K’Gari (also known as Fraser Island) is a World-Heritage-listed island along the south-eastern coast in the Wide Bay–Burnett region, Queensland, Australia. The island is about 123 kilometres long and 22 kilometres wide. The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1,840 square kilometres. It is also Queensland's largest island, Australia's sixth-largest island and the largest island on the east coast of Australia.
The K'gari Weekends required a three and a half-day time commitment from the participant runners. Runners met and stayed in accommodation at Rainbow Beach on Thursday night, the runners then had an early departure on Friday morning to cross the ferry to K'gari and commence the trail run.
On completion of the trail run, runners were transported to their AirBnB accommodation at Orchid Beach, K'gari. A completion dinner was held at the Orchid Beach Hotel on Friday night evening. On the following day, runners were taken on a sightseeing tour of K'gari before returning to the accommodation. Sunday saw the cleanup of the campsite and the return to the mainland for the runners.
The run is suitable for every ability, from experienced trail runners to first-timers and is one of the most rewarding experiences running along one of the most popular islands in the world.
The trail begins on 75 Mile Beach where Toleerba creek feeds into the Pacific Ocean for 2 km before turning inland past the Dilli Village education facility before leading North west to Checkpoint 1 at Lake Boomanjin. The trail winds around the lake and into the moderate vegetated areas before passing Lake Benaroon to reach Checkpoint 2 located south of Lake Birrabeen. The trail continues along Lake Birrabeen and past Lake Jennings and to Checkpoint 3 before transiting into the Rainforest area that surrounds the Central Station and into Checkpoint 4. From there, the final leg of the trail continues onto the tranquil Lake McKenzie and the finish line on the white sand. All Checkpoints and the Finish point will be operated by a support crew that will have water, food and medical supplies. Participants will need enough fluids and nourishment to sustain travel between the checkpoints.
