Festive fun on Fraser Island

The sun is out, the sea breeze is refreshing and the island’s lakes are as enticing as ever- it’s that magical time of the year where festive cheer fills the air on Fraser Island.

Whether you’re keen for a game of beach cricket, you’re ready to explore Fraser Island’s incredible natural environment or you’re in the mood to kick back, relax and unwind -there’s plenty of fun to for the whole family on Fraser this festive season. 

School aged visitors will get the chance to join our rangers for beach activities, fishing frenzies, night walks, campfires and more as part of our Junior Eco Ranger program running right through the school holidays. 

There’s plenty to keep the ‘big kids’ busy too- get out on the water on our stand up paddle boards or canoes, join in ranger-guided archery sessions, explore the western beach on a guided Segway tour or take to the mock bushland battlefield and put your laser skirmish skills to the ultimate test. 

If your idea of the perfect island holiday is a bit more laid back, Kingfisher Bay Resort is the ultimate relaxation destination with four swimming pools, three restaurants, four bars and an incredible Island Day Spa.

When the sun dips below the horizon, there’s nowhere better to kick back with a cold drink than our aptly-named Sunset Bar and when it comes to deciding where to dine there’s plenty of festive fare to enjoy. 

To officially kick off the silly season,  Maheno Restaurant will  be combining traditional hearty dishes with a sensational seafood buffet, live entertainment and poolside cocktails during weekends in the lead up to Christmas, while our award-winning chefs in Seabelle Restaurant will be using native Australian fruits, spices, berries and herbs to create their bush-tucker menu. 

Christmas Lunch at Kingfisher Bay Resort will be decked out with all the trimmings including succulent ham, delicious roasts and fresh seafood and- best of all- no washing up! The big guy in the red suit is even tipped to make an appearance to mix and mingle with guests during the day. 

So if you’re ready to swap sleigh bells for sunglasses and snow for silica sand, get ready to enjoy the ultimate beach Christmas on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. And if you believe that after a busy year you deserve a little time out with friends and family then check our fantastic summer deal.

Top five reasons to take a family break on Fraser Island

Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner! That glorious time of year where work meetings make way for Christmas parties and school uniforms are traded in for swimmers and thongs. The boogie boards are dusted off and howls "got him" fill the air as beach cricket swings into full season.

If you're looking for the ultimate kid's club, multiple swimming pools, incredible natural surroundings and action-packed activities then here's 10 reasons why you can't go past Kingfisher Bay Resort. 

1. Parents love us! 

With an award-winning restaurant, a wide selection of dining choices, three swimming pools, a brand new Day Spa and heaps of family-friendly activities, it's easy to see why Kingfisher Bay Resort was recently named in the Top 10 Resorts for Families by Holidays with Kids Magazine. 

2. Junior Eco Rangers can learn and explore 

Our resort Rangers have been busy planning a school holiday bonanza jam packed full of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy.  School-aged visitors can join our Rangers and take part in activities including fishing frenzies, scavenger hunts, Christmas craft, marine discovery, night walk adventures, campfires with marshmallows, beach games and more as part of our Junior Eco Ranger holiday program.

Running throughout the school holidays (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day) the program hosts activities through morning and evening sessions with lunch and dinner included. We’ve also got extra special Christmas movie nights on Christmas Eve and awesome activities lined up through the night on New Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year on Fraser Island. 

3. Big kids' are never "bored"

If your kids' are a little old for "kids club", there's plenty of awesome adrenaline activities on offer that are heaps of fun for the whole family. From Laser Skirmish sessions on a mock battlefield in the bush-covered dunes of Fraser Island, to Ranger-guided night walks, archery sessions and Segway tours- there's something for everyone to enjoy and new and exciting activities to try. 

4. There's room for the whole family

With a range of self-contained villas, resort hotel rooms and private houses available, there's plenty of accommodation options to suit families of sizes, giving you plenty of space to relax and enjoy your holiday. Easy access to all the resort facilities means families can wander down and relax by the pool, or enjoy a delicious meal. You'll have all the creature comforts of home, while being nestled amongst the incredible natural surroundings of a World Heritage-listed island. 

5.Our backyard is yours to explore

With more than 100 freshwater lakes, endless golden beaches, cool freshwater creeks, a famous shipwreck and pristine rainforest to explore, there's nowhere else in the world quite like Fraser Island and with 1500 kilometres of sandy tracks you can choose your own adventure. If you're after a guide to show you around, there are 4WD Island tours available with meals included, so all you have to do is sit back, take in the scenery and capture some amazing pictures along the way. 

So if you're longing for a lazy summer break as the year winds down, or you're ready to take off on the ultimate school holiday adventure, there's nowhere better than Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island. 

Want to stay where the humpbacks play? Why the whales Fraser Island

 The Southern Humpback whales have returned to the waters of the Fraser Coast and this year, they are ready to party! After greeting visitors with plenty of breaches and tail slaps, these curious and intelligent creatures were keen to do some “people watching” getting right up close with the Quick Cat Cruise boats.

Baby whale calf playing the protected walkers of the Fraser Coast

So why are some pods of whales more “active” than others? Just like us humans, it often comes down to what stage the whales are at in life. Whales generally mate every second year- and carry a calf for 11 months. Mother whales will mate in the warm waters of Queensland towards the end of whale season, and return the next year a give birth to their calf.

