Rediscover the magic of magnificent Fraser Island

A 50-MINUTE ferry ride from River Heads can transport you into a stress-free holiday zone, complete with golden beaches, aquatic adventures and wilderness.

A SHORT 50-minute ferry ride from River Heads can transport you into a stress-free holiday zone, complete with sweeping golden beaches, aquatic adventures and an unspoiled island wilderness.

Fraser Island is right on our doorstep and is an ecological masterpiece of giant sand dunes, rainforests, freshwater streams and lakes and an exceptional range of unique flora and fauna - it's a holiday destination that's perfect for family and friends.

To explore the island you can hire a four-wheel drive - either from Hervey Bay or from Kingfisher Bay Resort - and take to the sand tracks on your own voyage of discovery.

For those who want to sit back and have it all done for them, eco-accredited Fraser Explorer Tours has an excellent range of daily ranger-guided four-wheel-drive tours to choose from including day tours from Hervey Bay and Rainbow Beach and a superb two-day adventure staying on Fraser's eastern side at Eurong Beach Resort.

But you don't need to have wheels. Kingfisher Bay Resort is a good starting point to immerse yourself in this world heritage wilderness and offers ranger-guided walks and talks, fishing from the jetty, hearty meals and a great beach to sun yourself. You can even mess about with stand-up paddle boards and canoes.

And, while the big boys are roughing it in the 4x4s on Fraser's sand tracks, the resort has introduced ranger-guided Segway PT Adventure sessions which use the latest in green technology - fully electric Segway Personal Transporters - to manoeuvre their way along the inter-tidal zone and across the varied terrain on the sheltered western side of the island.

For those wanting an all-inclusive deal, the resort's Day Away package transports you across the Great Sandy Strait and gives you time out on the western side of the island - with lunch, morning or afternoon tea and a guide walk, canoe, paddle and fishing rod hire thrown in for good measure.

Plus, the Saturday Night Seafood Dinner Cruises out of Urangan Harbour will make you think your taste buds are on holiday.

The contrasts on Fraser Island are breathtaking.