• Your camp site will be bathed in morning sunshine and fresh sea air. Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government
• There's a small beach lagoon close to the camping area. Photo credit: © Robert Ashdown

With only a reedy buffer between you and the sandy beach, this is the only place on the island you can have a beach-side campfire.

After your camp is sorted (bring something for shade), walk to the rocky headland at Waddy Point and explore the rock pools, or explore along the 2.4km return track to the Binngih Sandblow.

On calm days you can slip your canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard onto the sheltered waters of Marloo Bay. Fishing is also popular (and promising!) along the beach. Try your luck for tailor, whiting, dart, bream and flathead.

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

Waddy Point beachfront camping area is on K'gari, 15km off the coast of Hervey Bay and about 300km north of Brisbane.

• Waddy Point beachfront camping area on the Eastern Beach scenic drive via the 5.7km Middle Rocks Bypass Road. The camping area is 27km north of Dundubara and 42.4km north of Eli Creek.
• The Eastern Beach scenic drive is only accessible 2hrs either side of low tide.

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 conditions report (PDF, 1.4MB) for the latest information on access, closures and conditions within the recreation area.
• Subscribe to the RSS feed to receive automated updates. (About RSS feeds).

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, 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 Barges landing area.
• The trip to Wanggoolba Creek on the western side of K'gari takes 30–45min.
• The trip to Kingfisher Bay on the western side of K'gari takes 50mins–1hr.
• These barges run at fixed times 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

Waddy Point beachfront 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.

Map: Waddy Point camping and day-use area map (PDF, 195.5KB)

Camping area features: formal, unfenced camping area, faces north, under casuarina trees, on the beachfront of Waddy Point. Sheltered from south-easterly winds, the area provides relatively calm water and offers the only reasonable launching point for trailer boats on the east coast of K'gari (although this still requires great care and is not recommended for the inexperienced). 9pm noise curfew is in place.

Location: on the north-east coast of K'gari, approximately 100km north of the Hook Point barge landing area, close to the Waddy Point (top) camping area facilities.

Access: high clearance 4WD, off-road camper trailers. Please note: Soft sand and rough track conditions exist between Tukkee Wurroo (Indian Head) and Waddy Point. Ensure your vehicle is powerful enough for the trailer you are towing.

Number of sites: 20 groups permitted (tent camping) in large open areas and 5 camper trailer sites. Trailer sites are not numbered on the ground but are defined by the trailer symbol. Please note: Camper trailers must be booked into a camper trailer site. Only 1 camper trailer per trailer site. Tent sites do not accommodate trailers. Please consider others and keep your camp compact. Some camping capacity is reserved for commercial operators.

Camp sites are suitable for: Tent camping—walk-in camping. Trailer sites—off-road camper trailers.

Camp site surface: grass and sand

Facilities: water taps (treat water before drinking), flushing toilets, communal fire rings. Coin-operated hot showers and washing-up facilities are available at nearby Waddy Point top camping area. Rubbish and recycling bins available at QPWS waste transfer station at the southern entrance to Orchid Beach.

Open fires: Permitted in QPWS provided fire rings only (refer to map). No fires are permitted at Waddy Point when QPWS fire prohibition or local fire bans are imposed—check the K'gari Conditions Report. If you intend to use one of the fire rings, you must bring your own clean, untreated firewood. It is illegal to collect firewood—including leaves and twigs for kindling—in the recreation area. Read: Bushfire safety

Generators: not permitted

Essentials to bring: fuel or gas stove, first-aid kit, prescription medicines (if needed), water containers, rubbish bags, insect repellent, $2 coins for showers, untreated milled timber off-cuts if you wish to use the communal fire rings, sand pegs, tarpaulins, extra poles, ropes and lockable food storage containers. Smokers should bring small sealable canisters for cigarette butts. Also see: before you visit.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options. Advance bookings (up to 6 months) required for holiday periods.

Mobile phone coverage: generally not available, nearest pay phone is at the Orchid Beach store.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting K'gari safely and camp with care.