Staying At Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island (Okay’gari) [Review]

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

With a lot to excite your senses, with regards to selecting a spot to remain, you may need to think about a extra relaxed tempo.

That was our considering after we determined to remain on the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island (Okay’gari).

We had been trying ahead to experiencing somewhat slice of luxurious amidst one of the crucial distinctive and pristine elements of Australia. However we had been quickly to be taught that Kingfisher Bay isn’t all about luxurious…

However what’s a keep at Kingfisher Bay Resort like? And what’s there to see and do? On this information, we share our expertise staying on the resort.

About Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island, Australia

If you consider exploring Fraser Island (Okay’gari), the world’s largest sand island, you’re largely considering of journey off-road 4-wheel driving and a little bit of seaside tenting with wild dingoes – the final word journey.

So after we came upon a few world-class eco-resort with luxurious facilities on the island, we needed to test it out.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is an award-winning resort that has been working for greater than 30 years on Okay’gari (Fraser Island). It was constructed across the identical time that Fraser Island was made a World-Heritage web site.

The resort has been designed with environmental efforts in thoughts. They use the pure panorama as inspiration for the buildings, which mirror the dunes on the island.

The resort is not only a spot to remain, additionally they provide excursions, eco ranger talks for teenagers, guided walks, whale watching excursions, and 4WD rent.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is on the quieter western facet of Fraser Island, proper the place the automobile 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 gave the impression to be on the wild and rugged jap surf facet.

However, I appreciated the softer expertise – the calm waters, the encompassing bush, the onerous, flat sand, and the magnificent sunsets.

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 among the issues you are able to do on the resort…

1. Catch Unimaginable Sunsets on the Island of Paradise

Individuals come speeding from everywhere in the island at round 4:30pm to catch the solar taking place. The unassuming Jetty Hut seaside bar is the place they flock to seize their sundowners – bottles of champagne and platters of prawns, cheese, and crackers are on provide.

Yep. So we loved the sundown on western seaside with the platters and the drinks as nicely.

Cheese and prawn platter with ice-cold beer and cider. As you’re proper on the seaside the women 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 for $15 a head.

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 at Seabelle as most of the dishes ready will embrace the meals you hear about within the speak.

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 speak 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

You possibly can rent Segways to make use of on the seaside. It was the primary time I had been on one, and I used to be somewhat shaky at first however quickly obtained the dangle of it and LOVED whizzing up and down the broad seaside.

We might simply watch the women as they performed on the sand and we obtained a while to play collectively on the Segways, and the women cherished chasing after us.

Segways are $30 for half-hour, or you possibly can be a part of a one-hour eco-adventure tour with a ranger for $79

4. Get pleasure from Guided Bushwalks

Resort rangers lead complimentary guided walks that will help you get to know somewhat 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. Take A Dip within the Outside Swimming pools

The swimming swimming pools are fairly superior. The women really 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 provides refreshing drinks and light-weight snacks.

It was an exquisite, stress-free outlook and we loved our final twenty minutes there earlier than our ferry got here to whisk us to Hervey Bay.

7. Get Energetic on the Tennis Courts

For those who wish to get lively in your trip, then head over to the outside tennis court docket for a recreation or two.

There is just one tennis court docket on the resort, so it’s essential to be affected person.

8. Chill out within the Fraser Island Day Spa

Take a break from the journey and benefit from the resorts spa providers. You possibly can 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.

9. Rent a 4-Wheel Drive

One of many solely methods to get round Fraser Island is by 4×4 car. You possibly can simply lease a 4WD from the resort and discover the island by yourself with out the necessity for a tour.

Merely pack up a picnic, your seaside towel and loads of water, and zip down the seventy-five mile seaside to discover the websites.

Head over to Lake McKenzie, a glistening turrquoise lake recognized for its pure magnificence. This is among the few spots on the island you possibly can swim, so make the most of it.

Cease off to discover the mountain climbing/biking trails, or hunt for the long-lasting shipwreck.

The resort has parking out there, however it’s essential to pay $25 AUD for parking every day.

10. Take A Boat Tour

There are a number of boat excursions you possibly can 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) to see migrating whales taking part in within the heat waters with their new child child calves.

Eating at Kingfisher Seashore Resort

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.

Buffet dinner and breakfast at Sand & Wooden

The buffet breakfast at Sand & Wooden had loads of choices and was of normal buffet breakfast type. The waffle station was a specific 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 apprehensive 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 a la carte on the Seabelle Restuarant

We suggest splurging for a bistro meal on the Seabelle Restaurant. The pinnacle chef has drawn inspiration from Fraser Island’s indigenous Butchulla tribe – crafting his menus to mix seasonal, native produce, recent seafood, Australian bush tucker, and island residing.

It’s essential 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 at Seabelle? A child sitter in fact!

Kingfisher Bay affords a babysitting service for company. Fiona got here to our villa to spend a couple of hours with the women, and so they completely cherished her.

She took them for a stroll across the property and thru the resort gardens, stating the various totally different indigenous crops.

Lodging at Kingfisher Bay Resort

Kingfisher Bay resort has totally different lodging varieties starting from two and three-bedroom self-contained villas, loft villas, multi-share Wilderness Lodges, resort lodge rooms, and Kingfisher Homes.

Since we’re travelling as a household, we opted for a tree-top govt 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 loosen up inside it we had been so busy exploring lovely Fraser Island.

It was spacious and comfy with three bedrooms, an enormous lounge room with a gasoline hearth, a eating room, laundry faciltiies, wifi, and a full kitchen.

Rooms begin from $279 AUS and go up from there. Villas and homes are costlier than resort rooms.

Examine-In/Examine-Out Expertise

It was very easy to examine 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 seek out your solution to the Mainland Reception at River Heads (Store 7/54 River Heads Purchasing Village, River Heads Highway, River Heads QLD 4655).

It’s suggested to check-in 40 minutes earlier than to the ferry departure time.

If you wish to, you possibly can 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 car ferry your self and drive to the resort. Merely head to the check-in reception at River Heads and the reception staff will provide you with additional directions.

Be aware it’s a must to pay for parking.

We took the ferry switch and had been taken to the property location. The entrance desk workers had been very pleasant and useful and advised us about all of the services 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 children, you possibly can reserve additional beds with mattress sheets or toddler beds/cribs beforehand for a further cost. Merely contact the reception and make particular requests.

Fraser Island Video

Click on play to see the enjoyable you possibly can have on Fraser Island…

The Verdict

Kingfisher Bay Resort Fraser Island was a refreshing break from the adventurous facet of Okay’gari, and was a snug place to remain.

For households, it’s nice, since there are such a lot of issues for the children to try this adults will love too.

Once we return to Queensland, I so need to return to Fraser to spend a for much longer period of time.

My dilemma now could be whether or not to go for the bush-bashing journey or simply disguise away with somewhat extra consolation and rest at Kingfisher Bay Resort.