8 of the best spots to go camping in the Great Barrier Reef

Your access-all-areas pass to a spectacular natural wonder is up for grabs at the best spots to go camping on the Great Barrier Reef.

The world’s largest coral reef system, flowing with vivid colour and thriving marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most breathtaking attractions. But while sprawling resorts and luxury lodgings offer good access to its beauty, nothing screams multi-sensory immersion like camping in the thick of it.

From remote beach campgrounds to facility-flanked powered sites enveloped in lush rainforest, camping in the Great Barrier Reef is always in good proximity to unforgettable holiday activity. Here, we round up what to know and where to go.

How to book camping in the Great Barrier Reef

an aerial view of Great Keppel Island — The Great Barrier Reef is dotted with remote and rustic campsites. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The key to any Great Barrier Reef adventure is preparation, so book well in advance, particularly during peak periods when camping numbers are typically capped. Sites are mostly scattered throughout national parks (except for Dunk Island Spit Camping, Fitzroy Island Resort, Great Keppel Island Holiday Village and Woodgate Beach Holiday Park) and part of the wider World Heritage Area, and they’re usually available to book 12 months in advance. Take note of school holiday periods, which see sites snapped up rapidly.

The other crucial factoid for national park campers is that all of its sites require a permit from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, who unveiled an easy-to-navigate online booking system in February. Once you decide on the park of your dreams, jump on the website to lock in that permit, which must be displayed on your tent. It might feel dorky, but if a ranger can’t see it, you’ll likely attract a fine, so wear it proud.

How much does it cost to go camping in the Great Barrier Reef?

a tent on the beach, Whitsunday Island — Set up your tent at a remote beach location. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

As of July 2024, Queensland National Parks sell camping permits from $7.25 per person, per night. For families consisting of one or two adults and multiple children to make seven individual campers or less, you’re looking at $29 per night. Prices include GST.

As for Fitzroy Island Resort camping, each site welcomes up to four people and is priced at $39 per night, while Dunk Island Spit Camping (yet to formally open its doors) prices are best found via the website .

Great Keppel Island Holiday Village camping starts from $30 per night with a three-night minimum, while Woodgate Beach Holiday Park prices start from $41 per night.

How to protect the Great Barrier Reef while you camp

a koala resting on a tree branch at Bungalow Bay Koala Village — Be mindful and respectful of the animals residing within the campgrounds. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Looking after this extremely special corner of the world during your visit is simple — make sustainable choices, support the community you visit and be kind to wildlife and the environment. There are a few small ways that campers can tangibly work to preserve the beauty for future generations:

Camp in marked areas, ensuring you inspect your surroundings for nests and eggs before you set up or start an activity.
Check your camping gear, tent itself and clothing for any soil, weeds, seeds and pests to ensure you get rid of it all before you arrive.
Check zoning information in advance for restrictions on fishing and collecting shells.
If you’re boating, don’t damage the coral by anchoring into sand or mud using a lightweight reef pick with plastic over the anchor chain.
Avoid getting too close to seabirds, or any other wildlife. Disturb the animals as little as possible.
Stay on the walking tracks.
Don’t go looking for firewood. Stick to a fuel stove when cooking as open fires are rarely allowed.
Leave pets at home.
Be careful using lights and torches on beaches during turtle breeding season (November to March).
Don’t feed seagulls, whose population is increasing, and threaten the survival of other birds.
Don’t dump plastic. This is illegal and can be fatal for aquatic animals and birds. Take your rubbish with you.
If there are no toilets, bury human waste below high tide level. Do not bury rubbish.

The best campsites in and near the Great Barrier Reef

1. Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach on a sunny day — The pristine, fine white sand of Whitehaven Beach stretches over seven kilometres on Whitsunday Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: On Whitsunday Island, near Airlie Beach

Renowned as one of Australia’s best beaches, Whitehaven Beach is also one of the most picturesque places to camp in the country. There are 11 defined sites, right behind the beach’s famed white silica sands, amid tranquil vine forests and eucalypt woodland. Facilities are basic with no flush toilets and just a few picnic tables, but the kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling and swimming conditions (plus that view) more than make up for it. There are also walking tracks, rated Moderate and ranging from 40 minutes to three hours, if lazing about in pure paradise grows tiresome.

2. Dunk Island Spit Camping

Dunk Island as captured from above — Enjoy the beach to yourself on Dunk Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: On Dunk Island, near Mission Beach

The first thing to note about this Great Barrier Reef camping option is that it isn’t run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, so be sure to reach out to the team well ahead of your visit to get accurate pricing and additional information on the new glamping tents that have been promised. Located four kilometres off Mission Beach, Dunk Island Spit Camping is right near the jetty, so if you’re boating in, it’s a cinch to spy. Walking trails vary from 20-minute rapid runs to multi-hour expeditions, while swimming and snorkelling is best enjoyed at Brammo Bay’s Muggy Muggy beach, around the corner from the campsite’s main stretch of sand.

Former facilities spanned flushing toilets, hot showers, gas barbecues, picnic tables and drinking water, however the early 2025 relaunch hint towards a new bar and restaurant in addition to those glamping experiences and more. Stay across the website for the latest updates.

