Four ways to base yourself
Accommodation on K'gari is limited. There are two resorts, one on each side of the island, and a network of campgrounds run by the park authority. A few privately run camps, such as Dilli Village and Cathedral Beach, sit outside that system. The fourth choice is not to sleep on the island at all. Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach both have tour pick-up points, so you can stay on the mainland and visit for a day.
Your choice shapes the rest of the trip. The west coast resort is reached by ferry from River Heads. The east coast resort sits on 75 Mile Beach and needs a suitable 4WD. Campgrounds need a booking and, for most visitors, a vehicle access permit as well. This page gives published prices from 2026. Room rates are not listed here because they change with the season, so ask the resort for current rates and availability.
The options compared
Published information in 2026. Details change, so confirm at booking.
| Option | How you arrive | Accommodation | Costs published for 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West coast resort | Ferry from River Heads to Kingfisher Bay, about 45 to 50 minutes | Rooms, villas and holiday houses | Foot passenger return A$85 (adult); vehicle from A$135.30 one way. Room rates: ask the resort. |
| East coast resort | By 4WD along the beach, or on a tour | Rooms, apartments and a Beach House | Room rates: ask the resort. A 4WD, permit and ferry are separate costs. |
| Park campgrounds | By 4WD with a vehicle access permit | Tent and trailer sites, some fenced | A$7.75 per person per night, A$31 per family per night |
| Mainland base | Tour pick-up in Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach | Any mainland stay | Day tour from A$279 per adult in low season |
Our pick: three days with accommodation included
Our take: two nights, breakfast and lunch are covered, so you do not need to book a room or a campsite yourself.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours with or without a night on the island
Day trips from the mainland, two-day tours with a night on the island and 4WD trips, with live prices and availability.
On the west coast
The resort at Kingfisher Bay is the island's western gateway.
Kingfisher Bay Resort offers rooms, villas and holiday houses. You reach it by the ferry from River Heads, on the mainland. The ferry operator gives the crossing as about 45 minutes and asks you to check in at least 30 minutes ahead. The resort's own page says about 50 minutes and 40 minutes, so allow the longer figures. Tickets must be bought in advance for vehicles and foot passengers. Low water can change times.
The resort lists ferry departures from River Heads at 09:00, 13:00 and 15:45, and returns at 08:00, 10:15, 14:30 and 17:00. These are given for resort guests and are not a full timetable for vehicles. Ask the resort about parking on the mainland: secured parking costs A$30 for one night, A$55 for two, A$80 for three, A$105 for four, A$130 for five and A$155 for six, then A$25 for each extra night. Booking ahead is recommended.
Fares differ between sources. The ferry operator lists a standard vehicle up to 5.3 m from A$135.30 one way (A$270.60 return) plus A$7 per driver or extra passenger. The resort lists vehicles from A$123 plus A$5 for each extra person. Do not assume the ferry is included in a room price. See the ferry page for the full picture.
On the east coast
K'gari Beach Resort, formerly Eurong Beach Resort, faces 75 Mile Beach.
The operator confirms that K'gari Beach Resort was formerly called Eurong Beach Resort, so the two names mean the same resort. It lies on the east coast beach and you reach it only with a suitable 4WD. It offers rooms, apartments and a Beach House. A two-day tour from Hervey Bay lists one night in a standard room without air conditioning at this resort, with breakfast, morning tea, lunch, ferry and park fees included and dinner at your own cost. The 2026 low-season price runs from A$645 per person for three sharing, A$679 for two and A$779 for a single traveller. Low season runs from 13 October to 11 December 2026.
A tag-along tour is a different product. It is a guided convoy in which you drive a 4WD yourself, with accommodation in a Beach House, so no tent is needed. The overview lists drivers from 21 years old with a full licence held for at least 2 years. Read the details before you book. More options are on the tours page.
Camping on the island
Park campgrounds cost A$7.75 per person per night or A$31 per family per night from 1 July 2026. Children under 5 are free. A family means one or two adults with children under 18, up to 8 people in total. Book and pay before you arrive, and display the permit number at the camp. Bookings open up to 12 months ahead, and for busy holiday periods the park advises planning at least 6 weeks in advance.
Fenced campgrounds include Central Station, Cornwells, Dundubara, Eli, Lake Boomanjin, One Tree, Wathumba, Waddy Point Top and Wongai. The park recommends them for families with children up to 14 years. A fence reduces dingo problems but does not make a camp dingo-free. Nights in a resort do not replace a camping permit if you camp afterwards. Some beach zones carry closures or booking limits in 2026, so read the camping page before you choose.
Staying on the mainland
You do not need your own 4WD for a guided bus tour.
Hervey Bay
Tours collect passengers from chosen points in town and cross by ferry. A day tour lists adults at A$279 in low season, A$299 in shoulder season and A$319 in high season, with children aged 4 to 17 at A$199, A$239 and A$279. A family of two adults and two children is A$799, A$899 or A$1,049.
Hervey Bay →Rainbow Beach
The same operator runs a day tour from Rainbow Beach via Inskip Point. If you drive to the meeting point, it is at 36 Rainbow Beach Road. Local transfers are offered from selected stops.
Rainbow Beach →Season dates
The low season runs from 13 October to 11 December 2026, the shoulder season from 12 to 20 December, and the high season from 21 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Blackout days are possible.
Check the weather page for monthly averages before you pick your dates.
Next steps
The pages that matter most once you have chosen a base.
Where to stay: frequently asked questions
Where should I stay for a first visit to K'gari?
If you want the least planning, stay in Hervey Bay or Rainbow Beach and take a guided tour. If you want time on the island, the west coast resort is reached by ferry from River Heads, and the east coast resort needs a 4WD.
Is Eurong Beach Resort the same as K'gari Beach Resort?
Yes. The operator states that K'gari Beach Resort was formerly Eurong Beach Resort. It is one resort with two names, not two places.
Is the ferry included in the room price?
Do not assume it is. Ferry and parking costs are listed separately by the operators, and a package may or may not include them. Check what is included before you pay.
Does a resort night replace a camping permit?
No. If you camp in the park after a resort stay, you still need the camping booking and the permit for those nights.
How much does camping cost in 2026?
Park campgrounds cost A$7.75 per person per night or A$31 per family per night from 1 July 2026. Children under 5 are free. Privately run camps such as Dilli Village and Cathedral Beach set their own fees.
Can I stay on the mainland and still see the island?
Yes. Day tours pick up in Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach and include the ferry. You need no vehicle of your own for a bus tour.