Whitsundays Camping Guide
Whitsundays Camping Guide
Here’s why you will love Camping in the Whitsundays
Whitsundays camping is an amazing experience and we highly recommend it. Nothing brings you closer to nature and the natural beauty found everywhere here in the Whitsundays. There are basically three options for camping on the islands. Joining a camping tour, bring your own gear and make your own arrangements or bring your own gear and use your own boat to get there.
What do you need to consider when camping in the Whitsundays
Whitsunday Island Permits
Almost all of the islands in the Whitsundays are National Parks. They offer secluded camping destinations with eco-friendly facilities to both independent and commercial campers. The national park campsites are used by people seeking a range of different adventures including remote experience, sail camping safaris and sea kayaking tours. Once you have a campsite in mind and organised transport then you can purchase a permit. Permits can either be purchased through the Internet on www.qld.gov.au or over the phone with QPWS on 131304.
Once you have booked and paid for your permit, you will be given a booking number and issued a camping tent tag. If you have booked before arrival, just call into the Whitsunday Information Centre when you arrive, pick up you r tag, write your booking number on it and head out to your island campsite.
Basic Camping Considerations
- Campers should be self sufficient regardless of the facilities present at each campsite
- Fresh water is an essential item. Do not risk running short
- Take enough food for your intended stay plus meals for three extra days in case you are stranded due to weather and native animals raiding your food. No fires are permitted in island national parks or on beaches
- Take with you a basic first aid kit including vinegar for stinger treatment, insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, sturdy footwear and strong garbage bags
- Campers visiting sites that have bush toilets may need to bring their own pedestal and screen
- Where toilet facilities are not provided, a hand trowel is useful for digging toilet holds. Please bury human waster at least 100 meters from a watercourse or campsite and all faecal waste at least 15cm deep
How to have minimal Impact Camping
- The surrounding landscape, plants and animals should be left undisturbed
- Use beach access walkways and camp only at designated campsites
- Keep to the walking tracks. Do not create new trails by taking shortcuts
- Do not light fires on island national parks or beaches. Use gas or fuel stoves and lanterns
- Soaps and detergents harm marine life. Wash away from waterways and the foreshore area and scatter wash water when finished
- Do not feed native animals. Human food will harm them and feeding can lead to aggression
- Ship it in – Ship it out’ take all rubbish with you when you leave
Great places to go camping in the Whitsundays
We recommend camping in the following places listed below. If you don’t have your own boat to get to the islands then we highly recommend using one of our Tours
Whitsunday Island
Dugong Beach
Popular with local residents, this is a suitable campsite for larger groups, with a good sandy beach backed by rainforest. A 1km-walking track connects this beach with Sawmill Beach
Joes Beach
Joes Beach provides a seclude campsite and beach area with outstanding views of Cid Island and the Molle islands. The fringing reef provides good snorkelling and is exposed during low tides.
Whitehaven Beach
The dazzling white, pure silica sands of Whitehaven Beach are one of the best-known sites within the Whitsunday’s. This spectacular beach is backed by lowland vine forest and eucalyptus woodland which provides good shade. Check out our Whitehaven Beach Guide for all there is to know about this spectacular beach.
Hook Island
Maureen’s Cove
The bays of Hook Island offer some of the mot beautiful fringing reefs that provide good diving and snorkelling. Maureen’s Cove has a coral rubble beach popular with snorkellers and divers. This is a frequently visited anchorage with public moorings. Anchoring is not permitted in some areas of the bay and there is no fishing allowed.
Molle Island Group
Sandy Bay
A good campsite for bush walkers, with 15km of graded walking tracks passing through grasslands, open forests and rainforests to lookouts with spectacular views. Has a pleasant beach fringed with casuarinas and can be readily accessed at mid-high tides. This site also provides good snorkelling.
Paddle Bay
This rainforest site backs onto a sandy beach and overlooks Daydream Island. South Molle Island is a favorite with bushwalkers with more than 15km of walking tracks. Access to the track system from Paddle Bay is only possible at low tide.
Denman Island
A small island offering pleasant bush camping with a remote feel. The campsite is set in dry rainforest behind the beach.
Planton Island
An island that also offers that deserted feel. The campsite is located in dry rainforests behind the beach