If you’re searching for places to see iconic Aussie fauna and flora, look no further than K’gari! K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) is a mecca for beautiful Australian wildlife.
Our Remote K’gari Island Tour takes you on a journey to the unique and untouched remote west coast of the island. From turtles at Wathumba Creek to dingoes on the beach, here is a run down of all of the animals that you may see during your K’gari Tour with Tasman Venture.
Dingoes
Dingoes are icons when it comes to K’gari, these wild dogs reign supreme on the island. According to the Australian Museum, “The earliest undisputed archaeological finding of the dingo in Australia has been dated to 3,250 years ago”. You might see dingoes wandering along the beach and bush in K’gari, but keep in mind that these dogs are predators, and not domesticated. It may look like a nice doggo, but you should never approach a dingo, just marvel at these creatures from afar.
Dingoes have a slim build because they are built for speed. They do a lot of running and cover a lot of ground, especially at night. Even if you don’t see a dingo as they’re likely resting, keep an eye out for their tracks!
Dolphins
The Australian humpback dolphin and the Indo-Pacific (inshore) bottlenose dolphin are our resident dolphins. So if you see a fin gliding through the water next to the boat, you may be in for a treat that’s a little less jaws and a little more flipper.
Our team are pros at dolphin spotting, so if we see one as we’re cruising around the bay, we’ll be sure to let you know where to look.
Turtles
Have you got swimming with turtles on your bucket list? We are sometimes lucky enough to see some beautiful turtles while snorkelling in the crystal clear water that surrounds K’gari. In fact, six of the seven marine turtles call this area home! Luckily there’s plenty of time for snorkelling on our day tour, and our guides are experts at spotting turtles. The most common turtle for us to see is the green sea turtle.
To see turtles is actually a really amazing thing because only one in every 1000 turtle hatching reaches maturity. Turtles are considered mature at 30 years old, so you’re seeing a turtle that has beaten all of the odds!
Birds
There is an absolutely fascinating number of birds on K’gari, both native and introduced. From Azure Kingfishers to White Bellied Sea Eagles or Whistling Kites - you’ll be playing spotto all day long! The Department of Environment and Science has compiled a full list of birds that you could spot on K’gari that you can read here.
Whales
Hervey Bay is one of the best spots in the world to see humpback whales from July - October. Our K’gari & Whale Experience will see you searching for these playful giants, and if we’re lucky swimming with them too! We have a mermaid line attached to our boat's rear platform that our adventurous passengers can hold onto as you experience the thrill of being in the water with whales (conditions permitting).
When we’re seeing whales, they’re on their migration pattern, coming from the top of Great Barrier Reef and ultimately heading down to the feeding grounds of Antarctica. Hervey Bay is a rest spot for whales which means that we get to see them hanging around for days at a time! We also run half-day whale tours if you’re short on time.
Our guides have been lovingly showing locals and tourists around K’gari for many years, and would love to point out the incredible array of wildlife to you during your visit to K’gari. If there’s an animal on your “Australian Bucket List” that you want pointed out, make sure you let them know and they’ll be sure to keep an eye out.
