Camping on K'gari at a glance
Camping is one of the most common ways to stay on K'gari (Fraser Island). Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) runs fenced campgrounds and a set of beach camping zones. You book and pay before you arrive, and you display the permit number at your camp. Sites are limited, so check the current booking rules before you plan. This guide is independent and not run by the park service.
Resort nights do not replace a camping permit if you camp in the park afterwards. You also need a vehicle access permit to drive on the island, and a high clearance 4WD with low range.
Camping fees from 1 July 2026
Prices per night, GST included.
| Who | Per night |
|---|---|
| Adult or child aged 5 and over | A$7.75 per person |
| Children under 5 | Free |
| Family (1 or 2 adults with children under 18, up to 8 people) | A$31 |
| Approved school excursion, students and accompanying adults | A$4.25 per person |
| Vehicle access permit, up to 1 month | A$61.80 (separate fee, per vehicle) |
There is no general student discount. Some camps are privately run, such as Dilli Village and Cathedral Beach, and QPWS permits are not needed there. Their own booking and fees apply.
Our pick: two days without a tent
Our take: a night on the island is included, along with park fees and meals, so you skip the camping permit and the booking window.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours if you would rather not camp
Guided day trips and two-day trips with a night in a resort room cover the main sights without tents or permits.
Fenced campgrounds
Camps with a dingo-deterrent fence.
QPWS lists these fenced areas: Central Station, Cornwells, Dundubara, Eli, Lake Boomanjin, One Tree, Wathumba, Waddy Point Top and Wongai. Some have separate tent and trailer areas. QPWS recommends fenced camps for families with children aged up to and including 14.
Deterrent fences reduce visits but do not make a camp dingo-free. Keep food out of the tent, store it in a closed vehicle or container, and keep children within arm's reach.
Central Station sits in rainforest at the top of Wanggoolba Creek. It is a good base for the Pile Valley walk of 4 km, about 2 hours.
Beach camping zones
QPWS lists nine zones along the coast.
| Zone | Areas |
|---|---|
| 1 | Govi and Wongai |
| 2 | One Tree, Cornwells and Gabala |
| 3 | Poyungan and Winnam |
| 4 | Guluri and Eli |
| 5 | Maheno and Wahba |
| 6 | Eugarie, Yurru and Guruman |
| 7 | Wyuna and Burad |
| 8 | Marloo, Ocean Lake and Duling |
| 9 | Diray and Carree (closed to 29 January 2027) |
The list shows names, not what is bookable on a given night. Beach camps are not all fenced. Zone 9 is closed from 20 June 2025 to 29 January 2027 because of erosion and fallen trees, and permits for it are suspended. Sections between Ngkala Rocks and Sandy Cape may be impassable.
Waddy Beach Front has limits on new bookings from 14 August to 15 December 2026 because a dingo pack there has damaged tents and taken unsecured food. Bookings made before 14 August stay valid. Waddy Point Top is a different, fenced camp.
Booking, fires and rules
What to organise before you arrive.
Booking
Book and pay before you arrive, up to 12 months ahead. For popular holiday periods, plan at least 6 weeks ahead. There is no guarantee of a site. Display your permit number clearly at your camp.
Great Walk camps
From 1 March to 31 October, Great Walk camps can be booked up to 12 months ahead. From 1 November to 28 February, fire risk limits bookings to 14 days ahead, and short-notice closures are possible.
Fires
Fires are generally banned. The exceptions are the communal fire rings at Dundubara (main and group) and Waddy Point (top and beachfront), unless a wider fire ban applies. No firewood is supplied. Bring clean wood and do not collect wood in the park.
Dingo habits
Never feed dingoes, secure all food and rubbish, and keep children within arm's reach. Fines apply to unsecured food.
Dingo rules →Getting there
Book the ferry and your vehicle space early in busy periods, and drive the beach by the tide.
Ferry options →
Camping on K'gari: frequently asked questions
How much does camping on K'gari cost?
From 1 July 2026 the fee is A$7.75 per person per night, or A$31 per family per night. Children under 5 are free. A vehicle access permit is a separate fee.
Do I have to book in advance?
Yes. Book and pay before you arrive, up to 12 months ahead. In busy periods plan at least 6 weeks ahead, and expect no guarantee of a site.
Are all campsites fenced?
No. QPWS lists nine fenced camps. Beach camping zones are not all fenced. Even fenced camps are dingo-deterrent, not dingo-free.
Can I light a campfire?
Only at the communal fire rings at Dundubara and Waddy Point, and only when no wider fire ban applies. Do not collect wood in the park.
Can I camp anywhere on the beach?
No. You camp in your booked zone. Wild camping is not listed as an option.
Is Waddy Beach Front open?
New bookings there are restricted from 14 August to 15 December 2026 because of dingo problems. Earlier bookings stay valid. Check the current alert before you choose a camp.