Australia boasts some of the most picturesque scenery in the world and surely one of our greatest national treasures are the sandy straits of Fraser Island. Every year, more than 300,000 visitors come to the island either to camp or on a day trip. A World Heritage Site listing, Fraser Island is home to over 300 species of birds as well as dingoes, dugongs and humpback whales. Meanwhile, it is one of the few places in the world that one can witness the entire life cycle of plants.

Getting there and around of course, is half the fun of Fraser. Its sandy terrain means 4WDs are a must. Companies operating on the island specialise in 4WD tours and rental with driving lessons to get you up to speed. Hiring a used Land Rover or Jeep is a great way to get started on your Fraser Island adventure.

Fraser Island Driving Tips

Once you’ve collected your vehicle, it’s time to hit the beach! However, for those who are unaccustomed to the experience, driving in the sand can be quite the beast. Before you embark on your Fraser Island drive, here are some tips to take on board:

- Deflate your tyres, but slowly - one of the first things that most 4WD newbies will learn about is lowering the tyre pressure. Over inflated tyres can be a nightmare on soft terrain and a sure fire way to get stuck in a sandy predicament. However, don’t deflate them all in one go - you want them as inflated as possible to maintain a good speed. Experts say you can deflate your tyres to as low as 10psi in soft sand without a problem, but only if you have to.

- Maintain your speed - you won’t be able to drive particularly quickly with deflated tyres, not more than 60 km/h, so proceed slowly but try to maintain a constant speed. Slowing the engine is likely to get you stuck, so keep the revs going while you drive. You’ll also want to avoid making sharp turns as this can lodge your front wheels into the sand.

- Coast to a stop - If you have to stop, do it slowly and avoid using the brakes as abrupt stopping likely leads to sticking.

- Stay off the dunes - Driving on the sand dunes is illegal as the dunes are protected across the island. They are a delicate part of the natural ecosystem and play a vital role in protecting the coastlines.

- Reinflate - when you reach harder sand that’s closer to the shoreline, reinflate your tyres as soon as you can.

- Stay balanced - if you’re heading up a slope, go straight up the middle and avoid pitching your vehicle on an angle. 4WDs are usually quite heavy so there’s a greater potential that you could end up rolling your car if the right and left sides are unbalanced.

Meanwhile, some drivers may be tempted to bring their own cars especially if they have AWD, such as a used Honda Civic. This is generally not a good idea, as the sand on Fraser is particularly soft, so driving on it requires a car with a high ground clearance, and the standard road vehicle generally won’t make the cut. Also, while similar in nature, AWD systems are generally more fragile than a full time 4WD system so you risk doing some serious damage to your car.