A whale calf typically weighs 1.5 tonnes and are just over 4 metres in length when they are born. Newborn calves will stay with their mother to feed and learn the ropes for roughly one year before venturing off to join a juvenile pod for a migration at around two to three years old. Traditionally a full adult whale will escort a mother whale and her calf back down along the Australian cost to Antarctica.

By the time whales join a pod of juveniles they are roughly six to seven metres in length and full of energy and curiosity (imagine whales on schoolies).  They are usually some of the first pods in the migration and, at times, can get lost along the way.

Juvenile whales play in the waters off Fraser Island 

A pod of whales is usually two or three, and they can often meet up in the waters off Fraser Island where five or six whales may be in close proximity to each other. In some cases, such as Migaloo the white whale, a pod can actually just be one whale. But generally they travel in pods of two or three.

Last, but definitely not least, are the big bulls – the full grown adult male whales which can grow up to 14.5 metres in length and weigh up to 36,000 kilograms. These whales generally follow along the tail of the migration.

Whales love to frolic and play in the calm waters of Hervey Bay, protected from the strong winds and ocean currents by Fraser Island with approximately 20,000 humpback whales migrating along the Australian coast each year. 

Humans aren’t the only friends whales make along the way with dolphins and dugong often spotted amongst whale pods in and around Hervey Bay.

If you haven’t seen these incredible creatures close up, check-out these fantastic packages that include whale watch cruises and accommodation on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Want to see the whales up-close? Here's why the whales love to play off Fraser Island

 The Southern Humpback whales have returned to the waters of the Fraser Coast and this year, they are ready to party! After greeting visitors with plenty of breaches and tail slaps, these curious and intelligent creatures were keen to do some “people watching” getting right up close with the Quick Cat Cruise boats.

Baby whale calf playing the protected walkers of the Fraser Coast

So why are some pods of whales more “active” than others? Just like us humans, it often comes down to what stage the whales are at in life. Whales generally mate every second year- and carry a calf for 11 months. Mother whales will mate in the warm waters of Queensland towards the end of whale season, and return the next year a give birth to their calf.

A whale calf typically weighs 1.5 tonnes and are just over 4 metres in length when they are born. Newborn calves will stay with their mother to feed and learn the ropes for roughly one year before venturing off to join a juvenile pod for a migration at around two to three years old. Traditionally a full adult whale will escort a mother whale and her calf back down along the Australian cost to Antarctica.

By the time whales join a pod of juveniles they are roughly six to seven metres in length and full of energy and curiosity (imagine whales on schoolies).  They are usually some of the first pods in the migration and, at times, can get lost along the way.

Juvenile whales play in the waters off Fraser Island 

A pod of whales is usually two or three, and they can often meet up in the waters off Fraser Island where five or six whales may be in close proximity to each other. In some cases, such as Migaloo the white whale, a pod can actually just be one whale. But generally they travel in pods of two or three.

Last, but definitely not least, are the big bulls – the full grown adult male whales which can grow up to 14.5 metres in length and weigh up to 36,000 kilograms. These whales generally follow along the tail of the migration.

Whales love to frolic and play in the calm waters of Hervey Bay, protected from the strong winds and ocean currents by Fraser Island with approximately 20,000 humpback whales migrating along the Australian coast each year. 

Humans aren’t the only friends whales make along the way with dolphins and dugong often spotted amongst whale pods in and around Hervey Bay.

If you haven’t seen these incredible creatures close up, check-out these fantastic packages that include whale watch cruises and accommodation on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Choose Your Next Adventure on Fraser

Our sandy home of Fraser Island lies just off the east coast of paradisiacal Queensland. Kingfisher Bay Resort was recently thrilled to be featured in an article by Expedia all about the best ways to experience the island entitled, 'Experience the best of Fraser Island'.

‘This award-winning resort is the luxury option on the island, with villas sporting modern beach décor. Couples looking for a romantic getaway should opt for a spa villa and soak their cares away in the open air of a private deck.’

A world-heritage listed island, Fraser Island is an ideal destination for bird watchers and lovers of nature, wildlife and wildflowers. 

The Island is home to an incredible number of bird species, more than 230 to be exact. Rare and endangered animal species of all sorts can be found on The Great Sandy Strait, the stretch of water which separates Fraser Island from the mainland.

But for the most part it’s the spectacular lakes that draw all types of travellers from around the world to the largest sand island in the world. Fraser Island provides a fantastic opportunity to explore magnificent white sand dunes, rainforests and sand cliffs of striking colours. 

Visit some of the island’s perched lakes, such as the deepest lake on the island, Lake Wabby, the beautifully clear Lake McKenzie, Basin Lake, which is a black-water perched lake. Eli Creek is fun for the whole family as natural currents guide your under aromatic gum trees.

You can partake in an educational tour offered by us at the Kingfisher Bay Resort. Or simply stay in a Wilderness Lodge at the resort and you will be surrounded by gum trees, bush plants and native birds, letting you begin your bird watching adventure at the break of dawn! 

The resort hotel also offers luxurious spa rooms, one, two, and three bedroom villas, and holiday houses, and is the perfect venue for conferences, meetings, and romantic weddings.

Swim in the clear waters of Lake McKenzie, fish on Seventy-Five Mile Beach, visit the SS Maheno shipwreck on the eastern beach, or climb Indian Head and take in the spectacular views of the Island’s coast. Look out for turtles, dolphins, sharks, and rays from this rocky headland, which is on the eastern side of the Island.

Whatever adventure you choose be sure to return to a luxurious stay in our premier resort. We look forward to welcoming you to the island!