• Set up for the night surrounded by a towering forest. Photo credit: © Ben Blanche
• Be dingo-safe and store everything in the food boxes. Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government

This camping area will be a welcome sight after a day on the K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk. Set in tall eucalypt forests of blackbutt and scribbly gum, the camping area has a cool rainforest backdrop.

Dump your pack and hiking boots and reward yourself with a cool dip in lovely Lake Garawongera. The Butchulla Aboriginal people call this the ‘place of pigeons’ and the melodies and calls in the surrounding forest are testament to the rich birdlife here.

After a peaceful night under the stars, head off on another day exploring along the K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk.

This park is part of the K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area, famed for its exceptional natural beauty, outstanding examples of coastal dune landform development and evolutionary history.

Getting there and getting around

Lake Garawongera wakers' camp is on K'gari (Fraser Island), 15km off the coast of Hervey Bay and about 300km north of Brisbane.

• The walkers' camp is on the K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk and Lake Garawongera walk, 13.1km north of Valley of the Giants walkers' camp and approximately 6.5km west of the Happy Valley township.

Getting to K'gari

You can get to the island by high clearance 4WD, on foot, by plane or with a commercial tour.

• Check the K'gari (Fraser Island) conditions report (PDF, 733.7KB) for the latest information on access, closures and conditions within the recreation area.

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By 4WD

• Your high clearance 4WD must have low range functions.
• Remember all vehicles must be registered, drivers must be licensed and all Queensland road rules apply, even on beaches.
• Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.
• A vehicle access permit must be purchased. Display the permit on your windscreen before driving in the recreation area.

From Inskip Point (15mins from Rainbow Beach)

• At the end of the bitumen on Inskip Point Road, reduce tyre pressure, engage 4WD and drive 500m onto the beach.
• Drive onto the Manta Ray barge for the 10–15min trip to Hook Point on the southern tip of K'gari (Fraser Island), and the start of the Eastern Beach scenic drive.
• Bookings for this barge are not required.

From River Heads (east of Maryborough)

• Travel 10.6km along River Heads Road to the Fraser Island Barges landing area.
• The trip to Wanggoolba Creek on western K'gari (Fraser Island) takes 30–45min.
• The trip to Kingfisher Bay on western K'gari (Fraser Island) takes 50mins–1hr.
• These barges run at fixed time and bookings are essential.

On foot

• Walkers can board a vehicle barge to the island (details above) or arrive by plane.

By plane

• Flights leave from Hervey Bay and Maryborough.

By private vessel

• Access K'gari's sheltered western coastline by private vessel. The eastern coastline of the island is extremely hazardous and exposed to very rough ocean conditions.
• Launch your boat at one of the many boat ramps on the mainland between Tin Can Bay and Burnett Heads. There are no boat ramps on K'gari.
• See Maritime Safety Queensland's Beacon to Beacon Guides for the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay for detailed navigational maps.
• The waters adjacent to K'gari are in the Great Sandy Marine Park.
• If you're heading out on the water make sure you know your zones so you can follow the rules.
• Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.

Commercial tours

• You can join a range of tours that leave from a variety of centres.
• For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland.com, and for friendly advice on how to get there, where to stay and what to do, find your closest accredited visitor information centre.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Lake Garawongera walkers' camp is open 24 hours a day. Check-in to your camp after 2pm and check-out by 11am on the day of departure.

• Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

The Fraser Island Great Walk is generally open from 1 March to 31 October each year.

• At all other times the fire danger risk may be too high.
• The dates depend on environmental conditions and will vary each year.
• Check park alerts for the latest information.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting K'gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk safely and camp with care.