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, 717.9KB) 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 50min–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

Central Station 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.

Camping area features

Map: Central Station camping and day-use area map (PDF, 1.8MB)

Camping area features: large, formal, fenced camping area, set in rainforest with access to a variety of walks and information displays; 9pm noise curfew in place.
Please note: Central Station camping area may be temporarily closed—sometimes at short notice—to ensure visitor safety during periods of strong winds, as branches could fall causing injury to people or damage to their property.

Location: inland from Eurong (southern K'gari), approximately 45km north of the Hook Point barge landing area, 9km east of Wanggoolba Creek barge landing area and 8km west of Eurong.

Access: high clearance 4WD, off-road camper trailers or walk-in.

Number of sites: 40 tent sites and 15 trailer sites. Trailer sites are not numbered on the ground but are defined by the trailer symbol. There is a large group site for schools and other organised groups of 20 to 40 people. Please note: You must specifically book your camper trailer into a camper trailer site. Tent sites do not accommodate trailers. A walkers' camp is located at the western end of the camping area, as part of the K'gari Great Walk.

Camp sites are suitable for: tent sites—walk-in camping; trailer sites—off-road camper trailers.

Camp site surface: sand

Facilities: coin-operated ($2) hot showers, flushing toilets, wheelchair access and washing-up facilities. The nearby day-use area has a public phone and access to short walks. Rubbish bins are provided at the camping area entrance.

Open fires: prohibited

Generators: not permitted

Essentials to bring: first-aid kit, prescription medicines (if needed), fuel or gas stove, water containers, rubbish bags, insect repellent, $2 coins for showers, 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.

Mobile phone coverage: generally not available—public phone in nearby day-use area.