K'gari, Great Sandy National Park Butchulla Country Fraser Coast

Immerse yourself in vibrant green mosses and a forest floor scattered with soft fallen leaves. Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government

Be Dingo-Safe! on K'gari

The best way to protect yourself, fellow visitors and the dingoes (wongari) is by planning ahead to Be Dingo-Safe.

Critical information for your safety

Critical information for your safety is included in the conditions report—always check it before you visit.

Central Station (tent site) camping area

Towering forests create a cool retreat at this well-equipped island camping area that is alive with wildlife.

Accessible by

  • High clearance 4WD

Camping area facilities

  • Picnic tables
  • Telephone (pay phone)
  • Toilets (flush)
  • Wheelchair access (may require assistance)
  • Tent camping
  • Hot showers (paid)
  • Tent camping beside car
  • Walking
  • Scenic drive

Always check

As you set up camp, the island’s abundant birdlife will serenade you with a symphony of calls and songs.

Head off on one of the many walks that start from the camping area, or pack some snacks and explore the feature-packed Central Lakes and Southern Lakes scenic drives. You’ll need a couple of days to fully explore the array of walks, lookouts, lakes, sandblows and different forest types along the way.

After a day of island adventure, camp under the stars listening to the sounds of the nocturnal animals rustling on the forest floor.

Note: this camping area has a dingo deterrent fence and is recommended for families with children 14 years and under.

This park is part of the K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area, famed for its exceptional natural beauty, outstanding examples of coastal dune landform development and evolutionary history.

Getting there and getting around

Central Station camping area is on K'gari, 15km off the coast of Hervey Bay and about 300km north of Brisbane.

  • The camping area is 8.6km from the Eurong township on the Eurong Road, 9.4km from the Wanggoolba Creek barge landing on Wanggoolba Road, and 800m from the Central Station day-use area.

Getting to K'gari

You can get to the island by high clearance 4WD, on foot, by plane or with a commercial tour.

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 50mins–1hr.
  • These barges run at fixed time and bookings are essential.

On foot

  • Walkers can board a vehicle barge to the island (details above) or arrive by plane.

By plane

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.

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.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

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.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options. Advance bookings (up to 6 months) required for holiday periods.

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

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting K'gari safely and camp with care.