Sail of the century: The best Fraser Island boat hire ideas
By Adam Bub | Posted 8 April, 2021
Fraser Island has many claims to fame.
It's the world’s largest sand island, at 123km long. It's the only place on the globe where tall rainforests grow on sand dunes. And it's World Heritage listed alongside Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef, recognised for its “exceptional natural beauty”.
Sweeping stretches of white sandy beach, coloured sand cliffs, ancient dune formations, clear freshwater lakes and native flora and fauna (including its famous protected dingo population) – all in one place. Now you're just showing off, Fraser Island.
Located off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast in the Fraser Coast region, this slice of paradise is one of our country's most eco-friendly holiday spots for nature lovers.
K’gari, as it is known by its traditional owners, the Butchulla people, even means ‘paradise’.
Floatspace is proud to offer Fraser Island boat hire options to explore this peaceful piece of paradise, your way.
Fraser Island yacht hire, three ways
A Fraser Island yacht charter gives you the freedom to sail the waters without having to worry about navigation – you’ll have a captain and crew on any Floatspace private boat charter. All of these boats can be tailored to suit Fraser Island day trips, overnight stays, corporate functions, team building events, birthdays, engagements, hens and bucks’ parties and fishing excursions.
1. Indigo, your BBQ cruise catamaran
Price and group size: From $187.50 per hour for up to 20 guests
Talk about bang for buck. This 10m Seawind 1000 entry-level catamaran is perfect for those Fraser Island day trips with family or friends where you’re in your swimmers all day. Indigo sleeps six to eight people in two cabins or 20 people for day charters. There’s an internal shower and toilet, a tender for beach stopovers, a fully equipped kitchen, safety equipment and that hallmark of any Aussie occasion worth celebrating: a BBQ on the back deck. Sail the Great Sandy Strait any time of the year, whether it’s school holidays or a weekend.
Hot tip: Let your skipper take you to Pelican Bank, a remote sand island that's a secret gem for swims, picnics and relaxed strolls along the whiter-than-white sands.
2. Dream On. Or don't! Live the dream
Price and group size: From $187.50 per hour for up to 20 guests
Like Indigo, Dream On is the stuff sailing dreams are made of. Sleeping four to six people across three cabins or allowing up to 20 people on board for events, Dream On is a catamaran just made for families, groups of friends and teams sailing the waters of Fraser Island.
Features include a shower, a tender for beach stopovers, a full kitchen, a BBQ, safety equipment and just stunning views wherever you look, really.
Another hot tip: Between Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, stop off at Big Woody Island for a touch of Australian maritime history, or Round Island, your own private island hideaway for a day.
3. Cattitude, for a scratch of the high life
Price and group size: From $250 per hour for up to 32 guests
‘Cattitude’ is the name of a Miley Cyrus song, but it’s also a luxury sailing catamaran that simply purrs across these calm waters. Imagine yourself sipping a champagne on the deck or jumping into those crystal-clear waters from this impressive 42-foot vessel.
When it comes to Fraser Coast boat hire, Cattitude is a versatile choice for special occasions or cocktail-style events of 20 to 30 people. It’s super spacious, with four double beds across four cabins, and two single beds across two cabins. So, bring the family, your group of friends or even your staff together and find any excuse to take this beautiful yacht in and around Fraser Island.
While you're there, try these Fraser Island activities
Fraser Island holidays can be as laidback or action-packed as you like. Here are more things to do on Fraser Island, if you’re up for it:
- Go swimming at Lake McKenzie, one of the island’s most visited spots for its white silica sands and clear lake made up of only rainwater. The Champagne Pools are also popular for swimming, protected from the waves by rock formations.
- Take a 4WD trek. Four-wheel-drives are the only vehicles permitted to drive on Fraser Island. Seventy-Five Mile Beach is a sand highway for 4WDs where regular road rules apply – with a bit of input from tides, winds and dunes!
- Go whale watching at Hervey Bay. Just three-and-a-half hours’ drive from Brisbane, Hervey Bay is an official Whale Heritage Site. In fact, it’s been dubbed the ‘Whale Watch Capital of the World’ with humpbacks migrating down south from August to October. All boats, including leisure boats, must stay at least 300m from the whales.
- Enjoy a fishing expedition. From the clear waters of Platypus Bay to the Great Sandy Strait, Fraser Island fishing spots are renowned for their diversity of species all year round.
- Hike the Great Sandy National Park’s beautiful 90km Great Walk. Explore great walks for different levels across the island, including Eli Creek, Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby, Kingfisher Bay and the Valley of the Giants.
Ready for your Fraser Island holiday or special event on the water? Use Floatspace's live pricing charter availability tool when you search boats.
