Visit Kingfisher Bay on Fraser IslandK'gari

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Visit Kingfisher Bay on Fraser Island/K'gari

Kingfisher Bay is often the gateway for many people to the K'gari World Heritage Area on Fraser Island. Known mostly for its famous Kingfisher Bay Resort, there is more to do here than just the resort, including multiple accommodation options, swimming, hiking and several dining and bar locations, making it well worth putting it on your schedule to visit no matter where you arrived on the island.



K'gari .vs. Fraser Island name

So there is some confusion about the correct name to use, and at the time of writing this and as far as I can tell, K'gari, the indigenous name which is pronounced gurri, refers to the world heritage area, which is pretty much all of the island. However, the official name of the island remains Fraser Island for now, as is the locality and the term Fraser Coast. You can switch the names and it won't really matter.

The Ferry

Lots of people get to the Island via the Kingfisher Bay ferry that leaves from Hervey Bay. This ferry is good for both passengers and vehicles, but it tends to be favoured by people who are planning to stay in the area or who might be meeting a tour here. There is another ferry from the same location on the coast to River Heads, and one from Inskip Point at Rainbow Bay that goes to the south of the Island that independent four wheel drivers prefer.



Accommodation

When people think of Kingfisher Bay, they think of the Kingfisher Bay Resort. But there is also the Kokomo Holiday Apartments and Banksia Villas. Overall though, it is a pricey place to stay and tends to focus on people who are going to join day tours on the island rather than independent four wheel drivers. But of course, everyone is welcome.



Food & drink

The resort dominates the area in terms of food and drink. Even the 2 locations outside of the resort are actually operated by the resort.

So starting at the jetty and working our way up to the resort itself, the Sunset Bar sits on the jetty and includes both jetty seating and beachside seating. As the name implies, this is where you go to enjoy sunset views and operates from 10 am to sunset time. Cocktails and prawn platters are popular here, but it is also good for coffee or a light meal.



Not far down the road from the jetty is the Sand Bar which is open for lunch and dinner. There is a lot to like about this family-friendly bistro, including casual family-friendly dining, 2 pools and a games arcade.



In the resort itself there are 2 restaurants and a bar. Dune is about Asian fusion while Sand & Wood is modern Australian. For drinks and bar snacks, then the Maheno Bar is the way to go.



Swimming

The bay is a nice spot for a swim, and jumping off the jetty is a popular way to get into the bay. The waters here on the western side of the island are sheltered without the waves on the eastern side, so it is great for all ages and abilities.



Walks & Hikes

There are quite a few walks and hikes starting from Kingfisher Bay. The most famous is the WWII Commando Walk. From 1943 to 1945 Kingfisher hosted a training school for Z-special unit. The commandos would run this trail but you can walk it. It is an 8 km return walk that includes the remains of the training school building. You can also do it as a shorter circuit by returning to the beach at low tide. The walk is worthwhile for its views and its history.



You can also walk to Dundonga Creek, either along the beach, the inland tracks parallel to the beach during high tide or by the longer Beerillbee Trail. As a circuit walk, it is about 6 kms.

You can also walk from Kingfisher Bay to Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora). At 20 kms return (or 23 kms if you do the full circuit), not everyone will be into a walk like this. But hikers can use these tracks to get to the Lake McKenzie campsite and link to the K'gari Great Walk.



There are also shorter walking options at Kingfisher Bay. Most of them are part of the walks described above, but you only take the shortest route or stop part of the way at a lookout or place of interest and return.

Wildlife

When I was there, the main wildlife that I saw was the sea eagles. One kept flying around the jetty, perhaps looking around for something to eat. If you walk up or down the beach, you are likely to encounter more of them.



The jetty is a popular place to fish from or at least to check out what is swimming in the water around the bay. I spotted a stingray and some small sharks swimming under the jetty. But nothing was taking the fisherfolk's bait.



Dingoes are of course the animal everyone thinks of when they think of Fraser/K'gari. Being reasonably shy, they tend to avoid the relative hustle and bustle of the bay and resort area, but of course you may see them around. Remember to the cautious but not afraid of these lovely animals, because while they rarely attack people, they can.



Discover Centre

The K'gari Discovery Centre is opposite the Kingfisher Bay Resort and is mostly photos and information about the island. It is not really that interesting, but it is a good place to go to try and work out what that bird or animal you saw was. The centre also provides public toilets, seating and a shop.



Shopping

There is also a shop across from the Kingfisher Bay Resort where you can pick up everything from food to souvenirs. I would go in there to get an ice cream or a drink, but if you find yourself a bit short on supplies or equipment, it is worth having a look in there.



4WD hire

They also hire 4 wheel drives at Kingfisher Bay. Mostly catering to people staying there who are looking to do self-drive day trips as most people are more likely to hire their four wheel drives from Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach before heading to the island. In fact Aussie Trax who hires out the cars on the island also hires them out from Hervey Bay as well.

Overall

A lot of people who visit the K'gari World Heritage Area don't even think of Kingfisher Bay as a place to visit. But with restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, hikes and swimming off the jetty, it is well worth making the journey there. For those staying there, you don't have to worry about having to join tours every day as you can hike around the area or hire four wheel drives.

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