The ultimate K'gari accommodation guide

Let these dreamy island accommodation options tempt you into a stay on K’gari.

Straight stretches of beach off into the horizon, crystal clear lakes, white silica sand, beautiful wildlife, mangrove systems, rainforests: it’s all just part of what you’ll discover on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). While it is possible to ferry or fly over for just a day trip, it would truly be a waste not to spend several days exploring the world’s largest sand island. So understanding K’gari accommodation options is essential.

Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in the natural surrounds, go on an adventure or indulge in a little luxury, this is the guide for you.

1. Kingfisher Bay Resort

Kingfisher Bay Resort Lobby — Choose from three different room types. (Image: TEQ)

You’d be hard-pressed to find accommodation with a more idyllic setting than Kingfisher Bay Resort. Nestled on the edge of World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), it’s got everything you need to make this remote island feel connected.

BYO four-wheel-drive for unscheduled adventures of the world’s largest sand island (the scale of which is hard to comprehend until you’re there). Zip around the island’s unbelievably scenic freshwater wild swimming spots, catch sight of dingoes, wander into forest groves and adventure over sand dunes. No 4WD? No problem. Discover a huge range of Kingfisher Bay Resorts tours and events – truly its crowning glory.

Discover all room types, facilities and dining options at our complete Kingfisher Bay Resort review.

2. K’gari Beach Houses

Australians are relentlessly drawn to the nostalgic joy that accompanies a stay in a good old-fashioned beach house. And K’gari Beach Houses add a healthy dose of understated luxury to your accommodation daydream.

The two- and three-bedroom units are surrounded by native trees and flowers are designed with families in mind. The generously sized units deliver a laidback option for those in search of a perfect beachside getaway. Think white-painted walls, open-plan living spaces, and glorious ocean views from the verandah.

Outside, play a family game of cricket or football on the front lawn. Watch the sunrise over the ocean, swim in the pool, take in the stars on a clear night or dine al fresco on provided picnic tables.

3. K’gari Beach Resort

the pool at k'gari beach resort — K’gari Beach Resort just might be the ultimate beach getaway. (Image: TEQ)

This charming beachside resort is another heavy-hitter on K’gari thanks to its close proximity to 75 Mile Beach. The remote K’gari Beach Resort is a hotel, pub, restaurant and bakery all in one. Plus, it’s home to some of the best doughnuts in the state.

Formerly known as Eurong Beach Resort, the resort is only accessible by 4WD – like much of the island – making it a rather peaceful place to be year-round, especially during off-peak season. Enjoy stunning beach views, explore K’gari’s 4WD tracks, try your luck at fishing and spot some of the local wildlife.

The two- and three-bedroom units are surrounded by native trees and flowers, and are designed with families in mind. The generously sized units deliver a laidback option for those in search of a perfect beachside getaway. Think white-painted walls, open-plan living spaces, and glorious ocean views from the verandah.

4. Kokomo at Kingfisher Bay

If you’re after that picture-perfect beachside retreat – complete with views of bleached white sand and an immense rainforest backdrop – look no further than Kingfisher Bay’s Kokomo .

The old timber house sleeps 10 and is set under shady coconut palms on private grounds with direct access to the shore of the bay. The interior has been redecorated in a pristine provincial boathouse style, complete with a massive covered veranda, hot outdoor shower, bamboo benchtop surrounded by flower gardens and hammocks slung in cool, quiet corners.

There are four swimming pools on-site to be enjoyed alongside a visit to the day spa, tennis courts or one of three restaurants.

5. Camping

person with 4wd camping on a k'gari beach — Beach camping is a popular camping option for K’gari. (Image: Tyson Mayr/ TEQ)

There are 45 camping areas to choose from on K’gari, each one as blissfully picturesque as the next. The best camping site for you will depend on what you’re looking for from your adventure. Do you want to be close to amenities? Close to the beach? Sleep in total solitude? Wake up to world-class sunrises? Go fishing all day?

Lucky for you, we have a comprehensive guide to camping on K’gari here.

6. Holiday rentals

interior of Orchid Blue holiday rental on K'gari fraser island — Book a holiday home like Orchid Blue for larger groups. (Image: Stayz)

Want something between hotels and camping? There are a surprising number of holiday rentals – many operated by Kingfisher Bay Resort – on the island to provide a slice of your own on K’gari.

Discover nature stays surrounded by rainforest in the centre of the island, like Satinay Villa – two-bedroom villas blending privacy with space for groups. Or stay beachside, with a range of options in Kingfisher Bay, Eurong and Orchid Beach. The striking Orchid Blue is nestled into the eastern slope of Orchid Beach, and sleeps a whopping 20 people — all right next to the ocean, a convenience store, petrol station and local bar .

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.

The ultimate K’gari accommodation guide