Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Fraser Island

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took separate boats to Queensland's Fraser Island on Monday as their tour of Australia and the South Pacific continued with a reduced schedule for the pregnant duchess.

Britain's Prince Harry, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk along Kingfisher Bay Jetty during a visit to Fraser Island, Australia, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on day seven of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. [Photo: AP]

Prince Harry took a barge for the 70-kilometer crossing from Australia's mainland to the island, while Meghan rode in a far more comfortable cruiser.

Meghan is about four months pregnant and has had her schedule reduced after a hectic start to the 16-day tour.

The Duchess was expected to rest for the first part of the day, while Prince Harry undertook several engagements focusing on environmental issues, before rejoining her husband for a reception.

Harry and Meghan touched down midmorning at Hervey Bay, 1,200 kilometres north of Sydney, in a Royal Australian Air Force plane.

The couple descended the stairs hand-in-hand, before going their separate ways: Harry boarding a bus and Meghan a car.

Harry was scheduled to take part in a range of engagements on the world's biggest sand island, known as K'gari in the local indigenous language, on day seven of their Australian tour.

After taking part in a traditional "Welcome to Country" smoking ceremony with representatives of the local Butchulla indigenous people, Harry unveiled a plaque dedicating the popular holiday island's pristine rainforests to Queen Elizabeth's Commonwealth Canopy project.

Britain's Prince Harry watches local dancers after the unveiling of the Queens Commonwealth Canopy at Pile Valley, K'gari during a visit to Fraser Island, Australia, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on day seven of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. [Photo: AP]

Harry and Meghan are due to leave Australia for Fiji and Tonga on Tuesday.

Britain's Prince Harry, second from right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex receive gifts from the crowd as they walk along Kingfisher Bay Jetty during a visit to Fraser Island, Australia, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on day seven of their 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific. [Photo: AP]

They will return to Sydney on Friday night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry's brainchild and the focus of their tour, before finishing off with a visit to New Zealand.