Sunrover Tours - Scarborough, Queensland

Darragh Mc Donagh

Our group of 6 people just completed a 2Day/1 night overnight tour with Sunrover on K’Gari in November 2023. Unfortunately we could not recommend this tour to anyone.

I will start with the positives. This tour is the only of its kind going to/from Brisbane which will save you money and help avoid Greyhound buses. Our driver possessed excellent knowledge in all things related to Fraser Island, he was also an excellent driver. Lastly the toilet facilities at the campsite were excellent.

We got a bit of a shock when we first arrived when the luggage which we paid $40 each to store was being kept on top of our 4WDs, we do not feel that it was fair to pay $240 dollars between 6 people to place our excess luggage over the vehicle. Also this was not made clear on the tour description. Also when meeting our tour guide he did not introduce himself and throughout the 2 days of the tour did not make an effort to learn our names. I know this is something small, but from doing other tours on the east coast having a personable tour guide makes a significant difference.
While we weren’t expecting luxury on the campsite we were expecting a clean, well kept camp. Our tents were full of sand, the duvets and sleeping bags were not freshly washed. However the bedsheet was washed.
With regards to the food, overall it was substandard given the price of the tour. On day 1 we received a basic homemade bread roll, some wafer biscuits, granola bar and apple. We had to request to stop at the shop on the way back for extra food as we were still hungry in the afternoon. Dinner was average, we received hotdogs and burgers with some garlic bread. Our main issue with dinner was the hygiene after. Everyone was given two dishes to self wash, the water basin was dirty and wasn’t changed, this was due to a small water basin and the overall unsanitary conditions of the kitchen. Breakfast was the worst meal of the tour. The cereal was stale, the containers were dirty and options were minimal. It’s worth highlighting that we did not receive marshmallows at the campfire as promised earlier in the evening.

Overall, we do not feel this tour is good value for money. We paid $790 per person, this included $100 national park fee and $40 dollars for storage. We acknowledge that the transfer to/from Brisbane would cost an additional fee, however when booking a tour of this cost, we expect campsite to be of decent standard. This includes clean tents, good sanitation and decent standard of food, unfortunately this tour did not live up to these expectations.

Stephen Reid

Unsuitable Transportation - had to leave

We were really looking forward to our trip to Fraser Island. We were picked up from Brisbane and put in a van with seating benches either side facing each other. These were really uncomfortable and we felt unsafe during 100km on the motorway before we even got to Fraser Island - as they only had seatbelts round the waist. See photos - it sits 8 people! We were then told we would be using the same vehicle for the next 2 days. We were upset by this as this is not the experience you are shown on the advertising and you’re paying £400 per person. Our driver said we had the ‘uncomfortable bus’. Other guests were in other vehicles more suitable. 4 elderly guests were moved to these better vehicles as they knew it wasn’t suitable. We were left in the van though and had to leave the tour before we got to Fraser Island as it was so bad - with no refund. I explained I had hip surgery previously which is not a problem if you have a seat you’d expect in a 4WD and not the make-shift DIY seating they had in their vehicle. I was told it was my fault for booking a 4WD tour even though they had moved customers who visually wouldn’t have been able to ride in the vehicle. When I explained my condition they said ‘sort it out with the other passengers’. I wasn’t about to ask others to swap with me as no one else would want to ride in the vehicle. The staff were also rude and said it was was my fault as the transport depends on guest numbers. Just see the replies to other less favourable ratings and it gives a good indication of how they treat customers. No refund for $1400 even though it was their service that was unsuitable. We sadly missed the terrible ratings on trip advisor before we booked - you’ll always get some but there are a large number here which says a lot. Please please please book with someone else. These guys will ruin your holiday and they will not care in the slightest.

*UPDATE* you can also see by the owners response that they cancel with very little notice so if you would like a secure booking go elsewhere. Also simply compare the photos on their website to the photos I took of their vehicles and you’ll notice the difference. They are also unfriendly and quite rude based on their response

Jana

I did the 2 day, 1 night camping tour on Moreton Island had a great time 🙂 There were 5 people on the same tour which was great as it meant we were able to do a few extra things. Mark was a great guide – funny and super relaxed.

