• Harrys river access campers jetty Photo credit: © Queensland Government
• Harrys river access canoe landing site Photo credit: © Queensland Government
• Relax riverside and enjoy a star filled sky and moonlit reflections off the Upper Noosa River at Harrys camping area. Photo credit: © Lachlan Gardiner

Escape the beach crowds in a quiet river retreat in paperbark woodland fringed by river she-oaks and tall eucalypts. Whether you are a paddler, boatie, four-wheel drive (4WD) adventurer or hiker, you’ll find a campsite to suit your needs.

If exploring the Upper Noosa River waterway, paddle to the canoe landing and store your craft in the canoe racks, or tie your boat up the jetty, then relax in a river access campsite. After a 4WD adventure on Harrys Hut Road, lounge in your camping chairs in one of the vehicle access campsites. If hiking the Cooloola Wilderness Trail, set up camp for a restful night's sleep before tackling another day.

Getting there and getting around

Harrys camping area is in Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park, on the Sunshine Coast between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach (155–240km north of Brisbane).

• The camping area is in the southern part of Cooloola, 7km north of the Kinaba Information Centre in the Upper Noosa River waterway.
• 4WDs can access the camping area and adjacent Harrys day-use area via Cooloola Way and Harrys Hut Road.
• Canoeists and boaties can access the camping area via Kinaba from Boreen Point and Elanda Point on Lake Cootharaba.
• Tour boats operate daily from Noosa and Tewantin. Canoes, kayaks and small boats can be hired from private operators at Boreen Point and Elanda Point.
• 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.
• Walkers can also access the camping area on the Cooloola Wilderness Trail.

Via Harrys Hut Road

• From Brisbane, drive 135km north on the Bruce Highway or the Sunshine Motorway to Tewantin. Follow McKinnon Drive, Louis Bazzo Drive and Junction Road for about 18km north-west to Cootharaba Road. Turn right and travel about 10km along Cootharaba, Kimmond Creek and Dr Pages roads to the Gympie Kin Kin Road. Turn right and drive 6km, then turn right onto Cooloola Way.
• From Gympie, drive 10km east on Tin Can Bay Road, turn right onto to the Gympie Kin Kin Road and drive about 31km, then turn left onto Cooloola Way.
• Drive 4km then turn right onto Harrys Hut Road and drive 10km on this very rough sand track to the camping area.
• Vehicle access permits are not required for Harrys Hut Road or Cooloola Way but may be required if traversing beaches and other inland tracks within the Cooloola Recreation Area.
• Read 4WD with care for important information on 4WD safety and minimal impact driving.

Via Kinaba

Read walk with care for tips on walking safely and walking lightly.

By canoe

• Launch your canoe at Elanda Point and paddle 4.5km (1hr) to the Kinaba Information Centre.
• Stay close to the shoreline while paddling northwards. Plan to cross Lake Cootharaba early in the morning when conditions are likely to be calm and travel is easiest.
• From Kinaba, paddle a further 1hr 20min to Harrys camping area.

By boat

• Launch your boat from the Boreen Point boat ramp and follow the lake navigational markers out into deeper water and then head on a north-east trajectory towards the visible Cooloola Sand Patch in the distant landscape.
• When you approach a red navigational marker in the middle of the lake (opposite Elanda Point), turn on a near northerly trajectory to the channel markers, through very shallow shoals, to the Kinaba Information Centre. The trip is 7km and 15min travel time.
• From Kinaba allow another 45min at 6 knots (and no wash) to travel to Harrys camping area.

Read water safety for important information about staying safe in and near water and caring for parks.

Via the Cooloola Wilderness Trail

• From Brisbane drive 135km north on the Bruce Highway or the Sunshine Motorway to Tewantin; or from Gympie drive 58km south and east on the Bruce Highway to Tewantin.
• From Tewantin drive 19km west and north via McKinnon Drive and Louis Bazzo Drive to Boreen Point. Turn left onto Lake Flat Road and drive 2km to the Elanda Point access road.
• Travel a short distance along the access road to the Elanda Point car park. The entrance to the Cooloola Wilderness Trail is on the opposite side of the car park.
• Harry's Hut is 17.2km along the trail.

Read walk with care for tips on walking safely and walking lightly.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Harrys 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

Features: Harrys camping area is set among fringes of open forest and woodland (melaleuca, allocasuarina, bloodwood and eucalypt species). Some campsites provide shade. Harrys camping area is only available to permit holders who have booked for Harrys. Permit holders for other areas cannot transfer to Harrys camping area. They must rebook.

Location: On the western bank of the Upper Noosa River. Approximately 11.5km from Elanda Point via the Upper Noosa River, or approximately 34km from Boreen Point on mostly unsealed roads.

Maps:

• Harrys camping and day-use area map (PDF, 262.5KB)
• Noosa River map (PDF, 1.6MB)
• Cooloola Recreation Area map (PDF, 1.7MB)

No. sites: Maximum of 6 people per site.

• 10 defined vehicle access sites
• 7 river access sites

Two group camping sites are set aside for school and other authorised groups.

Access: The camping area can be reached by walking, 4WD vehicle, boat or canoe. Campsites 1-15 permit holders and day-users can park in the canoe launch area.

Vehicle permits are not required to access this camping area. High-clearance 4WDs are recommended along Harry's Hut Road, as it is an unsealed sand track prone to flood damage.

• Distances and times: canoeing, boating and walking

Suitable for: Camper trailers (vehicle access sites only), tent camping beside a car (vehicle access sites only), walk-in camping (river access and group site); canoe/boat access camping (river access and group sites)

Surface: Sand and grass. Some vehicle access sites may have a woodchip base.

Facilities: Untreated water in day-use area – water supply not guaranteed (treat before drinking), toilets (wheelchair access ramp available), picnic tables and picnic shelter in day-use area, jetty and canoe landing access points, park information.

Open fires: Prohibited. Only cooking and heating appliances that meet the below requirements are permitted unless a QFD total fire ban is in place.

• The appliance must use gas or manufactured fuel (heat beads, briquettes). Manufactured fuel does not include timber or wood.
• It must be used only for cooking and/or heating.
• It must be a minimum of 20cm off the ground and more than 2m from flammable materials, which includes vegetation.
• It must not have the potential to generate airborne embers, or possibly ignite nearby ground fuels.
• It must be fully self-contained (heat source enclosed and no exposed flame) and never left unattended when in use.
• Appliances that are not fully self-contained, such as braziers, are not permitted.
• All appliances, materials and burnt fuel must be removed from the recreation area on your departure.

Approved cooking and heating appliances may vary from above list during Queensland Fire Department (QFD) total fire bans. Check Park Alerts and QFD fire bans and restrictions for more details.

Also see:  permitted cooking appliances during fire bans

Generators: Prohibited.

Essentials: Fuel or gas stove, first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, rubbish container/bags; no rubbish facilities are supplied – carry out what you carry in.

Also see: before you visit

Mobile phone coverage: Generally not available.

Bookings

Book online or learn about our camping booking options.

Advance bookings required for holiday periods including long weekends and public holidays.

Please note: schools and other organised groups are required to make advanced bookings online.

Book a camping area Book a vehicle access permit

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Cooloola Recreation Area safely and camp with care.