The presence of royalty on Fraser Island earlier this year has put the largest sand island in the world in the limelight. Here’s how to holiday like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry when visiting Fraser Island.
See the sights
The world watched as the royal couple, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrived on the Fraser Island Jetty, ahead of a tour of the World Heritage-listed island. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given a ‘true-blue’ taste of island life when they were driven to their accommodation not in a limousine but in a 4WD designed to navigate the tough terrain. General manager of Fraser Explorer Tours Colin Anderson made headlines when he spent the day showing Harry the island’s iconic sites – from the verdant Pile Valley rainforest to the crystal-clear Lake McKenzie.
Enjoy a bush tucker experience
The Duke & Duchess enjoyed a private dining experience on Fraser Island, with a sampler selection of fare from the award-winning Seabelle Restaurant at Kingfisher Bay Resort. This very same menu can be enjoyed by mere mortals staying at Kingfisher Bay Resort. Executive chef, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Udaysen Mohite, says it was an absolute honour to cook for the royals. The chef draws inspiration from Fraser Island’s indigenous Butchulla tribe, curating menus that celebrate native cuisine.
Stay at the Kingfisher Bay Resort
Although it was top secret at the time, we now know that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex bunkered down at the Kingfisher Bay Resort away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. The reason they chose the resort is because of the privacy. The resort, which is one of Australia’s first eco-tourism properties has a very proud history. General manager David Hay says the property is designed to fit in with the natural sand dunes of the island. And, if you’re out on the water, you’d never know there was a resort with more than 152 rooms, 100 villas and executive rooms.
Enjoy the VIP experience
Staff at Kingfisher Bay Resort can neither confirm or deny whether the royals had a wine and cheese platter at the Sunset Bar. Regardless. They are quite rightly milking the royal visit by initiating a Royal Retreat experience that includes this in the offing. If you want to feel like a VIP after your guided island tour of the ‘Beauty Spots’, this is where to do it as the sun paints the sky crimson over Western Bay. The VIP experience includes a 30 minute massage at the Island Day Spa.
Getting there: Kingfisher Bay Resort is located along the western bay of Fraser Island, with easy access from Hervey Bay.
