Trip at a glance
K’gari (Fraser Island) group trip · Thursday 1 to Monday 5 October 2026 · Waddy Point Top group area · four nights.
Route and day plan
Thu 1 Oct · Main arrival
- 11:00 am: Rainbow Beach — fuel, lunch, supplies and Manta Ray tickets.
- 12:00 pm: Inskip queue and air down to about 16–18 psi.
- 12:30–1:30 pm: Barge crossing; regroup at Hook Point if split.
- 1:45–2:30 pm: Inland bypass to beach access south of Dilli Village.
- 2:30–5:15 pm: 75 Mile Beach, then Indian Head and Middle Rocks bypasses.
- 5:15 pm: Arrive Waddy Point Top before sunset.
BOM tide reference: high 11:03 am · low 5:33 pm.
Fri 2 Oct · Waddy and north
Keep the evening local/inland. The 7:04 pm low is after sunset; do not schedule beach driving from 5 pm onward.
Sat–Sun · Explore
Sandy Cape is an early-start, tide-dependent option. Sunday’s lakes plan should use the morning beach window.
Mon 5 Oct · Return
- 7:00–7:45 am: Clear the Indian Head and Middle Rocks bypasses.
- 7:45–9:45 am: Southbound 75 Mile Beach run through the low-tide window.
- 9:45–10:30 am: Inland bypass from south of Dilli Village to Hook Point.
- 10:30 am: Join the barge queue above the high-tide line; allow 1.5–3 hours.
- 12:30–1:00 pm: Land at Inskip, air up and head to Rainbow Beach for lunch.
BOM tide reference: low 8:59 am · high 3:53 pm.
Beach-driving tide windows
BOM Waddy Point predictions in AEST (UTC+10). These are planning bounds only: use daylight, leave time before dusk and follow signs and conditions.
| Date | Daylight | All low tides | Practical window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Oct | 5:27 am–5:46 pm | 4:00 am · 5:33 pm | 5:27–6:00 am · 3:33–5:15 pm |
| Fri 2 Oct | 5:26 am–5:46 pm | 4:41 am · 7:04 pm | 5:26–6:41 am; no evening window |
| Sat 3 Oct | 5:25 am–5:47 pm | 5:41 am · 8:47 pm | 5:25–7:41 am; evening low after dark |
| Sun 4 Oct | 5:24 am–5:47 pm | 7:15 am · 10:02 pm | 5:24–9:15 am |
| Mon 5 Oct | 5:23 am–5:47 pm | 8:59 am · 10:56 pm | 6:59–10:59 am |
Vehicles, recovery and supplies
Every vehicle
- High-clearance 4WD with low range
- Rated front recovery points
- Spare tyre, jack and suitable base
- Tyre gauge/deflator and compressor access
- Long-handled shovel
- UHF radio — mandatory per vehicle
Group planning
- Record actual optional gear in the group checklist: straps, tree protectors, shackles, MAXTRAX, repair kits and tools.
- Use 4 L/person/day for five days as a water guide; record what is actually carried.
- Plan space to carry rubbish out. Orchid may provide top-ups, lunch and ice but stock is not guaranteed.
- Record camp batteries, powered fridges and other useful family items.
Camp and safety
Waddy Point Top
Fenced group area, flush toilets, tables, washing-up facilities and coin-operated hot showers. Treat tap water before drinking. No generator power; mobile coverage is generally unavailable.
Wongari safety
Keep children close, never feed or approach wongari, secure food and rubbish, do not run, and follow ranger directions. Keep the gate closed.
Official sources
- QPWS park alerts ↗
- BOM Waddy Point tide table ↗
- Vehicle permits ↗
- Manta Ray barge tickets ↗
- Waddy Point official details ↗
- QPWS safety advice ↗
Pack updated: 27 September 2026. This offline pack is a planning aid, not a substitute for current official conditions.
Ask the guide
Short, curated answers that also work offline after the guide has loaded once.
Ask about tides, ferries, permits, vehicles, water, camp facilities, wongari or Orchid Beach.