• Dutgee walker's camp is set among open forest of brush box, pink bloodwoods and coastal banksias. Photo credit: © Queensland Government
• Enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the Noosa River at the Dutgee walker's camp. Photo credit: Robert Ashdown © Queensland Government

Kick off your hiking boots and settle into this walkers’ camp near the river bank, one of several along the Cooloola Great Walk. Look for the log stacks of unrecovered timber cut in the mid-1900s—the area was used as a landing for timber and is now part of a protected cultural site.

Camp amongst fragrant open woodland of brush box, pink bloodwoods and coast banksia, and enjoy dawn light reflections on the tannin-stained waters of the river. In late winter and spring, the area comes alive with wildflowers. Dutgee is the local Aboriginal name for the pink-flowering boronia shrubs growing in the swampy, moist areas around the river.

Getting there and getting around

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

• This walkers' camp is on the Cooloola Great Walk, 20.3km north of Brahminy walkers' camp or 14.8km south of Litoria walkers' camp; and can be accessed only on foot.
• You can access Cooloola Great Walkfrom the south (Noosa North Shore) and from the north (near Rainbow Beach).
• At Rainbow Beach visit the Manta Ray barge office or Shell service station for camping permits and other information (business hours only).
• At Tewantin (southern access), visit the Great Sandy Information Centre, located near the Noosa River ferry on Moorindil Street for camping permits and other information (business hours only).
• Taxi services are available in both Tewantin and Rainbow Beach.
• Read walk with care for tips on walking safely and walking lightly.

From the south

• 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.
• In Tewantin, follow Moorindil Street to the Noosa River ferry, cross the river to Noosa North Shore, and drive 2.2km on Maximillian Road.
• Continue along Maximillian Drive past Beach Road and follow the signs 250m to the southern entrance of the Cooloola Great Walk.

From the north

• From Brisbane, drive about 160km north on the Bruce Highway towards Gympie. At the southern edge of Gympie, turn onto Tin Can Bay Road and drive 42km, then turn right onto Rainbow Beach Road.
• From Maryborough, drive 57km south on the Cooloola Coast Road, then turn left onto Tin Can Bay Road and drive 3.5km, then turn right onto Rainbow Beach Road.
• Drive 29km into Rainbow Beach township, turn right off Rainbow Beach Road onto Double Island Drive then turn left onto Cooloola Drive and follow the signs for 850m to the Carlo Sandblowcar park and the northern entrance of the Cooloola Great Walk.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Dutgee 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.

Why Dutgee? Dutgee is the local Aboriginal name for the boronia shrubs that grow throughout Cooloola. Boronia flowers have four petals ranging from pink to mauve, occasionally white, and appear as single flowers or clusters. The Wide Bay boronia Boronia rivularis occurs in these swampy moist areas around the river and flowers from spring to late summer.

Walkers’ camp features: Set alongside the Noosa River and close to a protected cultural site; the logs in this area are part of timber cut from the mid 1990s. On calm days, the surface reflections on the river offer a perfect mirror image of the surrounding landscape.

Warning! Do not climb on the decaying logs at this camp site. You may suffer serious injury. Swimming in the Noosa River is not recommended.

Location: Dutgee walkers’ camp is 37km from the Cooloola Great Walk's southern entrance and 20km from Brahminy walkers’ camp.

Access: Walk-in only.

Number of sites:

• 7 camp sites
• maximum group size: 6 people
• Dutgee camping area total capacity: 14 people
• maximum stay at Dutgee walker's camp: 1 night.

Camp sites are suitable for: Walk-in camping only.

Camp site surface: Sand

Facilities: Untreated drinking water, composting hybrid toilet system, platform tables in most camp sites.

Open fires: Prohibited—fuel or gas stoves only.

Generators: Prohibited.

Essentials to bring: Fuel or gas stove, insect repellent, washing up basin, ground sheet to place under your tent to prevent wear, warm clothes and wet weather gear.

Also see: Planning your walk.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options. Book in advance for all weekends, public holidays and school holidays. Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance.

Mobile phone coverage: Nil. For emergency communication advice, see walk safely.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Cooloola Great Walk safely and camp with care.