What It is Like To Keep

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Sheltered on the western shore of Ok’gari (Fraser Island), Kingfisher Bay Resort is the place wilderness and luxury collide. On one facet, you could have a dense eucalyptus forest and on the opposite, the calm waters of the Nice Sandy Strait.

For these searching for someplace to remain on Fraser Island, this eco-resort is among the greatest locations to base your self to discover the world’s largest sand island — it’s off-grid dwelling, wild and distant, however you don’t should tough it.

Kingfisher Bay is designed to take a seat quietly inside its environment, not being too flashy or deter away from the wilderness. It has elevated boardwalks and buildings constructed from hoop pine wooden, so it appears to vanish into the forest, slightly than jut out from it.

However it’s not only a place to remain. It has guided ranger walks, off-road adventures, canoe journeys, wildlife talks, and a lot extra – making it a resort that features each as a retreat and a gateway to journey.

For those who’re questioning what it’s like to remain at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Ok’gari, that is our trustworthy overview primarily based on our keep, which can hopefully offer you an concept of what to anticipate.

About Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island, Australia

While you consider exploring Fraser Island (Ok’gari), the world’s largest sand island, you’re largely pondering of journey off-road 4-wheel driving and a little bit of seashore tenting with wild dingoes – the last word journey.

So once we came upon a few world-class eco-resort with luxurious facilities on the island, we had been stunned this distant wilderness had one thing extra stress-free to supply. In fact, curiosity meant we needed to test it out.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is an award-winning resort that has been operating since 1992 on Ok’gari (Fraser Island). It was constructed across the identical time that Fraser Island was made a World Heritage web site, marking a change in tides for the island that was beginning to open its doorways to tourism.

Though the resort’s building meant that this wilderness wasn’t as wild anymore, the resort has and at all times has been designed with environmental efforts in thoughts. Within the early 90s, this was pioneering, placing Kingfisher Bay Resort as one of many first to suppose eco-tourism in Australia.

Throughout building, they used the pure panorama as inspiration for the buildings, utilizing curved roofs that mirror the dunes on the island, and utilizing supplies sourced from the island. It was at all times meant to be a spot that integrates with the pure setting, but in addition supply luxurious.

The resort is not only a spot to remain, however a base for exploration. It affords excursions, eco ranger talks for teenagers, guided walks, whale watching excursions, and 4WD rent, so you’ll be able to actually expertise one of the best that Fraser has to supply.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is on the quieter western facet of Fraser Island, proper the place the automotive ferry from River Head drops you off.

At first, I believed we had been lacking out by staying on the western facet as a result of the motion appeared to be on the wild and rugged japanese surf facet. However, ultimately, I fairly appreciated the softer expertise – the calm waters, the encircling bush, the onerous, flat sand, and the magnificent sunsets. Plus, it meant we had been away from the coach excursions and crowds.

Kingfisher Bay Resort Evaluate: The lodging

Kingfisher Bay resort has completely different lodging varieties starting from two and three-bedroom self-contained villas, loft villas, multi-share Wilderness Lodges, resort lodge rooms, and Kingfisher Homes. Villas and homes are costlier than resort rooms.

Since we had been travelling as a household, we opted for a tree-top government villa, which was like a small three-story split-level home.

We cherished it, particularly its location set excessive on the tree-covered sand dunes. I simply want we had extra time to calm down inside it we had been so busy exploring lovely Fraser Island.

It was a spacious and cozy lodging with three bedrooms, giant rest room, an enormous lounge room with a gasoline fireplace, a eating room, laundry amenities, wifi, and a full kitchen. It was additionally a brief stroll from the primary facilities of the resort, making it good for bigger households.

Facilities at Kingfisher Bay Resort

Sand & Wooden Restaurant

There are a number of selections for eating places at Kingfisher Bay Resort. There are additionally a number of bars on the resort, together with the brand-new Rainforest Bar.

The buffet breakfast at Sand & Wooden had loads of choices and was of normal buffet breakfast type. The waffle station was a selected favorite spot on the buffet desk. The restaurant of a night does alternate between buffet and a la carte, relying on season.

I’m not an enormous fan of buffets and I used to be fearful about overeating so I went for the buffet solely as an alternative of mixing it with a full breakfast meal. I want I did it with the meal as an alternative. There weren’t that many choices for me being gluten-free, so a meal would have been higher and I wouldn’t have overeaten.

