How To Travel Safely On Fraser Island

As much as it is beautiful, Fraser Island can be dangerous if you don’t respect its wild nature. From battling with storms to driving along unkempt roads, here’s our guide to travelling safely on Fraser Island, so you can still enjoy it.

Driving

Due to the rough sandy beaches and tracks, only 4WD vehicles can be driven on Fraser Island, and even this can be dangerous. Even if you’re a regular driver of a normal car, 4WDriving is very different and difficult. To drive safely, you must drive slow, pack light and never drive on the foredunes where the sand is too soft. Speed limits of 80km per hour on the beach and 30km per hour on inland tracks have been put in place, but always remember that slower is safer.

Dingoes

As protected wild animals, it is illegal on Fraser Island to feed or deliberately attract the attention of the dingoes. If you have food, keep it contained and away from the sight and smell of the dingoes, and don’t leave any rubbish or scraps for the dingoes to find. You should always camp in fenced areas, stay within a group of people, and, if a dingo does try to interact with you, don’t run away, but stand straight, facing the dingo and back away calmly. They may look like domestic dogs, but they are wild!

Tide

Anyone 4WDriving on Fraser Island, spending time on the beach or going for a swim will need to keep an eye on the tide. Some areas are only passable at low tide or for one or two hours either side of low tide. A combination of high tides, sea swells and strong can cause havoc with driving conditions, and in many cases, it’s best to avoid driving altogether. There are also some areas of the Fraser coastline that aren’t safe for swimming at different times of the day or year, especially when marine stingers populate the waters in the summer months.

Weather

While Fraser may enjoy the warm temperatures of Queensland, the subtropical climate means that while it’s warm, it can get wet, particularly inland in the late summer. Storms can also be severe on occasion in spring and summer. It’s best to check the forecast before you go to pack appropriately, and don’t be surprised if you experience an array of conditions in one day.

Increase your enjoyment and safety on Fraser Island by travelling with a group on a Dropbear Adventure.