• Pass a few hours fishing in the sunlit waters of the Great Sandy Strait. Photo credit: Linda Behrendorff © Queensland Government
• This view is waiting for you! Photo credit: Rob Cameron © Queensland Government

Popular with canoeists and boaties, and close to the Hook Point barge landing, this quiet spot is great for travellers on the Eastern Beach scenic drive who need to wait on the tides before continuing their journey.

Set up camp in a forest of paperbarks and eucalypts and take in the views over the Great Sandy Straights towards Tin Can Bay, perfect for orange-tinted skylines at dusk.

Coolooloi Creek was an old sand mining road and sand was trucked to barges waiting on the island's southern tip. Mining ceased when K'gari was declared a World Heritage Area in 1992.

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

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

• The camping area is on the Hook Point inland road and is accessible by private vessel, via the Great Sandy Marine Park, north of the Tin Can Inlet, and by 4WD.
• From the Hook Point barge landing area at Hook Point, drive a few hundred metres along the Eastern Beach scenic drive, to the beach track that joins the Hook Point inland road.
• After 400m and at the junction to the inland road, turn left and drive 2.6km west to the Coolooloi Creek camping area.
• There is no access to the camping area via the beach west of the barge landing area.
• The approximate GPS location is Zone 56J, easting—502908 and northing—7148015.
• The map location is latitude S25˚47'10" and longitude E153˚01'44".
• The Eastern Beach scenic drive is only accessible 2hrs either side of low tide.

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, 1.6MB) 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 50mins–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

Coolooloi Creek 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.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

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