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
Rainbow Beach by 11:00 am; Inskip 11:45 am–12:15 pm; aim for the 12:30–1:00 pm barge. Use Hook Point inland road and target Waddy 4:45–5:30 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
Pack by 6:30 am, leave Waddy around 7:00 am and allow time for the Hook Point queue.
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 revision: v2 · prepared 31 August 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.