Visiting Deepwater safely

Deepwater National Park is located south of Agnes Water.

Getting there and getting around

Check park alerts before travelling as road conditions can change.

From Agnes Water

High clearance four-wheel-drive (4WD) access only.

From Agnes Water travel along Springs Road for 4km, follow the unsealed, sand track to the park's northern boundary. Middle Rock camping area is 14km south of Agnes Water. Wreck Rock camping area is 17km south of Agnes Water.

From Bundaberg

Conventional vehicles can access Wreck Rock camping area from the south.

High clearance four-wheel-drive (4WD) is required for accessing other areas.

Access roads to camping areas are suitable for camper trailers. Caravan access is not possible.

From Bundaberg, take the Rosedale–Seventeen Seventy Road (sometimes signposted as 1770) approximately 58km to Berajondo. Turn right into Tablelands Road, 500m before Berajondo. Travel along Tablelands Road for 2.8km and turn right into Hills Road. Proceed for 19.2km to a T-junction. Turn right into Coast Road and follow it for 5.6km. Just before Wartburg, turn left into Fernfield Road. Travel 7.5km then turn left into Deepwater Road. Follow the road 10.5km, cross the concrete ford, swing right and then turn immediately left into Wreck Rock Road. From here the park boundary is 2km, the Wreck Rock camping area turnoff is 5.5km and Middle Rock camping area (accessible only by high clearance 4WD) a further 3km.

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities or tracks at Deepwater National Park.

Staying safe

Driving

Drive safely and watch out for the unexpected—slow down to allow time to react to changed road conditions and other park users. Also read about driving on sand and print the Driving on sand safety guide (PDF, 2.3MB) to take with you when you visit.

Abide by warning, advisory and park closure notices. Access to protected areas may not be permitted in wet weather.

Check park alerts for Deepwater National Park.

Around water

Swimming is not recommended in areas adjacent to Deepwater National Park. Tragedies have occurred in the unpatrolled waters.

Always supervise children closely near water.

The nearest patrolled beach is the main beach at Agnes Water.

Be aware that:

• Coastal waters in this area can be treacherous with strong currents.
• Sharks are present in the ocean.
• Marine stingers occur here between October and May.
• Medical help or rescue can be hours away.

Around campfires

When you first arrive, check your camp site for any leftover embers or hot spots of sand from previous campfire sites.

Serious burn injuries have occurred on the soles of children’s feet, after accidentally walking bare-footed over old campfires that have only been covered with sand. Embers covered by sand can stay extremely hot for up to 15 hours.

If you intend to have a campfire, set it up in the fire rings provided.

Remember:

• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Stay with children and don’t let them sit too close.
• Don’t let a campfire turn into a wildfire! Keep campfires small.
• Whenever you leave, douse campfires with water not sand.

Picnics, camping and walking

• Do not feed or leave food for animals, as your food can harm wildlife, cause them to rely on hand-outs and make them aggressive as they try to bully you or other visitors for more food.
• Keep your food packed away when your camp site is not attended.
• Always carry drinking water. Remember that the beach is hot and exposed and you are likely to need more drinking water as a result.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses and use clothing and sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Carry insect repellent.

Help stop car crime

Thefts have occurred in this area.

• Lock your car.
• Remove your keys.
• Remove all valuables.

In an emergency

In case of accident or other emergency please:

• Call Triple Zero (000).
• Advise the location and nature of the emergency.
• Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.

The nearest hospitals are in Bundaberg and Gladstone.

Mobile phone coverage is not reliable in Deepwater National Park. Mobile phone reception might be possible on the beach at Wreck Rock and along the access road.

Read more about safety in parks and forests.

Before you visit

When visiting this park, you need to be self-sufficient.

Ensure your vehicle is mechanically sound and suitable for the areas you want to visit:

• A 4WD vehicle is essential when entering the park from the north.
• A 2WD vehicle can access the park from the south to Wreck Rock camping area only.

Before you visit, check park alerts for the latest information about conditions at Deepwater National Park, particularly after wet weather, as access road conditions change quickly.

Essentials to bring

• A well-equipped first-aid kit. Know how to use it, as medical assistance may be hours away.
• Rubbish bags or suitable containers for carrying your rubbish out of the park for appropriate disposal. Rubbish bins are not provided.
• A fuel or gas stove for cooking.
• If you intend to have a campfire, bring your own, clean-cut firewood. Collection of firewood and the use of chainsaws are prohibited.
• Drinking water—pack extra as you are likely to use more than usual in the exposed beach environment. Untreated rainwater is available—treat before drinking.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen and protective clothing to avoid bites, stings and sunburn.
• A torch, preferably with a red filter to protect animals’ eyes, is useful for spotlighting at night.
• Binoculars are great for viewing wildlife from a distance and a camera is handy to capture moments of your holiday in these parks.

Opening hours

Deepwater National Park is open 24 hours a day. For your safety, walk in daylight hours only.

Permits and fees

Camping permits are required and fees apply. A camping tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site.

• Book your camp site online.
• Print off your tag after online booking and take it with you to display at your camp site.
• If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.

Be aware!

• Camping fees must be paid before camping overnight.
• If you wish to extend your stay, you must make another booking.
• Best chance for mobile phone reception is down on the beach at Wreck Rock and also along the access road.
• Mobile phone coverage is generally not available in the park.

Other permits

A special permit is not required for recreational activities in Deepwater National Park unless they are organised events or large scale competitive events. If an activity or visit to a protected area includes commercial photography or filming—that is, to sell photographs or film footage taken on a protected area or use photographs or footage in a product which will later be sold, such as a book or postcard—a permit must be obtained and a fee paid.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in Deepwater National Park.

Climate and weather

Deepwater National Park has a mild subtropical climate.

• The summers can be hot and humid even in the evenings; temperature range 15°C to 33°C.
• Winters are pleasantly mild; temperature range 7°C to 26°C.

Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Fuel and supplies

The closest fuel and supplies are available from Baffle Creek, Rosedale, Miriam Vale, and Agnes Water. For more information see the tourism information links.