Fraser Island... Is this trip possible?

[North Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close North]

Hi everyone

Hoping for some valued advice from those that have been to Fraser Island before.

I am travelling with the family from the Gold Coast to Harvey Bay over the new year break (2014/15) for a couple of days and are then meeting friends at Double Island Point and camping for a few days on the way home.

I thought rather than take road to back to Rainbow Beach, I would catch the ferry over to Fraser Island, cross over and island and take the kids for a swim at Eli creek and then drive down the beach and catch the ferry to Inskip and then make our way to DI for a few days, then drive to Noosa via the North Shore. The ferry from River heads (Harvey Bay) is at 8:30am, with low tide at 11:41am (0.83)

I’ve been to Fraser before on a day trip with friends spent a bit of time on North Straddie on the beach and the inland tracks. I have a Toyota Prado 120 series, recover kit, air compress (coming), shovel and another friend will be (should be!?!) coming along for the adventure.

So the questions are:
Is this trip possible on the tide? Can I make it to
Is there an alternate route to Hook Point if the tide isn’t workable for a complete beach drive to inskip?
How long (hours) would this trip normally take?
Would you recommend any addition equipment?
Fuel wise, I’m assuming 90L in the main tank should be sufficient?
And any other advice recommendations or tips you might have?

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

Much appreciated!

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Hook point gas a by pass road about 30km north, take that if the tide is up. But it's corrugated.

Not sure of timing, too many variables. Fuel is plenty. I used to drive a patrol from Brisbane to Fraser for a week and home on 120L, the prado used 50% less fuel so no drama there.

[thebigo Member Find all posts View Profile Close thebigo]

I would have thought the key thing here will be the tides. If you take the barge from HB you will need to factor in when it arrives and when you have driven overland to the Surf side that the tides are right.

I was going to go over from HB this Saturday and up to Cathederals and the lady from there told me it won't work this weekend as by the time I get the barge over there it will be a hard slog up the beach with the current conditions. She advised it would be a better option to get to Rainbow by 6am and take the barge from there and you will have no problems up the beach.

So I guess the answer here is the tides and conditions there.

[Pedro Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pedro]

You will need to check with the rangers at Rainbow Beach for the day you want to do the trip.

Assuming you get to Rainbow Beach OK then , if the tide is against you along beach , take the freshwater road which goes off the road to Gympie and comes out about 8km south of DI .
Check out this link and work backwards http://www.fraserislandbeachhouses.c...ng_here_b.html
Be cautious from Rainbow Beach along beach to DI as per these photos https://www.facebook.com/Rock.Report.Rainbow.Beach

[baders Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close baders]

I assume you mean you wish to arrive on the Island via Kingfisher Bay, travel cross to Eurong or Happy Valley, then travel north via the beach to Eli Creek. Then to travel south on beach to Hook Point and ferry to Inskip.

Is this trip possible on the tide? Can I make it to
Entirely possible. At the time of writing, the beach was holding lots of sand making high tide travel easier. Be aware of high tide risk points such as Poyungan and Yidney Rocks. We had no troubles navigating these on the beach near high tide. There are however inland tracks that bypass both of these if needed. Beware of the approach to Hook Point. It cab ne very soft when driving high at high tide. Plan for your transit of this area on mid to low tides. Not saying it can't be done at high tide, but it can be very soft going.

Is there an alternate route to Hook Point if the tide isn’t workable for a complete beach drive to inskip?
Yes. The entry is approximately 20km north of Hook point. It is very corrugated however.

How long (hours) would this trip normally take?
Allow a very full day to do this.

Would you recommend any addition equipment?
The usual recovery gear is fine. Use your UHF to stay in contact with the lead vehicle to advise oncoming conditions.

Fuel wise, I’m assuming 90L in the main tank should be sufficient?
Diesel or petrol ? Hehe, just kidding. 90 litres should be fine. Never hurts to throw in an extra 20L for emergencies though.

And any other advice recommendations or tips you might have?
Don't feed the "cute" big "puppy dogs".
Take some water.
Don't stare at the cute backpackers too much. (Maintain Marital Bliss Mode).
Have fun, take your time, check out Central Station and the lakes.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

No selfies either with the local mutts

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

As noted above, tides are the main thing to consider, but doing this all in one day won't give your kids much time for a swim at Eli creek which as awesome place for a swim. You will be dragging them out even after a full day in the water, so a couple of hours will be pushing it.
We are heading back there at the end of the year and the kids are already planning their days at the creek...!

[Redsand Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Redsand]

You might be better having a swim at Lake McKenzie on the way across from Kingfisher bay and then going to Central station for lunch.
This will save time and avoid Poyungan & Yidney rocks.
If you pick a day with the low tide at 1.00 or 2.00pm you can spent the morning inland and the afternoon on the beach.

