up the coast as we drove up was stunning. I never expected we would be able to see so many from the coast and so early in the season. Or so much from simply being on a bus on the shore!
There was also a great opportunity to take a scenic flight during the trip which was spectacular- flying over whales, sharks, stingrays and dolphins was a site that will stay with me forever.
Overall, I felt in the day that we experienced so much of Frazer in such a short time, but I was really able to get a comprehensive look at the island, from the coast, the inland rainforests and the lakes, and then- additionally by air.
I felt so fortunate to have been on the tour as we saw so much. Thanks Peter!!
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“We loved it”
Wonderful day with driver Mark! Good stories & humor. One day visit is really short. Gives you a good impression of the island but it is a bit in a rush all. However, we loved it! Thank you Mark
“This was a fantastic one day”
Great value for money to see what we did and the 4wd buses were fabulous!! Kevin our driver did a wonderful job and his knowledge of the island was sensational, thanks for great memories on our holiday!!
“Off Road Extreme!”
We were picked up in Hervey Bay and were taken on a barge across the water to Frasier (K'Gari) Island. It was AMAZING!! The roads were crazy!! I would not suggest this activity for anyone who gets car sick easily. We went up to Lake McKenzie. This lake is beautiful! I could've stayed there all day. We then headed out to Central Station for a short hike and lunch. Finally, we headed over to the beach highway where we visited the Pinnacles and Eli Creek. They were both so beautiful. We saw 7 Dingoes, 10 Whales, and 1 snake on our adventure. Our driver was Greg, and he was fabulous! He was so knowledgeable about the island. Definitely worth the money!!
“Fraser Explorer 4WD Bus tour”
We were picked up from our Hervey Bay motel and taken to the car ferry terminal for the short trip over to Fraser Island and our 4wd bus. Spectacular scenery, plenty of stops and time off the bus and a nice included lunch. So much to see and great commentary from our driver Pete. Easy to see why this place has World Heritage listing.
“Long day, but great tour & guide”
We were picked up near our Noosa Crest Hotel. Then there was a long drive up to the sand ferry crossing to Fraser Island. We were in a big 4 wheel drive, almost military type vehicle. They let some air out of all the tires before the ferry crossing and the sand roads of Fraser Island. We saw dingos up close. The sand island is huge and it it amazing to see the remaining old growth rain forest with its giant trees. The swim in Mckenzie Lake with its crystal clear water and white sand beach was wonderful. It was interesting to see the only island base center. We particularly loved the scenic, peaceful hike along the clear stream corridor with the lush growth. It was a long 11 hour day from Noosa, but well worth it. I highly recommend this tour!
“Organized, Informative, Fun!”
Spent 4d/3n in hervey bay with wife and our adult daughter... hotel-pier transfers on the dot... barge clean and comfortable... our friendly guide Ian Butch (Butchie) was a walking encyclopedia... he approached the day with humor, safety, and excellent time-management... such a relaxed feeling... it seemed we were the only tourists on the island... i highly recommend paying extra for the short aerial tour of the island where the planes take off/land from/on the 75-mile beach... next time, we will stay on the island for a night or two...
“Awesome Tour”
The Best Day tour We have ever done. Booking was easy pick up and transport was spot on and easy. The 4x4 bus was comfy and our tour guide, Cam, was awesome loads of information, humor, and friendliness. Thankyou Cam. Overall our tour on Fraser Island was Exciting, Beautiful, and informative. A great morning tea and buffet lunch at Eurong Beach resort. Good value for a great days outing the highlight of our Holiday.
“Premium One Day Tour”
An excellent day trip with the added bonus of an optional flight from the beach at reasonable cost. Our guide Hayden was very knowledgeable and clear in his explanations about the island and handled the bus well on the rough tracks. A special mention must go to Dave, the driver who picked us up from Scarness to take us to the barge - he went out of his way to assist me when I feared that I may have lost my wallet - fortunately, thanks to Dave's assistance and patience, I located it back at our van saving me a lot of worry, and with just a short delay, still getting to the the barge in plenty of time.
“Fraser Explorer Premium Day Tour”
Great day out. Good pace with comfortable transport, tasty food and friendly informative staff. Opptional extras included short flight taking off from 75 mile beach, which I highly recommend, and opportunity to stay on Island for dinner.
“Well organised tour.”
Picked up on time from our accommodation, transported to the barge, well informed all the time about what was happening and returned to our accommodation. Our guide Dave made the day memorable - his knowledge and commentary and humorous approach was appreciated, along with the bumpy drive. We saw the highlights of the Island, enjoyed a nice lunch, saw dingoes, enjoyed fabulous weather and good company. Wonderful experience - thanks Dave.
“Unforgettable”
We had a blast on the Fraser Explorer day tour! Our driver Steve was funny and looked after us. Our tour bus had a bit of undercarriage damage from the bouncy bumpy sandy roads (wear your seltbelt!) So they had to send another one but we weren't waiting long. Swimming in the lakes was an absolute highlight of our whole trip, and we were very happy with our price. The lunch was great too, a really good selection at the buffet.
