News and Updates from the Kingfisher Bay Resort Group - Fraser Islandqu

Fraser Island

Kingfisher Bay Resort (KBR - incorporating the 152-room Mercure Kingfisher Bay Resort hotel), Eurong Beach Resort (EBR), Fraser Explorer Tour (FET) and Cool Dingo Tour (CDT) programs are designed to provide enjoyable nature-based tourism experiences on Queensland's Fraser Island.

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

Southern Queensland World Heritage Package
Two World Wonders In One:

According to a recent Roy Morgan Holiday Tracking Survey*, nearly one in five Aussies who took a holiday in the past 12 months visited a national park or forest on their trip. Riding high on this trend, Kingfisher Bay Resort and O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat have joined together to offer up a five day, four night holiday that takes in both World Heritage listed Lamington National Park and The Great Sandy National Park on Fraser Island.

Day 1: Brisbane to Lamington National Park and O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat.
Travel to Australia's largest sub-tropical rainforest – World Heritage Lamington National Park, climbing 3,000 feet above sea level to O'Reilly's Plateau. On arrival, immerse yourself in nature; explore the lush rainforest and its many attractions. Discover the Tree Top Walk and enjoy the local birdlife and wildlife. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on the balcony of your room as you catch the setting sun over the Great Dividing Range.

Day 2: Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse
Start the day with O'Reilly's famous bird walk and join the resort's guided 'Discovery Program', where you can choose from interpretive rainforest walks or guided 4WD bus excursions to scenic waterfalls and lookouts and the rainforest. In the afternoon, you'll be able to join a guided nocturnal walk to the spectacular Glow Worm Grotto.

Day 3 O'Reilly's to Kingfisher Bay Resort on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island
Enjoy an early morning breakfast before checking out and departing for Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island. Your personal transfer departs at 8am for Roma Street Station in Brisbane to connect with the Tilt Train, departing at 11.00am. The train arrives in Maryborough West at 2.38pm. You will be transferred to River Heads for your 6.45pm ferry to Kingfisher Bay Resort. After a 50 minute cruise across the Great Sandy Marine Park, you will be welcomed on to the world's largest sand island. Try their Tastes of Australia program, relax in the Maheno Lounge or kick up your heels at the late-night Dingo Bar.

Day 4 Discover The World's Largest Sand Island
Awake to birdsong in World Heritage-surrounds. Today you'll depart on the 'Beauty Spots' full-day Ranger-guided 4WD coach tour. Discover amazing pockets of rainforest growing in sand, crystal-clear freshwater lakes, ship wrecks and coloured sands. You'll drive along one of the world's most spectacular beach highways – 75 mile beach - and learn the fascinating history of Fraser Island. Lunch and refreshments are included. On return to the resort stroll along sunset beach and watch the sun set over water – one of only a few places in Queensland where this is possible.

Day 5 Fraser Island to Brisbane
After breakfast, the ferry departs at 7.50am for River Heads, and you'll be shuttled to the Hervey Bay Coach terminal and take the Rail Bus to Maryborough West for your Tilt Train connection back to the Brisbane CBD.

Booking through O'Reilly's reservations team on 617 5502 4911.
For more information and inclusions: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/images/brochures/twowonders.pdf

*Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia) March 2014 – February 2015.

FRASER ISLAND: 

75-Miles Of Beach Highway – It's Our Great Beach Drive!

Launched in March this year, The Great Beach Drive touring route offers up some of the best beach and bush this side of the Sunshine Coast for four-wheel-drivers. It also takes in the unique Noosa and Great Sandy Biospheres, which have huge diversity in flora and fauna.

The drive can start/end in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, where travellers can complement the sophisticated lifestyle of the beachside village with a kayak, canoe or cruise of the Noosa Everglades. They can then take to their 4WD for a trek on the 'beach highway' to Rainbow Beach- an ideal base for adventure lovers to paraglide, hang-glide, sky dive, surf, fish or take a horse-ride along the beach.

From there, World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is easily accessed by ferry and offers a feast of 4WD routes as well as water and other adventure sports, along with Australia's native dingo. On island, you can choose to stay at Kingfisher Bay Resort and Eurong Beach Resort and, if you're not overly confident with the four-wheel-driving on sand aspect – Fraser Explorer Tours is a Great Beach Drive partner. Here, you can leave the driving to the expert and immerse yourself in the island's fascinating history.

Back on the mainland Hervey Bay offers cosmopolitan dining, shopping and accommodation, and plenty of opportunity to explore the sheltered waters for sailing, fishing and water sports. The north point of the Great Beach Drive is the historic city of Maryborough. The beautifully preserved colonial streets were home to the creator of Mary Poppins, and visitors can follow in her footsteps on the Magical Mary Trail.

