Kingfisher Bay Resort is an award-winning eco resort nestled along the western bay of K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), with a longstanding commitment to providing low impact tourism experiences and helping protect one of our planet's most pristine destinations.
Kingfisher Bay Resort is an established operator with Advanced Ecotourism Certification and Green Travel Leader status from Ecotourism Australia in recognition of our commitment to using resources wisely and creating sustainable practices.
If you are committed to saving our environment, we would love to welcome you into our Conservation Program. For Housekeeping to service your room, simply insert the ‘Please Make Up My Room’ sign into your door, prior to 08:00am on the day required. If you don’t require your room to be serviced, don’t insert the ‘Please Make Up My Room’ sign. This initiative minimises carbon emissions associated with washing linen.
We have formed and continue to foster long-term community connections, with a shared focus of conserving K'gari (Fraser Island) for future generations, through education initiatives and supporting sustainability programs.
University of Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast Regional Council and Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation
The K’gari Discovery Centre is a cultural endorsement for enhanced environmental awareness and conservation efforts on Fraser Island. Research and decades of historical documents, reports and photographs have formed the first stage of this initiative. This is a joint initiative funded by the University of Sunshine Coast (USC) and Kingfisher Bay Resort, with support from the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation and Fraser Coast Council. The centre is located at the Kingfisher Bay Resort Village Store Complex.
University of Sunshine Coast
Teaming up with the next generation of world changers, USC students and researchers from multiple campuses use our accommodation and resources to get around the island and conduct vital ecological research.
Fraser Island Natural Integrity Alliance
FINIA (Fraser Island Natural Integrity Alliance) is a community-based partnership dedicated to protecting Fraser Island (K'gari) World Heritage Area's natural integrity, ecological assets and unique beauty through collaborative management, community education and targeted rehabilitation work. Sealink Kingfisher Bay's long-term support to FINIA and its members has assisted with the delivery of multiple projects and initiatives.
Kingfisher Bay Resort has a continued focus on reducing waste. With limited services provided by the government on K'gari (Fraser Island), the team at Kingfisher Bay Resort now internally manages all composting and recycling saving 60 tonnes from landfill per quarter.
Reusable Toiletries
Single-use plastic toiletries are not available at the resort. Each hotel room and villa is fitted with reusable toiletries to offer this guest amenities. Toiletries include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturiser, hand soap and shaving gel.
Dedicated Recycling Team
All waste is collected by our team and taken to our waste management centre for sorting. Recyclables are checked to ensure all items meet processing requirements. Once packaged, items are transported to the mainland for processing.
On-Site Composting
Shredded office papers and kitchen preparation scraps are turned into rich compost in the onsite worm farm and then used to grow herbs for the kitchen. This ultimate recycling process has its own interpretive signage you can discover on our Ranger-Guided Eco Walk.
Reducing Paper Consumption Via Apps and Functionality
Paperless booking systems and the increased adoption of screens and apps within the resort have provided an opportunity to reduce paper consumption. Our What’s On Guide was previously printed on a weekly basis and can now be found readily on hotel televisions and through the Kingfisher Bay Resort app.
As part of our commitment to having a positive social impact, Kingfisher Bay Resort works with and supports a number of charities based in the Fraser Coast and greater regions.
Kingfisher Bay Resort’s longest-standing initiative is supporting local charities for over 20 years through a biannual long lunch event, including a charity auction. Our dedicated team organise and host each event, with our last event raising $14,500 for Hervey Bay Sunrise Rotary Club.
Other Charities we have supported through this initiative, include:
- Hervey Bay Sunrise Rotary Club: $14,550 raised in June 2022
- Forget Me Not Australia Limited: $14,310 in November 2021
- So Brave Young Women's Breast Cancer Charity: raised $17,000 in June 2021
- RACQ LifeFlight: $16,200 raised in November 2020
- Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre's Comfort Kitchen
- Variety Australia
- Beyond Blue
This commitment extends to supporting charitable organisations year-round, as Kingfisher Bay Resort also provides prize donations for events and fundraisers to assist with charity auctions, door prizes and recognition for volunteers.
Our team passionately support volunteer services within the Fraser Coast community, volunteering as members of committees and volunteer services that are associated with the preservation of Fraser Island and the health of our valued guests. Several of our team volunteers for the Rural Fire Brigade and firefighting base at Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Kingfisher Bay Resort supports a full-time continuing undergraduate student enrolled in Bachelor of Business (Tourism, Leisure and Management) at USC Fraser Coast. This support is provided through a bursary aimed to assist with the student's studies and progression in the tourism industry.
We also partner with Australian local businesses to source products and services that contribute to a healthy local economy. Plus, we regularly engage a minimum of 47 local contractors for resort projects.
Kingfisher Bay Resort was consciously designed and built to integrate with its unique natural environment.
Trees and plants were relocated to an onsite nursery before construction commenced, and later used in landscaping when the resort was complete.
The resort’s main buildings float on 1600 pylons sunk to a depth of 16 metres, which creates a unique system for buildings to shift with the natural sand movements.
Design features such as high curved ceilings in the main resort complex provide for a cool atmosphere, removing the need for air-conditioning, with louvres opened in summer to allow natural cooling.
Kingfisher Bay Resort was the first resort in Australia to employ a Director of Environmental Management from the pre-opening phases. The holder of this position became a founding Director of Ecotourism Australia and engaged with Government and industry to ensure all environmental guidelines were adhered to when constructing the resort.
Our dedicated team continues to focus on enhancing Kingfisher Bay Resort’s sustainable travel experiences. Listed below are goals our team are aiming to achieve.
We are aspiring to be single use plastic free at Kingfisher Bay Resort under our dedicated waste management initiative.
Current steps to reach this goal:
- All our takeaway containers and takeaway coffee cups and lids are 100% biodegradable.
- Use of bamboo takeaway cutlery and napkin/bags provided are 100% biodegradable.
- Eliminated single use plastic bags from the Village Store and reusable cloth bags are available for purchase
Kingfisher Bay Resort is focused on developing renewable energy efficient initiatives, making efforts to move towards renewable energy, including research into a solar farm to offset emissions.