The Sand Bar and Bistro

We suggest splurging for a bistro meal on the Sandbar Restaurant, which has a relaxed ambiance with a bush-inspired menu. The pinnacle chef has drawn inspiration from Fraser Island’s indigenous Butchulla tribe – crafting his menus to mix seasonal, native produce, contemporary seafood, Australian bush tucker, and island dwelling.

You will need to cease on the bar earlier than dinner for some bush-inspired cocktails. A few of your favorite cocktails with a twist, together with native indigenous substances. After which as an alternative of dessert, go for the affogato. It was the primary time Craig had it and we each cherished it (sure I snuck a little bit of his)

Babysitting at Kingfisher Bay Resort

How did Craig and I get to really have time alone to get pleasure from all that lovely meals? A child sitter after all!

Kingfisher Bay affords a babysitting service for friends. Fiona got here to our villa to spend just a few hours with the ladies, and so they completely cherished her. She took them for a stroll across the property and thru the resort gardens, declaring the numerous completely different indigenous crops.

Out of doors Swimming Swimming pools

The swimming swimming pools are fairly superior. The ladies truly satisfied me to get into the water for a swim (I hate chilly water). I didn’t final lengthy earlier than escaping to the heated spa which suited me higher.

Or higher but, the poolside bar that gives refreshing drinks and lightweight snacks. It was a lovely, stress-free outlook and we loved our final twenty minutes there earlier than our ferry got here to whisk us to Hervey Bay.

Tennis Courts

For those who wish to get energetic in your trip, then head over to the outside tennis court docket for a sport or two. There is just one tennis court docket on the resort, so you’ll want to be affected person.

Island Day Spa

Take a break from the journey and benefit from the resorts spa companies. You may indulge in lots of types of physique therapies, from facials to massages. If you wish to benefit from the spa therapies, you will have to make a reservation beforehand.

Ok’gari Discovery Centre

Inside Kingfisher Bay Resort, adjoining to the Village Retailer Complicated, is the Ok’gari Discovery Centre, which is the place you’ll be able to ebook excursions, study in regards to the island’s ecology by way of beautiful pictures and informative shows, and be a part of ranger applications.

The resort has partnered with the College of the Sunshine Coast (USC), who present knowledgable Resort Rangers who’re USC graduates.

Issues to do at Kingfisher Bay Resort

Kingfisher Bay Resort is not only about resting your head, however about having fun with the adventures of the island. Listed here are a few of the issues you are able to do on the resort…

1. Catch unbelievable sunsets on the Island of Paradise

Folks come speeding from everywhere in the island at round 4:30pm to catch the solar happening. The unassuming Jetty Hut Seashore Bar, the unofficial sundown bar, is the place they flock to seize their sundowners – bottles of champagne and platters of prawns, cheese, and crackers are on supply.

So, we loved the sundown on western seashore, which was the proper spot away from the bigger crowds. We watched the solar go down with a platter of cheese and biscuits and the drinks as nicely.

Cheese and prawn platter with ice-cold beer and cider. As you’re proper on the seashore the ladies had enjoyable constructing sandcastles whereas the sundown.

2. Expertise the Bush Tucker Speak and Style Expertise

We loved experiencing the Bush Tucker Speak and Style expertise the Kingfisher Bay Resort places on each Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

It was fascinating to listen to about indigenous berries, fruit, and leaves available to us within the bush for use in cooking. We suggest doing this expertise simply earlier than you eat on the Sandbar as lots of the dishes ready will embrace the meals you hear about within the discuss.

The cooks introduced a number of meals of their pure, uncooked state and defined the place you could find these meals, and cooked some dishes with them in entrance of us, utilizing croc, roo, and emu, which we then sampled. It was scrumptious. For those who’re a foodie, that is positively the discuss for you.

So whereas we had been having our bush cooking expertise smelling lemon myrtle and tasting quandongs they had been within the backyard doing the identical. Kalyra can nonetheless recognise a few of these crops when had been are out within the bush now. I’m so grateful she had that have.

3. Go wild on a segway eco-adventure

You may rent segways to make use of on the seashore, or ebook onto a one-hour eco journey segway tour with one of many resort’s rangers. It was the primary time I had been on one, and I used to be a bit shaky at first, however quickly received the dangle of it and LOVED whizzing up and down the huge seashore.

