Hinchinbrook Island National Park Tropical North Queensland

The Haven camping area overlooks Hinchinbrook Channel and has a toilet and a picnic table. Photo credit: Emma Schmidt © Queensland Government

The rugged beauty of Hinchinbrook Island National Park must be seen to be believed! Photo credit: Maxime Coquard © Tourism and Events Queensland

The Haven (Scraggy Point) camping area

Overlooking the Hinchinbrook Channel, this is the only camping area on the western side of Hinchinbrook Island.

Accessible by

  • Boat

Camping area facilities

  • Anchoring allowed
  • Picnic tables
  • Toilets (non-flush)
  • Tent camping
  • Walking
  • Boating
  • Fishing

Always check

Pitch the tent and spend days exploring the creeks and tributaries of the channel. Flick lures at the snags and see if you can land a barra or mangrove jack for dinner.

Back at camp, stretch out in the shade and take in the views across the channel to the mountain ranges on the mainland. At low tide you can see the remains of an Aboriginal fish trap made of rocks. Stretch your legs and wind through a mixed forest with tall licuala palms on The Haven track, which starts right at the camping area and follows a small, clear creek.

This island park is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, famed for its superlative natural beauty, outstanding examples of reef ecosystem development, evolutionary history and amazing diversity.

Getting there and getting around

The Haven camping area is in Hinchinbrook Island National Park, 8km off the Queensland coast at Cardwell.

  • The camping area is at Scraggy Point, in the north west corner of Hinchinbrook Island, assessible by private vessel launched from Cardwell or Lucinda, or by sea kayak.

Private vessel

  • Visitors accessing the island by private vessel should obtain a copy of the Hinchinbrook plan of management 2004 (PDF, 1.74MB) for information on transit lanes and boat speeds to aid dugong and turtle conservation.
  • Access to some areas of Hinchinbrook Island is weather and tide dependent and a good knowledge of the waters and potential hazards is essential.
  • Check local tide tables and weather conditions at the Bureau of Meteorology before you set out.
  • Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.

Sea kayak

  • Commercial sea kayak tours of Hinchinbrook Island are available.
  • 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

The Haven camping area 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.

Camping area features: sheltered with beach access. Please remain behind the temporary crocodile barriers at all times.

Location: western side of Hinchinbrook Island.

Access: the camping area can be reached by boat but is tide-dependent. It is not available to Thorsborne Trail walkers.

Number of sites: open area without separately defined sites.

Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping and large groups.

Camp site surface: sand, dirt and grass.

Facilities: toilet and picnic tables.

Open fires: prohibited.

Generators: not permitted.

Essentials to bring: drinking water, rubbish bags, insect repellent and fuel stove. Read more about before you visit.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options. Advance bookings are recommended for school holiday periods.

Mobile phone coverage: poor.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Hinchinbrook Island safely and camp with care.