Summer on the Fraser Coast
Holiday on the Fraser Coast this Summer!
The Fraser Coast remains one of the world’s undiscovered destinations for nature lovers, with marine experiences and products that appeal to a wide range of travellers seeking encounters with nature, marine life, adventure, getting off the grid and time outdoors.
The region offers outstanding wilderness experiences on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) and ready access to Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Heritage-listed K’gari, offers awe-inspiring wilderness, crystal-clear freshwater lakes and there is much to explore, from soaking in the natural spa of the Champagne Pools, touching the powder-like sands or taking a selfie beside the crystal-clear fresh waters of Lake McKenzie, or being dwarfed by nature walking through ancient rainforest in the Valley of the Giants, thought to be up to 1000 years old.
Leave the crowds behind and discover the Western side of K’gari. The remote untouched side of the west coastline is open to tourists, with a growing number of accredited marine tour operators departing from Hervey Bay to explore this pristine region. Visitors can now walk the beaches, swim and kayak in remote creeks and check out the wildlife, accessing the area by water.
As well as world-class marine experiences off Hervey Bay, including diving the former Navy transport ship, ex-HMAS Tobruk, there are kilometres of safe sheltered beaches, in the lee of K’gari, sailing adventures on the Great Sandy Strait and a hinterland rich in heritage and history.
The Fraser Coast is just a three hour drive north from Brisbane, with direct flights also available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne multiple days a week. What are you waiting for? Book your trip to paradise today!
Summer Day Trips, Tours, Cruises & Experiences
Browse through the operators below to learn more about the huge range of K’gari experiences available to book via Kingfisher Bay Resort, and see the Great Barrier Reef with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. During Summer and Autumn, operators including Tasman Venture, Freedom Ecotours, Fraser Island Boat Charters and Hervey Bay Whale Watch – Quick Cat II offer a range of tours, day trips and charter options so you can explore and enjoy the Fraser Coast however you like! For even more ideas, check out our Marine Mecca page or search through the top menus for help planning your next adventure.
Private Charters & Bareboat Sailing
Enjoy an unforgettable holiday on the stunning waters of the Fraser Coast and Southern Great Barrier Reef. Whether you are a seasoned sailor looking for the freedom of a bareboat, or want to relax with a fully crewed private charter, our operators offer a range of experiences to suit your needs. Enjoy an intimate couples retreat, a spacious vessel for family and friends, day trips, events, overnights, fishing packages, diving & snorkeling – there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Take a look at some of the options from the operators below:
Summer Accommodation - Relax and stay a little longer on the Fraser Coast
The Fraser Coast offers a huge range of accommodation to suit your needs or group size. Whether you’re looking to stay on K’gari, in Hervey Bay or Maryborough there’s everything from resorts and apartments, to cabins, caravan parks and camping. You can even stay overnight on the water with a boat charter experience! Browse through some of our featured operators below, or find the full range of accommodation here.
Check out the latest Summer deals on accommodation, tours and shows!
Save more with special deals on accommodation, tours & adventures, shows and more – each of the operators below have special deals available to book now! Check back regularly for the latest offers.
Click on each operator to see their deals, or you can also view the full list of current deals here.
Book a Whale Watch Tour for 2025 Now!
The Hervey Bay Whale Season runs July - October each year, but if you're looking for the ultimate Christmas gift, many operators are starting to take bookings for now. Click through to explore the huge range of whale tour operators and visit their websites or give them a call about booking your 2025 tour.
Book a 2025 Whale Tour
Explore Lady Elliot Island - Home of the Manta Ray
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef (north of K'gari - formerly Fraser Island). The island is regarded as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations in Australia and is famous for its unspoilt coral reef and amazing array of spectacular marine life.
The Great Barrier Reef Day Trip to Lady Elliot Island provides guests with a unique opportunity to explore the reef from the air, a glass bottom boat and the water, all in one day! The Great Barrier Reef Day Trip departs daily from Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.
Book a Lady Elliot Island Trip
Diving & Reefs
From the wreck to the reef, the Fraser Coast offers abundant options for divers to throw on a wetsuit and dive into an underwater wonderland. For the ultimate eco-friendly reef experience, there is none better than the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef. Just a short 40 minute flight from Hervey Bay is Lady Elliot Island, the southern most tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island is a highly protected Green Zone and is a sanctuary for than 1200 species of marine life.
After you’ve explored the reef it’s time to tackle the wreck! The ex-HMAS Tobruk is currently laying in waters off Hervey Bay. The 127 meter heavy-lift reformer navy ship was involved in 26 major operations and will spend the rest of its life bringing joy to those who explore it underwater as a dive wreck. Book a diving tour departing from Hervey Bay, or purchase a permit if you have your own boat and gear.
Diving Trips & Permits
K’gari – Our World Heritage Listed Paradise
Discover everything K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) has to offer this summer and explore the world’s only ancient rainforest that grows from the sand. There are many ways to experience the island’s exceptional landscapes – take a self-drive getaway, join a guided tour, go on a camping safari, book a room at a resort or explore the island on foot through part or all of the 90km Fraser Island Great Walk. With so much to explore ranging from Eli Creek, the Maheno Shipwreck and The Cathedrals in the East, to Wathumba Creek, Moon Point and Kingfisher Bay in the West, and our inland gems Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby and Central Station – even the most experienced traveller will be inspired by this paradise.
Book a K’gari Explorer Tour
Fishing on the Fraser Coast
Queensland’s Fraser Coast is home to one of the most diverse fisheries in Australia due to an overlap of both northern and southern species. The fishing options are never-ending, from beach fishing on the eastern side of Fraser Island and outstanding pelagic fishing in Platypus Bay, to one of the best blue marlin fisheries in Australia. Sheltered waters thanks to the protection of the world’s largest sand island, K’gari Fraser Island, are just one of the many reasons the Fraser Coast is one of the most renowned fishing destinations in the nation.
Let's Go Fishing
World Famous Kingfisher Bay Resort
Discover everything K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) has to offer from your base at the award-winning Kingfisher Bay Resort. Revel in an immersive, nature-based eco retreat surrounded by native flora and fauna, bush-tucker-inspired fine dining experiences and breathtaking sunsets along the calm western beach. Eco marine cruises, sunset sails, ranger-guided activities and guided 4WD tours depart the resort daily.
With a variety of accommodation styles including resort hotel rooms, villlas and a suite of executive houses, Kingfisher Bay Resort is the ideal island escape. Relax with a cocktail by one of the four lagoon swimming pools, indulge in a soothing treatment in the Island Day Spa and savour a range of Modern Australian cuisine at the three resort restaurants.
Kingfisher Bay Resort
School Holiday Ideas!
The Fraser Coast offers a huge range of activities to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays! Enjoy safe, uncrowded beaches, adventure playgrounds and water parks, museums, movies, and more! Scroll across to explore some family-friendly holiday ideas around Hervey Bay and Maryborough…
Travel Tips & Inspiration
Looking for more ideas when planning your Summer getaway? Check out our latest blogs for more travel tips and inspiration.
Tips & Inspiration