The way back to the Sunshine Coast takes in Tin Can Bay, where the calm waters provide the perfect opportunity for sailing, swimming, fishing and a rare opportunity to Barnacles Dolphin Centre offers its visitors a rare opportunity to interact with wild Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins.

For more information: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/images/brochures/GreatBeachDrive.pdf.

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

The Great Barrier Reef AND Fraser Island In One Package

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island have teamed up together to showcase two World Heritage-listed locations in a 4 day/ 3 night package that's big on adventure. The package can easily fit into self- drive itineraries from the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Sunshine Coast. There are also direct flights from Sydney to the Fraser Coast.

Departing from Hervey Bay, the package includes one night on picturesque Lady Elliot Island - the southernmost island of the Great Barrier Reef. Guests will be treated to an untouched marine sanctuary with a maximum limit of 150 guests.

Throughout the year guests may be lucky enough to see over 1500 different species of marine life plus turtles nesting, turtle hatchlings, whales and of course the majestic manta rays that Lady Elliot Island is renowned for. All meals and guided activities and accommodation at the Eco Resort are included.

An additional two nights will be spent on the world's largest sand island, Fraser Island, at the beautiful Kingfisher Bay Resort. The package includes a full day, off-roading Fraser Island Beauty Spots Tour in which guests will experience the gorgeous crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie, the breathtaking rainforest at Central Station, Seventy Five mile beach's famous highway/air strip, the Maheno Shipwreck and Eli Creek.

Booking through Lady Elliot's reservations team on 1800 072 200 (toll free in Australia).
For more information and inclusions: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/images/brochures/reefrain.pdf

EURONG BEACH RESORT/KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

New Three-day, Self-drive 4WD Packages Released

Coastal sight-seeing and holidaying are popular pursuits for visitors and locals alike and Eurong Beach Resort's and Kingfisher Bay Resort's brand new Fraser 4x4 packages makes it even easier for people from all walks of life to explore Fraser Island's natural attractions.

Eurong Beach Resort: Here, the motel and apartment style accommodation offers more than just rooms with great views – the casual, relaxed atmosphere is a draw card for the families, 4WD-ers, budget travellers, friends on safari and fishing enthusiasts who return World Heritage-listed Fraser Island year-upon-year.

4WD packages start from $609*per person, twin share and include: Two nights' resort accommodation, hot buffet breakfast daily, return vehicle barge transfers ex River Heads, 4WD hire with access permit, training session and basic car insurance and mainland vehicle storage if needed.

For more information: http://www.eurong.com.au/4wd-hire-package.html

Kingfisher Bay Resort: 

Situated on the sunset side of Fraser, the resort provides a wilderness experience with all the creature comforts. It's the ideal base to explore the island's attractions and to catch a sunset over the Great Sandy Strait.

4WD packages start from $709* per person, twin share and include: Two nights' resort accommodation, hot buffet breakfast daily, return vehicle barge transfers ex River Heads, 4WD hire with access permit, training session and basic car insurance and mainland vehicle storage if needed.

For more information: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/images/brochures/KBR4WD.pdf

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

New Sustainable Tourism Measures

On Fraser Island, we're acutely aware of the impact we make on our environment and, when it comes to conferencing, we take steps to help reduce our footprint. The resort is a recognised Green Leader from EcoTourism Australia and, most recently, became a member of the Mercure Meetings Carbon Neutral program.

The Mercure program joins a community of like-minded businesses to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions. In the hotel rooms, we also offer a Conservation Credit program to recognise and reward our guests who help us minimise our impact.

We also work with partners like Fun Over Fifty - which offers holiday packages to the Active Senior market – on their Green initiatives. Under the program, Fun Over Fifty CEO, Toni Brennan, is asking her guests to be proactive in making a positive impact on the environment, society and the economy in the destinations they visit by asking them to consider the environmental cost of power, water used for washing linen and replacing towels, chemical cleaning agents and excess plastic bag usage as a result of requesting daily hotel room cleans.

David Hay, Group GM of Kingfisher Bay Resort, said there were definite synergies between Fun Over Fifty's Green Guest Policy and the eco-saving measures already in place at the resort.

"We launched an opt-in Conservation Credit scheme several years back where guests can opt out of having a daily room clean and, in return, they are rewarded with discounted eco-touring and environmentally friendly spa treatments," he said. "We source food from local suppliers and all of our day tours are eco-accredited to ensure we have a sustainable touring product in our World Heritage environment."

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT / EURONG BEACH RESORT: 

Adventure Australia Treks and Tours – Four Day, Three Night Fly, Drive And Stay Package On Fraser Island.

Undoubtedly, Fraser Island is one of the most precious parts of Australia's natural and cultural heritage. It's just one of the reasons why Adventure Australia Treks and Tours (AATT) released an exciting itinerary that journeys to out-of-the-way places like the Great Sandy Cape in their fully equipped and capable Land Cruiser 4x4s.

