Whitsunday Islands National Park Whitsundays

Pitch your tent in the shade of the dry rainforest at Dugong Beach camping area. Photo credit: Justin Heitman © Queensland Government

Ngaro track under construction

The Ngaro track will provide a new and exciting opportunity to hike in the Whitsundays. For safety reasons, the Ngaro track is closed to the public while the track and campsites are being constructed. Photo credit: Nah Turnbull © Queensland Government

The iconic Hill Inlet is not to be missed on a visit to Whitsunday Islands National Park. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Dugong Beach, Whitsunday Island

With sheltered picnic areas, expansive grounds and walking tracks, this camping area is the perfect destination for large groups.

Accessible by

  • Boat

Camping area facilities

  • Picnic tables (some sheltered)
  • Toilets (non-flush)
  • Tent camping
  • Walking
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Boating
  • Fishing

Always check

Located in a lush, rainforest setting with plenty of room, this is one of the largest camping areas in the Whitsundays. Enjoy a touch of luxury while camping in the bush, relaxing at the sheltered picnic tables provided.

Take an enchanting stroll beneath towering hoop pines and shady tropical rainforest on the nearby Dugong–Sawmill track. Wind along the coast, keeping your eyes peeled for turtles or dugong surfacing the water for a gulp of air.

Hop aboard your canoe or kayak and explore Cid Harbour, formerly an anchorage used by the Australian and allied navies during World War II.

Whitsunday Islands National 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

Dugong Beach camping area is on Whitsunday Island in Whitsunday Islands National Park, located offshore from the Queensland central coast, 25km east of Airlie Beach.

  • Dugong Beach camping area is on the western side of Whitsunday Island in Cid Harbour.
  • Dugong Beach is located about 41nm (76km) from Shute Harbour (travelling in an anti-clockwise direction).
  • Anchoring is permitted in Cid Harbour. Access to this site is possible from mid to high tide.
  • Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.
  • 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.

Getting to the Whitsundays

  • Travel on the Bruce Highway to Proserpine, 125km north of Mackay.
  • From Proserpine, drive 25km east along Shute Harbour Road to Airlie Beach, and continue a further 10km to Shute Harbour. Book your tour or charter boat or launch your vessel from here.
  • All roads to the boat launch sites are suitable for conventional 2WDs.

The islands' national park is easily accessible by commercial tours and transfers, charter boat and private vessel from the coastal towns of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Hamilton Island (20km south-east of Shute Harbour) is also accessible by aircraft.

Commercial tours

  • Commercial operators offer day trips, camping tours and boat, camper and kayak transfers departing from Abell Point Marina at Airlie Beach and from Shute Harbour.

Charter boat

  • Bare boats or private charters are available from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hamilton Island.

Private vessel

  • There are public boat ramps at Port of Airlie and Abell Point Marina in Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour, Cannonvale (4km east of Airlie Beach), Dingo Beach (50km north-west of Airlie Beach), Conway Beach (38km south of Airlie Beach) and Midge Point (60km south of Airlie Beach).
  • Always take the weather and tidal influences into account when boating in the Whitsundays.

Aircraft

  • Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach have airstrips and commercial operators offer sightseeing tours.

Before you visit

Dugong Beach camp

Camping at Dugong Beach. Photo: Queensland Government.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Opening hours

Dugong Beach 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: This site is suitable for larger groups, and has a good sandy beach backed by rainforest. A 1.5km walking track through coastal rainforest connects to Sawmill Beach.

Location: Cid Harbour, Whitsunday Island; approximately 17km east-north-east of Shute Harbour.

Danger! Sharks: Do not swim in Cid Harbour. Serious injury or death may occur from shark attack.

Access: The camping area can be reached by boat (only). There is protected anchorage, and access is best at mid to high tide.

Number of sites: 7 defined sites. Maximum of 36 people.

Camp sites are suitable for: walk-in camping; large groups.

Camp site surface: Sand and dirt.

Facilities: Composting toilets, picnic tables, sheltered picnic tables.

Open fires: Prohibited.

Generators: Not permitted.

Essentials to bring: Drinking water, rubbish bags, insect repellent. Read more about before you visit.

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

Mobile phone coverage: Not available.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Whitsunday Islands safely and camp with care.