TripOZ TravelThe Frasers Islands are one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Australia for several reasons. For example, it is home to the famous Fraser Island hydroelectric power station which hosts some of the northernmost rivers and streams in the world, making it a great choice for winter navigation. The other reason why people visit this beautiful southern island is due to its unique culture. This means that you will find many diverse and unique ways to explore the islands by boat.
In this blog post, I’ll show you how to ferry to Fraser Island in Australia in just about any weather condition. If you are traveling with someone or have just been inspired by a friend to go on a trip, then this might be exactly what you need! Let’s get started to learn how to ferry to Fraser Island in Australia.
What is Ferry to Fraser Island?
The ferry is named so because it is observed that the current flows in the direction opposite to its way of transportation; this is unlike the usual trend in the regular road traveling. As such, if you want to travel to Frasers island, you will need to ferry there. The prime website relating to this service is Blue Cat Ferries they are a great source of information and they do not rip off customers by overcharging them. All you have to do from your end is just contact them regarding your inquiry and book your trip!
You can find many ways for transportation in south Australia, however, nothing links South Bruny Island with Fraser Island better than the ferry does. It will take as little as 2 hours of decent speed sailing for one way trip on a ferry from Bruny Island port to Happy Valley (Main township) at Fraser Island. So far so good?
How do I book a ferry to Fraser Island?
In terms of booking this trip, Blue cat ferry is a good place to head to. They provide detailed information regarding the details of their trips so that you might make the right decision regarding Frasers island travel. Once you visit the Blue cat ferry website, all you have to do is answer a few questions: For instance, if stability and comfort are important features during your trip, then remember to check in favorable areas under each of their queries.
The next task after reading through their information is typing your inquiry for services into the ‘Enquiry form’; play around with time-slots and options regarding boats provided. Fraser Island will cost you $30 one way unless noted otherwise in advance; transportation from the mainland cost $5 alone! Once answered, submit your query and they will get back to you shortly!
How to be ferried To Fraser Island in Australia – A Smart Way
3.2 million tourists visit Fraser Island yearly and it is a popular tourist attraction for many. To travel to Fraser island, there are various options available from mainland of Australia. It is recommended to book your trip in advance, particularly if you want to travel during peak season. You can also get a ferry on a first come first serve basis but this could mean that you will not get the option of choosing which day you want to travel or what time you want to depart.
For example, if you are traveling during peak season, you should book your tickets in advance so as not to miss out on any boat trips that might be fully booked by the time you reach the ticket booking office at the port. This would mean that you will have to wait for another day and another trip which could be very frustrating especially if there is only one day left before your departure date.
Two ferry companies offer services for Fraser Island, namely:
SeaLink Travel Group
This group has various ferries and catamarans that operate daily between Hervey Bay and Fraser Island including SeaLink 1 (which runs between Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait), SeaLink 2 (which runs between Noosa Heads and Great Sandy Strait) and SeaLink 3 (which runs between Rainbow Beach and Great Sandy Strait).
Sunlight Ferries
This company operates daily ferries from River Heads to Eurong Beach on Fraser Island. There are also some other companies like Starline and Fraser Island Ferries that offer services to Fraser Island but these are not as frequent as the ones mentioned above.
How to be ferried To Fraser Island in Australia – The Easy Way?
If you are traveling to Fraser Island, it is best to book your tickets online first. This will save you time and money. You can book your ferry tickets at Sunlight Ferries website or SeaLink Travel Group website.
You can also book your ferry tickets through a travel agent or online travel websites like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking.com or Agoda.com.
If you prefer to buy your ferry tickets at the port itself, be sure to arrive at least 1 hour before the departure of the ferry so that you won’t miss out on the chance of getting a ticket for that day’s sailing. If there are no available seats left for that day’s sailing, then you will need to buy your ticket for another sailing which could mean that you would have to stay in Hervey Bay for another night or two and miss out on some of the activities in Fraser Island because there is only one day left before the departure date.
There are two types of ferries that serve Fraser Island which are:
Cruising Catamarans
These catamarans offer a more comfortable ride with plenty of room in their air-conditioned cabin and they have toilets onboard as well as showers (for passengers who wish to freshen up). The catamarans also have seats outside where passengers can sit comfortably if they choose not to use the inside cabin. The outside deck has ample space for passengers who wish to take pictures or just relax while taking in the beauty of Fraser Island. The catamarans usually have a maximum capacity of 180 passengers with a crew of 8.
Fast Catamarans
These catamarans offer a more economical option for passengers who prefer to travel on a smaller vessel. These vessels are also air-conditioned and have toilets, however, they do not have showers or an outside deck area for the passengers. The fast catamarans tend to get quite full during the peak season, so it is recommended that you book your tickets in advance and arrive at least 1 hour before departure time if you want to secure yourself a seat on this vessel as well.
The fast ferry can carry up to 140 passengers with 6 crew members while the cruising catamaran can hold up to 180 passengers with 8 crew members.
It is highly recommended that you book your tickets in advance, especially during peak season as tickets do sell out quickly, especially on the days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve as well as other public holidays such as Easter and Australia Day which is on 26th January each year. Tickets are best booked online through the Fraser Island website or you can book your tickets via phone by calling their customer service hotline which is 1300 855 066 (local call cost). You can also buy your ferry ticket at one of the Hervey Bay Visitor Information Centres or from one of the local tour operators if there are any tickets left.
Fraser Island is located approximately 300km north of the Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. The island is accessible by several different modes of transport. You can drive your vehicle over the Great Sandy Strait on a ferry (but this is not recommended) or you can get there via one of the following:
Air
The closest airport to Fraser Island is Hervey Bay Airport which has domestic flights from Brisbane and Sydney, but you will need to catch a connecting flight from either Brisbane or Sydney if you do not live in Queensland.
Bus/Coach
Several bus operators will take you from any major city in Queensland to Hervey Bay including Greyhound and Premier Motor Service. Once you reach Hervey Bay, several tour operators offer day tours to Fraser Island from Hervey Bay.
Train
There are no trains in Australia but if you want something that comes close, then I recommend taking the scenic Spirit Of The Outback train which runs between Brisbane and Cairns and stops at the Maryborough enroute. This train departs daily at 7:30 am and arrives at Maryborough at 11:57 am where passengers can connect to coach services that run between Maryborough and Hervey Bay. The return train departs Maryborough at 4:15 pm.
If you would like more information regarding public transport options to Fraser Island, then I recommend visiting their website.
Conclusion
Fraser Island is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been to. If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday with plenty of activities, then Fraser Island is the place to go.
I highly recommend staying on the island for 3 days at least if you want to get a taste of everything that Fraser Island has to offer, however if you are short on time and only have 2 days, then I recommend spending one day in Kingfisher Bay Resort and the other day exploring Eli Creek and Rainbow Beach.
