Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

FRASER ISLAND: ECO-ADVENTURES & 4WD FUN 333
on their Brisbane–Cairns–Brisbane routes. The 6-hour trip from Brisbane costs
A$43 (US$28). From Cairns, the fare is A$177 (US$115) for a 23-hour trip.
By Train The nearest train station is in Maryborough West, 34km (20 miles)
from Hervey Bay. Passengers on the high-speed Tilt Train (Sun–Fri) can book a
connecting bus service to Pialba via Queensland Rail (& 13 22 32 in Queensland,
or 07/3235 1122). The fare from Brisbane for the 3 1 ⁄2-hour Tilt Train trip is
A$52 (US$34) economy class, plus nominal bus connection fare. Fares are A$175
(US$113) in a seat and A$334 (US$217) in a first-class sleeper from Cairns (trip
time: just under 27 hr.). Train passengers from the north must take a courtesy
shuttle to Maryborough Central, then take the next available local bus to Pialba.
GETTING THERE & GETTING AROUND BY 4WD Four-wheel-drive is
the only permissible mode of vehicle transport on the island. Many 4WD rental
outfits are based in Hervey Bay. You must be 21 or over to rent a 4WD. You’ll pay
about A$100 to A$195 (US$65–US$126) a day, plus around A$20 to A$35
(US$13–US$23) per day to reduce the deductible, which is usually A$4,000
(US$2,600), plus a bond (typically A$500/US$325). You must also buy a government
Vehicle Access Permit, which costs A$30 (US$20) from your rental-car
company, Urangan Boat Harbour, or the River Heads boat ramp; or A$40
(US$26) from a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office on the island. Both
Bay 4WD Centre (& 07/4128 2981; www.bay4wd.com.au) and Ausbay 4WD
Rentals (& 07/4124 6177) rent four-wheel-drives, offer camping and accommodated
four-wheel-drive packages; rent camping gear; organize Vehicle Access Permits,
barge bookings, camping permits, and secure storage for your car; and pick
you up free from the airport, coach terminal, or your hotel.
Four-wheel-drives transfer by Fraser Venture barge (& 07/4125 4444), which
runs at least three times a day from Mary River Heads, 17km (11 miles) south of
Urangan Boat Harbour. The round-trip fare for vehicle and driver is A$82
(US$53), plus A$5.50 (US$3.60) per extra passenger. It is a good idea to book a
place for the 45-minute crossing.
Kingfisher Bay 4WD Hire (& 07/4120 3366) within Kingfisher Bay Resort
(see below) rents four-wheel-drives for A$195 (US$127) a day, plus a A$30
(US$20) Fraser Island driving permit and a A$2,000 (US$1,300) security deposit
(by credit card) held until return of the vehicle in the same condition as hired.
They allow 1-day rentals. Book well in advance.
Tips 4WD Fundamentals
Driving a 4WD is great fun and not hard for a beginner, but if you’ve never
driven one, get a good briefing from your rental company before you head
out. Fraser’s loose sand tracks can be tricky, and getting bogged is common.
The beach can be dangerous for the novice—if you travel too high up, you
can get trapped in soft sand; if you travel too low, a wave can bog your
vehicle in soft sand under the water (and rust your car). Car-rental companies
don’t like that, and they can smell salt on an axle a mile away! Stick to
the firmest tracks, know the tides, and ask for advice. You’ll have to drive a
lot slower on a 4WD trail than you would on a conventional road; take that
into account when you plan your day. For example, it takes a full day to get
to Indian Head and back, and then only when the tide is favorable. Look out
for light planes landing on the beach (which is a runway as well as a road).