Fraser Island tours

Fraser Island tours support a Rural Fire Brigade at the resort, to assist in cross-island fire fighting and controlled burning. We support Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services where required, for example, we help to service island tracks, assisted with an awareness campaign for the new Fraser Island Great Walk of Queensland by hosting media free of charge to experience the walk. 

We train local staff to a high degree of competency through its own training scheme, thus adding to the pool of quality tourism staff resident in the local community. Participates in traineeships for local students. For example, an industry-training scheme is in place with TAFE and Hervey Bay and Urangan High Schools.

During 2005/2006, 8 students from the local area trained and worked  on a part-time basis. They received a nationally-recognised training certificate for use in their studies or to help obtain a hospitality job. Rangers regularly conduct field trips to Fraser Island for schools in the region and support numerous secondary and tertiary students by providing information (and in some cases work experience) when they are undertaking case studies and projects on ecotourism.

Fraser Island tours are proactive in encouraging local involvement with the resort and its activities. ‘Mates’ rates for accommodation and transport are given to local residents to encourage them to regard the resort as part of their community. Local residents are entitled to significant discounts when using products and services. This extends to day trips with meals included, and special dine-and-stay or tour-and-stay packages. Runs a local business club luncheon, bringing high profile guest speakers to the area

There are now only a handful of surviving descendants of the Fraser Island Butchulla people and today there are no Butchulla people living on the island. Their history is an important part of Fraser Island and efforts are being made to find, recognise and manage cultural sites so that future generations can learn, understand and respect the Butchulla's way of life. Before opening, we contracted Mrs Olga Miller, an elder of the Butchulla people, as an advisor on indigenous matters and to train ranger guides and staff on cultural history and practices so they could pass on correct information to guests. Mrs Miller, an Aboriginal historian and author, was acknowledged by the Queensland Government as a “Queensland Great”. She worked with our rangers for 11 years until her death in 2002. Rangers now consult with local Aboriginal elders, including artist Fiona Foley.

Rangers advise on appropriate behaviour at these sites and tell guests of the Aboriginal history and cultural activities on Fraser Island. Rangers also introduce guests to the bush tucker foods and medicines used by the Butchulla. We work with Butchulla elders to train young people for job readiness and employs them where ever possible.

Managing director Gary Smith is a tourism industry representative on the State and Federal Governments’ Fraser Island World Heritage Area Community Advisory Committee, a member of the University of Sunshine Coast (USC) Science Faculty Advisory Committee, a member of the Regional Advisory Board for the Institute for Sustainability, Health and Regional Engagement, a USC research institute which promotes the enhancement of human and environmental well-being in the area, through research, training and regional engagement, a member of Hervey Bay City Council’s Tourism Advisory Committee, established to advise the council on matters affecting the local tourism industry. General manager tours and marine David Hay is, the chairman of the State and Federal Governments’ Fraser Island World Heritage Area Community Advisory Committee,  a member of Hervey Bay TAFE College Council. Resort general manager Ivor Davies represents the resort on the committee of the Fraser Island Association, which represents the interests of people living on Fraser Island.