A young woman in the center of her mum and dad

Piper James (centre) with parents Angela and Todd James. (Supplied: Todd James)

In short:

Family and friends of Canadian backpacker Piper James have arrived in Australia and will attend a smoking ceremony held by traditional owners on K’gari (Fraser Island).

The family will spend some time exploring the places Piper frequented before her death on January 19.

The family and friends of Piper James have arrived in Queensland to bring the 19-year-old home, following her death on K’gari (Fraser Island) on January 19.

Piper’s body was found on K’gari’s eastern beach early on the Monday morning, surrounded by a pack of about 10 dingoes.

An early assessment from the Queensland coroner found her body had evidence of dingo bites while she was still alive, but drowning was the most likely cause of death.

Flowers on a pole near a beach.

A bouquet of native flowers was placed by Ms James’s loved ones, overlooking the beach where her body was found. (ABC Wide Bay: James C Taylor)

Her body was released to the family last month and has been in the care of a Brisbane funeral home.

Smoking ceremony planned

The family is expected to travel to the island tomorrow with K’gari traditional owners, where the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) has organised a smoking ceremony for Piper.

BAC director Christine Royan said the ceremony would ensure Piper’s spirit had a safe passage home.

“Her footprints are with us, and we’re saying to the family we’ll bless her spirit for the journey,”

Ms Royan said.

“We’re sending the good spirit on home to her family.”

An aerial image of the ocean, white sandy beach, and green forest.

The eastern beach of K’gari (Fraser Island). (ABC Wide Bay: Johanna Marie)

Following the smoking ceremony, Piper’s family and friends will return to Canada for a funeral and celebration of life on February 28.

Piper’s father Todd James described his daughter as strong, courageous, smart, loyal, and a really good friend to many.

“It is now time to go to Australia to be with Piper, walk where she last walked, and try to feel the spirit of my baby girl in some way,” Mr James wrote on Facebook before the family left for Australia.

‘She felt free there’

K’gari is a World Heritage-listed island about 250 kilometres north of Brisbane.

Piper had been travelling in Australia since late October and had found work at a hostel on K’gari.

A blonde girl resting her head on the shoulder of another dark-haired girl.

Taylor Stricker and Piper James worked hard to fund their dream of backpacking the coast of Australia. (Supplied: Marjorie Stricker)

She arrived on the island about a week before she died.

Piper’s mother, Angela James, said Piper loved to watch the sunrise while swimming in the ocean near the hostel.

Queensland Police said that, on the last day of her life, Piper had left the hostel about 5am, telling friends she was going for a swim.

“She just loved to start her day in the ocean watching the sun come up,” Ms James said.

“Because she just felt so free there. She said it was the most amazing thing.”