“Fantastic day out and a must-see on your to-do list”
My wife and I opted for the slightly more expensive Premium Tour as we thought it would a little more personal with a maximum of 18 people on the bus. We were not disappointed and as it currently slightly off-season, there were only 6 of us on the bus. We were driven and guided around the island by our awesome driver, Scotty, who was knowledgeable and funny. With his help, we saw dingoes, kookaburras,and lace monitor lizards. We also stopped at the SS Maheno shipwreck, Eli Creek and the Pinnacles. Lunch was good and there were stops for drinks and snacks. Great weather and a great day. We loved it.
“A must-see on your to-do list”
My wife and I opted for the slightly more expensive Premium Tour as we thought it would a little more personal with a maximum of 18 people on the bus. We were not disappointed and as it currently slightly off-season, there were only 6 of us on the bus. We were driven and guided around the island by our awesome driver, Scotty, who was knowledgeable and funny. With his help, we saw dingoes, kookaburras,and lace monitor lizards. We also stopped at the SS Maheno shipwreck, Eli Creek and the Pinnacles. Lunch was good and there were stops for drinks and snacks. Great weather and a great day. We loved it.
“A fantastic day on Fraser Island”
We had a great time on Fraser Island yesterday. We have been a number of times, but we still enjoy Fraser Island very much. For our son from Melbourne it was his first time and a great experience, he was impressed by the Island. The Premium Tour was perfect and the guide Murray was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Murray was entertaining and explained everything very well. We can recommend this tour and I am sure this will not be our last time on Fraser Island
“Enjoyed every minute!”
Great day out on Fraser Island!
Started with pick-up from hotel, then a ferry to the island and then a full day of exploring Fraser Island.
Visited the most important sites, including driving the sea shore at 80 kph, and a dip in Lake Mackenzie.
The tour guide, Paul, was very knowledgable.
The whole operation worked like a swiss clock, everything on time.
An excellent experience!
“Excellent tour and funny tour guide”
We had a great day at Fraser Island and to be honest: you should not do the island on your own for just a day!!
The organization of the tour was perfect and our guide Brian was the best!! A lot of knowledge spiced up with a lot of fun and heartwarming stories - the perfect ingredients for a wonderful day. In addition to the we have been lucky and seen four Dingos on the way. Thanks again for this great day
“The best tour we did in Australia!”
Our tour guide Marc picked us up directly at our hotel, we took the ferry to Fraser Island and there we climbed on board the huge 4WD bus. Marc told us all about the island in a very entertaining way, not even the bumpy road could interrupt his speech- while we were rockin´around the back (so exciting!). Also the flat tire didn´t have any effect on Marc´s (and our) mood. The best recommendation was to do the short plane trip over the island, departing from the beach (definitely go for it!!). The lunch buffet at the island resort was decent. Another highlight of the tour was our last stop at Lake McKenzie- pack your swim suits and enjoy the clearest water that you can imagine!
On top of all we watched the beautiful sunset on our way back with the ferry.
At this point, best greetings to Marc!!! And sorry for our late recommendation, we´ll never forget this amazing day!
“Great value for money”
We bought our tickets from the campsite and it was reassuring to find out that it was the same price as going direct. The bus picked us up on time and took us to the ferry. That was smooth and once over we were quickly put on our 4x4 and off we went. It was made very clear that it would be bumpy what do you expect on Sandy tracks?. Our guide Mark was also extremely informative telling us in advance what to expect and also prior notice regarding the extra plane ride so that we had time to think about it. We took the plane ride and it was excellent value at $80 we really saw the island and appreciated the size and landscape. We had the chance to cool off before lunch in the creek and after a stroll through the rainforest in the afternoon a wonderful swim in Lake McCarthy. Mark told me that he had only been doing the job for three months and it was obvious that he is passionate and has done his homework he seemed to know everything and I felt completely safe in his hands. He kept things to time and ensured we had a great day. I feel that our journey was complete thank you to everyone. Great value for money with excellent buffet lunch thrown in.
“Awesome day!”
First trip to Fraser and couldn’t have asked for a more professional and knowledgeable guide than Murray. Recommend to all.
“Fantastic day”
My wife & I took the one day explorer tour and had a wonderful time. Our driver, Craig, was great fun as well as being knowledgeable. He explained the history of the island as well as giving excellent info on the flora and fauna. Well timed and well planned with swimming before and after good buffet lunch. Good list of what to take. Be prepared for bumpy ride but felt safe at all times. Would def recommend it. Mike
“You want to be shaked through???”
A very funny tour offroad with a 4wdr bus with high clearance...very neessary! On the most awfull road of the world (sanddune!) even this buses are terribly shaking and all the time in danger to remain stuck...fasten seatbelts or you bang your head! And better, you don't become seasick...But it was great, the run along the beach, scenic flight (not includet), the beautiful sweetwater-lakes with possibility to swim (a little bit short of time), buswalks with lots of explanations. The guide hat a lot of knowledge and shared it with us. The dingos running around...
No need to take the "luxury variation" on this trip, the only difference to this is food à la carte and a smaller group. The activities are the same.
“We had a very exciting trip.”
We had a very exciting trip. however, our bus broke down and we had to radio back to base and get another bus to come and rescue us.
This meant that we could not see the coloured sands. This was very disappointing for me.
What ever we toured, on the whole, we enjoyed it thoroughly.
However, I did realise that a one day trip was not the best choice. We did more driving than see the sights. So a two day tour would have been a better way to go. A pleasant night at the resort and then continue the second day from the centre of the attractions.
Thank you for the tour and look forward to doing again this time for a couple of days. but first we will have to allocate the funds for it.
