Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to drive on Fraser Island?
What sort of vehicle is suitable?
When is it best to travel on the beach?
Is there anywhere I can't travel?
Do I need a permit to camp on Fraser Island?
Where can I camp?
Where can I camp with children?
Where can I camp with a campervan or trailer?
Are there any group camping areas available?
Can I take a generator?
Are fires permitted?
How can I cook without a fire?
Can I use a water spear (that is, a device to pierce the ground to obtain water from underground)?
Do I need to bring a portable toilet?
Where can I dump my toilet waste from a portable toilet?
Where are the QPWS offices on the island?
Where can I find out more about the Great Walk?
How do I find out about road and beach conditions?

Do I need a permit to drive on Fraser Island?

Yes, all vehicles must have a current vehicle access permit, purchased before entering the island and affixed to the left side of the windscreen. Penalties apply for entering without a valid permit.

Monthly and annual vehicle access permits are available. Vehicles must be road registered.

Vehicle access permits can be purchased online, over the counter or by phone.

What sort of vehicle is suitable?

Only four-wheel-drive vehicles are suitable for Fraser Island's sandy forest tracks and beaches. Drivers of four-wheel-drive vehicles with low ground clearance may have difficulty on some inland tracks.

When is it best to travel on the beach?

It is best to drive around low tide. Avoid driving during the two hours either side of high tide, and often for longer, because some areas are more affected than others by tidal activity and onshore winds. Read more about driving safely.

The best time to travel around Hook Point is at low tide only. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service recommends the use of the Hook Point inland road.

Is there anywhere I can't travel?

It is illegal to drive on sand dunes. Stay on the formed tracks when entering beach camping areas.

Beach driving is not permitted between Wathumba Creek and Sandy Cape lighthouse, or between Moon Point and Hook Point on the western beach. These are no-vehicle zones.

Do I need a permit to camp on Fraser Island?

Camping permits are required for all camping on Fraser Island, except in private camping areas. Permits may be purchased up to three months in advance and must be prominently displayed at your camp. Bookings can be made online, over the counter or by phone.

Where can I camp?

Camping areas that require a site specific camping permit are Central Station, Dundubara, Waddy Point and Wathumba camping areas. Beach camping areas that require site specific camping permits are One Tree Rocks, Coolooloi, Garulim, Midyim and Dulara beach camping areas.

All other camping areas and beach camping areas are permitted under the ‘Beach and other camping’ permit. These include:

Eastern beach camping zones: Govi, Wongai, Cornwells, Gabala, Poyungan, Winnam, Guluri, Eli, Maheno, Wahba, Eugarie, Yurru, Guruman, Wyuna, Burad, Marloo, Ocean Lake, Duling, Diray and Carree.
Western beach locations: Awinya Creek, Bowarrady Creek, Woralie Creek, Coongul Creek and Garry's Anchorage camping areas and Ungowa camping areas.
Lake Boomanjin (fenced)

Refer to camping information for a description of camping areas and the Fraser Island conditions report (PDF, 198K)* for current notices and conditions.

Where can I camp with children?

All campers accompanied by children and small teenagers are advised to camp in a fenced camping area. Fenced camping areas are Central Station, Dundubara, Waddy Point (top camping area), Lake Boomanjin and Dilli Village (commercially operated).

Where can I camp with a campervan or trailer?

You will need a four-wheel-drive vehicle with high clearance on Fraser Island. Campervan and trailer sites can be found in camping zones along the eastern beach. Ensure your trailers have high clearance.

Camper trailer sites are available at Central Station, Dundubara, Waddy Point, Wathumba camping areas. Bookings can be made online. Ensure that you obtain a camping permit specifically for a trailer site as tent sites are not accessible to camper trailers and are for tent structures only.

Soft sand conditions make towing a caravan extremely difficult on Fraser Island. Caravans are not recommended.

Are there any group camping areas available?

Group camping areas are available for organised groups to book at Cornwells Break on the island’s eastern beach ,Central Station, Dundubara and Waddy Point. Make bookings with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (Maryborough office) by phoning (07) 4121 1800 from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Descriptions of group camping areas can be found at camping information.

Groups visiting Fraser Island for an organised group function or excursion may require a group activity permit. Maximum group sizes and conditions may apply. All education excursions in Great Sandy National Park require a group activity permit.

Can I take a generator?

Generators up to 2.0 Kva or no louder than 65 decibels can only be used in informal beach camping zones (where there are no facilities), and may only be operated between 9 am and 9 pm.

Generators are prohibited in all formal camping areas, including the Waddy Point beachfront camping area.

Are fires permitted?

No. Campfires are prohibited on Fraser Island.

This fire prohibition was implemented to:

prevent burn injuries
prevent escaped camp fires becoming wildfires
reduce rubbish, debris and environmental scars left by camp fire sites
reduce the risk of introduced pests and diseases being brought in with fire wood
prevent impacts of firewood gathering upon local ecology.

The only exception to this prohibition is in the communal fire rings provided by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service at Dundubara and Waddy Point campgrounds. Campers wishing to use these fire rings must supply their own clean, untreated milled timber for firewood and firelighters for ignition. It is an offence to collect living or dead plant materials in the national park.

How can I cook without a fire?

Fuel stoves are recommended for cooking. A fully self-contained cooking or heating appliance, preferably using gas or fuel, can be used at all camping areas unless a total fire ban is in place. The appliance must use only manufactured fuel and must be for cooking and/or heating only. Manufactured fuel does not include timber or wood.

Appliances that are not fully self-contained, such as braziers, are not permitted. All appliances, materials and fuels (e.g. heat beads) must be removed from the national park on departure.

Free gas barbeques are available for use at Dundubara camping area and Central Station, Waddy Point and Dundubara day-use areas.

Can I use a water spear (that is, a device to pierce the ground to obtain water from underground)?

No, this interferes with a natural resource (which is an offence under the Nature Conservation Act 1992) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service cannot guarantee the quality of the water.

Do I need to bring a portable toilet?

Yes. Portable toilets are a requirement of camping at these camping zones:

Coolooloi Creek
Garulim
Midyim
Dulara
Cornwells Break group camping area

Portable toilets are recommended for all other camping areas where no toilet facilities are provided. Please consider the environment and bring a portable toilet.

Where can I dump my toilet waste from a portable toilet?

Portable toilet waste disposal facilities are located at:

Waddy Point: approximately 400 m south of Orchid Beach service station.
Dundubara: on the Dundubara entrance track.
Woralie Road: at the beach entrance of the road near K’Gari private camping area.
Cornwells camping zone: at the beach entrance of Cornwells Break Road.
Wangoolba Creek barge landing: adjacent to toilet facilities.
Hook Point: at the intersection of Hook Point inland road and the 11 km beach access track.

Refer to Fraser Island map (PDF, 1.2M)* for locations.

Where are the QPWS offices on the island?

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service offices are located at Eurong and Dundubara. These are clearly marked on the Fraser Island Visitor Guide map. See Fraser Island map (PDF, 1.2M)* for a print-friendly version.

The opening hours of the offices on the island are variable and dependent on conditions in the park and the need for rangers to respond to emergencies.

For any emergency, telephone 000 (zero, zero, zero).

If you have no reception on your mobile phone, try 112.

A text-based emergency call service for people with a hearing or speech impairment can be reached by dialing 106. Be aware that no operator will talk to you on this service.