3. Fitzroy Island Resort

a girl relaxing in a swing on the beach at Fitzroy Island Resort — Swing into summertime at Fitzroy Island Resort. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Fitzroy Island, near Cairns

The gorgeous, and often-overlooked, Fitzroy Island forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is only a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns. The island itself is comprised of 97 per cent rainforest, creating a natural haven for water sports and rainforest walks, and enticing campers with endless activity. Fitzroy Island Resort manages the island’s only camping sites, located just a few minutes’ walk from the jetty where all ferry transfers drop off.

Offering 20 tent sites in total, the Great Barrier Reef camping experience is firmly focused on embracing nature’s handiwork, all while remaining close to the resort’s extensive facilities (you can purchase a pool day bar to access its wonderful swim-up bar, FYI). Campers will find a cold-water shower block, a grassy camping area, a shaded rest area and a barbecue, however no open flames are allowed.

4. Lady Musgrave Island Campground

an aerial view of Lady Musgrave Island, Great Barrier Reef camping — Be surrounded by magical coral reefs and crystal blue waters on Lady Musgrave Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Lady Musgrave Island, near Bundaberg

Entirely uninhabited and accessible only by boat transfer from either Bundaberg or Seventeen Seventy, Lady Musgrave Island is the kind of desolate, deserted paradise that fills your 9-5 daydreams. It has an 8 kilometre circumference and measures in at just 19.45 hectares in size, evoking Castaway feels the moment you spy it. To reach the Lady Musgrave Island campground , an open area with a capacity for 40 tent campers, follow a well-marked walking track from the northern beach. There you’ll find composting toilets, an emergency radio, fuel storage and a compressor bunker (it’s real hardcore, here), so you’ll need to BYO all food and drinking water and rubbish bags to settle in comfortably. Get set to spot brilliantly hued marine life right at your doorstep, including the odd sea turtle if you’re lucky.

5. Bungalow Bay Koala Village

guests staying at an A-Frame Bungalow Bay Koala Village, Magnetic Island — Retreat into a charming A-Frame bungalow on the lush Magnetic Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island — near Townsville

A hop, skip and 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville will put you smack bang on Magnetic Island, just 11 kilometres in length and home to hundreds of koalas and wallabies, more than 25 kilometres of walking trails, and picturesque lookouts. The only place you can camp is at Bungalow Bay Koala Village , which offers powered sites. While the Great Barrier Reef accommodation is beloved for its bungalows and very own wildlife sanctuary, campers can take advantage of the property’s facilities which include a swimming pool and outdoor bar. A beautiful base camp for exploring the island’s unique beauty.

6. Lizard Island National Park

sunrise views at Lizard Island — Lizard Island is teeming with lush vegetation. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Watsons Bay, Lizard Island — near Cairns

Lizard Island is one of the most unique Great Barrier Reef islands, remnant of a mountain range that wouldn’t look out of place in the Greek Islands — think rocky outcrops of granite and dry, sparsely vegetated hills. While Lizard Island Resort tends to steal the spotlight, camping at Lizard Island National Park ’s Watsons Bay camping area is an extraordinary treat.

Most people arrive on the island via a small, 19-seater plane flown from Cairns airport, which you then leave behind to tackle a 1.2-kilometre walk to the campground. Once you’re here, just five campsites will greet you, suited to tents and situated on the sand. There is a composting toilet, picnic tables, gas barbeque, poles for putting up shade cloths and water via a hand pump 250m from the campground (but you’ll need to treat it before drinking).

7. Great Keppel Island Holiday Village

a white-sand beach on Great Keppel Island — Great Keppel Island Holiday Village’s camp is close to the beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Great Keppel Island, Keppel Islands — near Yeppoon

A tropical hideaway engulfed in turquoise waters, coral gardens and quiet beaches, Great Keppel Island Holiday Village ’s camp sites are mostly visited by the savviest of explorers, so get moving before the secret’s out. The island itself boasts 17 beaches, plus unique birdlife and frequent turtle sightings. Four sites are available for two-person tents, plus there are glamping tents that start from $130 per night. Campers are invited to use all the accommodation’s facilities, including a fully equipped kitchen, a barbecue, a toilet and shower block, and gas cookers. Snorkelling gear is also included with every stay, as is filtered drinking water, but you’ll need to BYO water bottle to keep refilling.

8. Woodgate Beach Holiday Park

an old couple staying at Woodgate Beach Holiday Park, Great Barrier Reef — Each safari tent is equipped with an outdoor bath. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Location: Woodgate, near Bundaberg

In Woodgate, a 40-minute drive from Bundy, it’s all about long lazy laps along the shoreline, stand-up paddle-boarding atop turtle-dotted waters and wallaby spotting — and the best place to soak it all up is from Woodgate Beach Holiday Park . There’s only one road in and one road out of the 16-kilometre strip of sand, which is exactly where the Great Barrier Reef camping hot spot is located. Facilities include the property’s Salty Seas Cafe and Servo, kiosk, toilets and showers, a camp kitchen, picnic tables, barbecues, a laundry, dump point and more. There are also glamping tents to investigate if you feel like splashing out in style.

Discover how to pick the right Great Barrier Reef Island for you

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.