We may simply watch the ladies as they performed on the sand and we received a while to play collectively on the Segways, and the ladies cherished chasing after us.

Segways are priced for each half-hour, or you’ll be able to be a part of a one-hour eco-adventure tour with a ranger.

4. Take pleasure in guided bush walks

Resort rangers lead complimentary guided walks that can assist you get to know a bit extra about Fraser Island, together with talks on the significance of mangroves, Aboriginal tradition, bush drugs and meals, and the dingoes of Fraser Island.

5. Take a self-guided stroll

There are many strolling trails round Kingfisher Bay resort which can be lower than three hours you are able to do your self.

6. Rent a 4-Wheel Drive

One of many solely methods to get round Fraser Island is by 4×4 automobile. You may simply hire a 4WD from the resort and discover the island by yourself with out the necessity for a tour. Merely pack up a picnic, your seashore towel and loads of water, and zip down the seventy-five mile seashore to discover the websites.

Head over to Lake McKenzie, a glistening turquoise lake recognized for its pure magnificence. This is among the few spots on the island you’ll be able to swim, so reap the benefits of it. Cease off to discover the climbing/biking trails, or hunt for the long-lasting shipwreck.

The resort has parking accessible, however you’ll want to pay for parking every day.

7. Take a ship tour

There are a number of boat excursions you’ll be able to take at Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island. There are sea explorer cruises, which take you to the northwest facet of the island to discover the pristine waters.

You may as well take whale watching cruises (seasonal from June to November) to see migrating whales taking part in within the heat waters with their new child child calves.

8. Archery

Enjoyable for all of the household, archery is an exercise that guarantees enjoyable and pleasant competitors. All gear is offered and also you have to be over 10 to do that

9. Illumina Night time Present

Illumina is the primary everlasting gentle, laser, and projection set up in Queensland and offers an inventive expertise towards the native setting.

Each night time, Kingfisher Bay Resort has a 23 minute gentle present that’s designed to encourage and deepen your appreciation for the island’s ecosystem.

We haven’t watched it, however we hear it’s spectacular.

Test-In/Test-Out Expertise

It was very easy to verify out and in of the Kingfisher Resort. Because you additionally obtain a ferry terminal shuttle, you don’t want to fret about discovering the resort on this gigantic sand bar.

You simply want to search out your strategy to the Mainland Reception at River Heads (Store 7/54 River Heads Buying Village, River Heads Street, River Heads QLD 4655).

It’s suggested to check-in 40 minutes earlier than to the ferry departure time. If you wish to, you’ll be able to even get an airport shuttle for a small price, to fret much less about making an attempt to get there.

You may as well take the automobile ferry your self and drive to the resort. Merely head to the check-in reception at River Heads and the reception group provides you with additional directions. Word it’s a must to pay for parking.

We took the ferry switch and had been taken to the property location. The entrance desk employees had been very pleasant and useful and informed us about all of the amenities on the resort. Merely present them your reserving affirmation, passport and the bank card or debit card you booked with and also you’re away!

If you’re travelling with small youngsters, you’ll be able to reserve additional beds with mattress sheets or toddler beds/cribs beforehand for a further cost. Merely contact the reception and make particular requests.

The Verdict: Would we suggest Kingfisher Bay Resort?

Fraser Island is all about journey. Merely strap into your four-wheel drive, and head down the 75-mile seashore freeway and also you’ll quickly go by glistening lakes, howling dingoes and should you’re fortunate, migrating whales.

With a lot to excite your senses, on the subject of selecting a spot to remain, you may need to contemplate a extra relaxed tempo. That was our pondering once we determined to remain on the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island – it affords a bit slice of luxurious amidst probably the most distinctive and pristine elements of Australia.

It was a refreshing break from the adventurous facet of Ok’gari, and was a snug place to remain. For households, it’s nice, since there are such a lot of issues for the youngsters to try this adults will love too. Because of this, we completely suggest it as a spot to remain on Fraser Island.

Fraser Island Video

Click on play to see the enjoyable you’ll be able to have on Fraser Island…

Extra Fraser Island Journey Ideas

Learn extra useful posts on the UNESCO Nice Sandy Biosphere Reserve space in Queensland