How big is Fraser Island, Queensland?

The size of Fraser Island in Queensland makes it the world’s biggest sand island. The Fraser Island area is 1,840 km², which makes it three times bigger than St Lucia in the Caribbean, and slightly smaller than Trinidad.

Fraser Island off the coast of Queensland is the largest sand island in the world. It has formed through sand blown up the coast by prevailing winds. Over hundreds of thousands of years it has stabilised to the point where rainforest can happily grow on it.

Pick the best K’gari/ Fraser Island tour for you

HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE: One day coach tour from Hervey Bay.
FROM THE SOUTH: One day 4WD tour from Rainbow Beach.
PACK MORE IN: Two day tour, staying at K’gari Beach Resort.
BEACHY: Boat cruise with west coast beach stops.
BACKPACKERS: Three day, drive-yourself camping adventure from Hervey Bay. Or similar from Rainbow Beach.
MORE LUXURIOUS: Three day adventure, staying at the Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island

It is a hugely popular destination for backpackers. Tag-along four wheel drive tours from the Queensland towns of Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach are a fun, adventurous way of exploring Fraser Island.

Most of these operate over a period of two or three days, with tour groups either camping on Fraser Island or staying in simple hostel accommodation. If you’re camping, you need to sort Fraser Island permits in advance, however.

That might seem a long time for a drive around an island, but there’s an awful lot to see. This includes rainforest walks, swims in ultra-pure lake water or tubing on Eli Creek. There’s also spotting migrating whales off the coast and seeing the Maheno shipwreck on 75 Mile Beach. You can also take a guided bush food walk at Kingfisher Bay.

Those with less time can visit on a one day tour with K’gari Explorer Tours.

Book mobile-friendly tickets for your one-day Fraser Island tour here.

Driving is also slow-going at times. Don’t expect actual roads – 75 Mile Beach is the main highway, and elsewhere tracks are bumpy and sandy. That’s why the four wheel drive vehicles are needed.

But the third reason a few days are required to explore Fraser Island is that it is really rather big. Its not Australia’s largest island – that honour goes to Tasmania. But Fraser Island does have more than 250km of sandy beaches.

How big is Fraser Island?

So how big is Fraser Island? Well, Fraser Island is approximately 123km long and 22km wide at the widest point. According to the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Fraser Island has an area of 1,840 km².

Size of Fraser Island: International comparisons

For a comparison point, that makes the area of Fraser Island slightly smaller than Mauritius or Trinidad and slightly bigger than Lombok in Indonesia or Cebu in the Philippines. The size of Fraser Island is roughly three times bigger than St Lucia and nearly six times the size of Malta.

The drive from Brisbane to Hervey Bay, the main access town to Fraser Island, is 290km long. It’s a slightly shorter drive to the Fraser Island barge at Rainbow Beach. The Fraser Island weather is at its best in September.

Find our more about Fraser Island at the K’Gari World Heritage Discovery Centre at the Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Book these 8 Hervey Bay experiences now

1. Great Sandy Strait wildlife cruise – with a great chance of spotting dingos or dugongs.
2. All-inclusive Fraser Island day tour – with pick-up at your accommodation.
3. Fraser Island two day tour – see much more.
4. Fun cruise – get close to dolphins and turtles while lounging in the boom netting.
5. Sunset cruise.
6. Dolphin sailing adventure.
7. Whale-watching – this is arguably the best place in Australia to spot humpback whales.
8. Fraser Island west coast cruise – with lunch & kayaking.