Transfer by air from Brisbane to Orchid Beach on Fraser Island. Once amongst the dunes, you'll be given the option to sit back and enjoy the ride, have a go at driving yourself, or tag-a-long on one of these small-group driving tours. The unique aspect of this tour is that AATT is the only commercial operator with a license to conduct tours north past Champagne Pools.

Essentially, you'll get to see parts of the island that most day trippers don't even know exist - including Sandy Cape, Sandy Point Lighthouse and beautiful Marloo Bay.

Tours are fairly relaxed and flexible, with plenty of time to enjoy fishing and beach walking, as well as the iconic sites including Champagne Pools, Indian Head, the Pinnacles, Maheno Wreck and Eli Creek. They also head inland on the Southern Lakes Circuit and, to top it all off, you'll get a night at both the Eurong Beach Resort and Kingfisher Bay Resort! As an optional extra, you can even extend your tour by a day and enjoy a half-day whale watch tour ex-Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Tours include transfers, meals and accommodation – all you have to do is meet in Brisbane.
For more information: http://www.aatt.com.au/tours/fraserisland.

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

Four Wheel Drive Training Course Off And Running

Kingfisher Bay Resort is opening our four-wheel-drive training track on Fraser Island and is working with local operators, including Dave Darmody from P7, to run training courses for novice drivers.

For more information: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/fraser-island-events/special-events/item/538-10-14-january-2015-4wd-driver-training-on-fraser-island.html

Girls Got Grit Weekend package: https://practicalmotoring.com.au/blogs/girls-got-grit-on-fraser-island-a-luxury-4x4-weekend-away. For more information / bookings, visit http://www.australianoffroadacademy.com.au/#!fraserislandtraining/cki4

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT: 

Humpback Whales And Fraser Island! 

HERVEY Bay: A two-decade long research study shows Hervey Bay in south-east Queensland is the world's most important habitat for endangered humpback whales. The study, published in February by Southern Cross University researcher Trish Franklin, is the first comprehensive look at how important Hervey Bay is for the survival of the species.

Trish's husband and fellow researcher, Wally Franklin, says the study shows 95 per cent of whales return on a yearly basis because the bay provides a safe haven for mature females and their calves. In Hervey Bay, the Humpback Whale Watch season runs from 1 August til the end of October with some of the most prolific whale spotting in Australia. Invariably during the season inquisitive humpbacks, referred to as 'friendlies', will approach whale-watching boats very closely, often staying under or near the boat for many minutes.

Half-day trips depart daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort from 0745 during the season (Aug 1 - 31 Oct). Accommodation and Whale Watch cruise packages start from $379 per person (twin share) and include 2 nights' resort accommodation (and a bonus THIRD night free with breakfast for guests who have time in their itinerary), hot buffet breakfast daily; return passenger ferry transfers from River Heads and a half day whale watch cruise. More information: http://www.kingfisherbay.com.

KINGFISHER BAY RESORT / EURONG BEACH RESORT: 

Our Biosphere Provides A Great Learning Atmosphere

When it comes to sand islands, Fraser Island is in a league of its own. It was World Heritage-listed in 1992 because of its outstanding natural universal values. The island features complex dune systems that are still evolving and an array of rare and unique features in this sand environment, including dune lakes and tall rainforests - and all are easily accessible.

We guess you could say it's naturally perfect for an outdoor learning experience and our purpose-built wilderness lodges mean you don't have to rough it when you stay with us. Plus, Kingfisher Bay Resort's education team, Resort Rangers and Tour Guides work together to deliver custom-designed, curriculum-specific education program for subjects including Geography, Biology, Indigenous studies, Ecotourism and Hospitality.

We're well placed to take advantage of the island's flora and fauna for outdoor classroom study and marine biology can take on a whole new meaning when you​r​students come eyeball to eyeball with our migrating humpback whales in the calm waters off Hervey Bay.

In the last 12 months schools from United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, and Italy have opened the door to nature's classroom on the world's largest sand island. Accommodation options are varied, allowing for the budget minded education groups in our Wilderness Lodges (or hotel rooms for higher end guests) at Kingfisher Bay Resort (on Fraser Island's western side) or our backpacker-style dormitory accommodation at Eurong Beach Resort, which enjoys absolute beach frontage.

For more information: http://www.kingfisherbay.com/fraser-learning-experience.html.

Why Fraser Island? Don't take our word for it…

Fraser Island

YTravelBlog names Fraser Island's gorgeous 75 Mile Beach in their list of Must-do Beaches in Oz (Jan 2015).
Trip Advisor names 75-Mile Beach in their Top 25 Aussie Beaches as part of their Reader Choice award honour roll (October 2014).
The Travel Channel named Fraser Island in their Top Adventure Destinationsfor 2014. (April 2014).