Note there is a new bitumen road leading up from Kingfisher which has fixed a previous trouble spot. You will need your tyres at 18psi (hot) as the sand on the inland tracks can be soft. Start at 18psi cold and let more air out after 30min.
The main beach is easier than the inland tracks.

It will be worth the effort







































































.

[North Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close North]

Cheers everyone for their posts thus far. Yeah, I was planning on doing the trip from Harvey Bay to Inskip on NYE day (1/1/15) and it was going to just be a day trip as we are meeting friends at DI the next day. In looking at the trip closer, I realised the ferry on and off Fraser will cost about $200, plus the beach permit and we are looking at close to $250 for the day. But I understand that its going to be a severly rushed trip, but it does sound more appealing than the alternate 2+hr boring drive along the highway back to Rainbow Beach.

[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Definitely worth doing for a day trip, check tide times, you can get a good map on the ferry with estimated travel times.
Let your tyres down before you get on the ferry and get on last, this means first off and you won't waste time waiting for people
To get their selves sorted. It will be packed on New Year's Day so don't leave your run to the ferry too late.
We were told it wasn't worth doing for a day, did it and was a great day. Enjoy.

[Ron.H. Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ron.H.]

Definitely worth doing for a day trip, check tide times, you can get a good map on the ferry with estimated travel times.
Let your tyres down before you get on the ferry and get on last, this means first off and you won't waste time waiting for people
To get their selves sorted. It will be packed on New Year's Day so don't leave your run to the ferry too late.
We were told it wasn't worth doing for a day, did it and was a great day. Enjoy.

I was just over there for the last week in August and the barge at hook point was $110 return and driving permit for month was $45.10
The barge opens at each end and did not turn around it was first on first off, sorry Scoota yours was different to this one.
We got diesel just before Rainbow $1.48/L and on the Island at Orchid Beach it was $2.08/L
I only used a main tank and went all the way to sandy cape drove across the Island and back home to Brisbane, the sand was firm after the rain all the way to the cape.
Fishing was okay got about 270 tailor between 15 of us.
Ron.H

[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Hi Ron, the ferry from river heads to kingfisher is reverse on then forward off, they fit about 20 cars on.
It saved us heaps of time.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

I'm heading over on Wed AM - but $150 return for the inskip barge with trailer is painful, only on it for 10 mins.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hi everyone

Hoping for some valued advice from those that have been to Fraser Island before.

I am travelling with the family from the Gold Coast to Harvey Bay over the new year break (2014/15) for a couple of days and are then meeting friends at Double Island Point and camping for a few days on the way home.

I thought rather than take road to back to Rainbow Beach, I would catch the ferry over to Fraser Island, cross over and island and take the kids for a swim at Eli creek and then drive down the beach and catch the ferry to Inskip and then make our way to DI for a few days, then drive to Noosa via the North Shore. The ferry from River heads (Harvey Bay) is at 8:30am, with low tide at 11:41am (0.83)

I’ve been to Fraser before on a day trip with friends spent a bit of time on North Straddie on the beach and the inland tracks. I have a Toyota Prado 120 series, recover kit, air compress (coming), shovel and another friend will be (should be!?!) coming along for the adventure.

So the questions are:
Is this trip possible on the tide? Can I make it to
Is there an alternate route to Hook Point if the tide isn’t workable for a complete beach drive to inskip?
How long (hours) would this trip normally take?
Would you recommend any addition equipment?
Fuel wise, I’m assuming 90L in the main tank should be sufficient?
And any other advice recommendations or tips you might have?

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

Much appreciated!

It's doable,

HUGE BUT,

Big day! coming from south, all the way up, all the driving, not allowing for much stopping, $180 in barge fees + Fraser permit + lots of extra fuel etc. Also tide doesn't really work too well for the exit at inskip. It would be rushed.
Imo, For a quick swim in Eli. I love eli, but not worth it for an hour or 2
Your better off sticking to you Di trip & not trying to make a Fraser out of it lol......
I think going over from tewantin & all the driving & camping spots on cooloola all the way to inskip should keep you entertained.

Enjoy!

[North Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close North]

It's doable,

HUGE BUT,

Big day! coming from south, all the way up, all the driving, not allowing for much stopping, $180 in barge fees + Fraser permit + lots of extra fuel etc. Also tide doesn't really work too well for the exit at inskip. It would be rushed.
Imo, For a quick swim in Eli. I love eli, but not worth it for an hour or 2
Your better off sticking to you Di trip & not trying to make a Fraser out of it lol......
I think going over from tewantin & all the driving & camping spots on cooloola all the way to inskip should keep you entertained.

Enjoy!

Yeah, I am going to Harvey Bay first (see family) and then go to DI, so I was looking at the more adventurous route, rather than the highway back down to DI. 4 days at DI and then driving down to Tewantin and back to the Goldy.