The first day we were taken out on a 4WD to multiple swimming spots and lookouts. Mark cooked us dinner, then we sat around a fire and ended the night by star gazing on the beach. The only thing that wasn’t provided was a pillow, but we used the spare sleep bags as a substitute.

The next day was action packed. We woke up early and went sand boarding on these stunning sand dunes which was a lot of fun. After lunch we went kayaking and then spent the rest of the day snorkelling and swimming. Snorkelling was a highlight — there were so many cute fish around the shipwrecks.

Francisco Tochetto

I recently went on a weekend trip to Fraser Island with my girlfriend, organized by Sunrover Tours. While the island itself was nothing short of breathtaking and our accommodation exceeded our expectations, the transportation aspect left much to be desired. Here's a breakdown of our experience.

The Good:

Fraser Island's beauty: The island is truly stunning, with picturesque landscapes, crystal clear waters, and pristine sandy beaches. It's a nature lover's paradise, and we managed to capture some amazing photos throughout our trip.
Accommodation: We were pleased with our accommodation, which was clean, comfortable, and had all the necessary amenities.
Fun group: The group we traveled with was a lively bunch, and their company added a lot of enjoyment to our experience.
The Bad:

Careless driver: Our driver wasn't particularly careful or considerate, adding to the unpleasantness of our journey.
Traffic jam on a public holiday: As expected, the public holiday resulted in heavy traffic, increasing our discomfort and frustration.
The Ugly:

Overcrowded transportation: Our main issue was the transportation provided by Sunrover Tours. They crammed all 11 of us into a single Toyota Land Cruiser, which made for a cramped and uncomfortable ride, especially on rough terrain and during long hours of travel.

In conclusion, while Fraser Island is undoubtedly a must-visit destination, I would strongly advise potential travelers to ensure they have a comfortable mode of transportation before embarking on a trip like this. In my opinion, our experience with Sunrover Tours suggests that they prioritize profit over customer comfort. We could have had a much better time had we been provided with two vehicles, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable journey.

If you're considering a trip to Fraser Island, I would recommend researching other tour operators that offer more comfortable transportation options or arranging for your own vehicle. Your overall experience will likely be much more enjoyable if you're not crammed into a single vehicle with too many people.

Andy Michelis

Well I can’t actually vouch for the tour but I do feel that I was part of the tour. Jess was an absolute legend helping us and the kids at the high tide road where we got very stuck on the sand. The guest on the tour were all very excited watch Jess give me a pull backwards to get me out. Again thanks so much and booking on and getting Jess as your guide would actually be a lot of fun.

Timothy Roche

My wife and I did the 2 day Fraser Island camping tour, throughly enjoyed the island and Alex as a tour guide. The issue we had was the transportation and food situation; we were crammed 8 people into a very old 4x4 and a lot of the tour is driving, for young people this might be ok but as 30 year olds it was painful to sit in the back. The food was very basic, sandwiches, hot dogs, frozen hamburgers, cereal. This tour was a great experience overall but the driving experience really downgraded it, if you're 20 and can sleep anywhere and eat anything go for it! If you're older or need more comforts like us I would recommend something with more comfortable seating for the drive, even if this tour was 6 people to the 4x4 it would have been a much better experience!

Sasha Ruane

I did a Moreton Island Snorkel, Sandboarding & 4WD day trip from Brisbane and thought it was fantastic. Our guide was friendly, super interesting and shared lots of interesting information. The weather wasnt too good but as a group, we were only 5, we decided to continue and try and if we didnt do one of the activities we would get our money back for that activity. We ended up doing them all despite the weather and both the positive energy of my group and guide really made it a great day. The snorkelling at the Tangalooma Wrecks was my favourite bit....with so many colourful fish. I have to admit lunch was very basic and could have been more substantial, considering how much you pay but all in all I loved the day.

Spencer Murphy

Had an Excellent tour 2 day tour of Fraser with Wayne. Full of fun and laughs. The campsite was had warm showers and walking distance to the beach for a sunrise walk. Wayne was fantastic with great insights funny anecdotes and a great cook. The people writing bad reviews about "lunch" and the "old car" probably haven't got their priorities in order for this kind of trip, it's about visiting Fraser and having a great laugh while doing it!