There are countless beautiful spots to camp in the Whitsundays, with rugged natural beauty, stunning views and an abundance of wildlife. And you don’t have to worry about camping gear as that is taken care of by local hire companies!
The Whitsunday Islands National Park protects 32 islands including Whitsunday Island with its world-renowned Whitehaven Beach, which has a campsite. Imagine telling your friends you camped on Whitehaven Beach!
The most popular islands for camping in the Whitsundays are Hook Island and Whitsunday Island as they have the most campsites but you can also camp on other islands, including Henning, South Molle, North Molle and Shaw Islands.
Whitsunday Island
Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the group and has many safe anchorages and picture-perfect beaches to camp on, including Dugong Beach, Nari’s Beach, Joe’s Beach and of course Whitehaven Beach. The dazzling white, pure silica sand of Whitehaven Beach is one of the best known Whitsunday drawcards and the camp sites are just behind the beach, nestled among lowland vine forest and eucalyptus woodland.
Hook Island
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Hook Island also has beautiful beachside campsites including Steens, Curlew and Crayfish beaches. The bays of Hook Island offer some of the most beautiful fringing reefs with good diving and snorkelling opportunities. Maureen’s Cove is a coral rubble beach on the north of the island with uninterrupted views over the fringing reef out to the Coral Sea. A small creek meanders behind the campground to the bay, and beach vegetation such as pandanus and beach gardenias provide shelter.
Before your trip
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You will need to book your site and purchase your permit in advance. Make sure you display your camping permit tag prominently on your tent. Visitor numbers are limited at campsites to ensure a quality experience for everyone.
Getting there
The Whitsunday Islands National Park is readily accessible by private or commercial boat from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour and some commercial transfer companies drop off and collect campers (Scamper).If travelling by private vessel, always take the weather and tidal influences into account.
Setting up camp
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Facilities vary on the islands. If there are facilities present, they will be limited to toilets and/or picnic tables. So the best advice for campers is to be self-sufficient. Remember to take fresh water (allow at least five litres a day per person), a fuel stove for cooking and insect repellent. Open fires and generators are not permitted on the islands, and pets are not allowed.
Time to relax!
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You’re here, you’ve set up camp and now it’s time to relax and unwind. You can fish, snorkel and swim from the beach right next to your campsite – your very own, private beach! Or maybe you just want to sit quietly, cold drink in hand, and absorb nature, which is all around you.
Be an explorer for the day
The Whitsunday islands are criss-crossed by countless walking trails, taking in stunning views with plenty of native flora and fauna to look out for along the way. Be amazed at the view with every turn (and don’t forget to wear covered shoes, a hat and remember to take some water).
Amazing wildlife
Whitsunday Island, the largest of the group, supports a population of unadorned rock-wallabies and from June to August, the Whitsundays are an important calving ground for migrating humpback whales resulting in regular sightings. Keep an eye out for these majestic creatures as you sit relaxing at your campsite.
A spot of bird watching
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The Whitsunday islands are home to a wide variety of birds and a camping trip is an ideal time to do some bird-spotting, so don’t forget to pack the binoculars. Keep your eyes peeled for white-brown scrub wren, kookaburras, yellow-faced honey eaters, ospreys, herons and egrets.
Going home
A well-worn saying in the Whitsundays is ‘take only pictures, leave only footprints’. In this way, the islands remain pristine and can be enjoyed by everyone for their natural beauty, peace and quiet, and amazing wildlife. Please remember to take all your rubbish back home with you.
Special memories
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So whether you want a solitary experience, where it’s just you and the birds, or a group camping experience with friends, there is something to suit all party sizes in the Whitsundays. Some people choose to kayak between islands, whereas others sail and some catch a ride with commercial operators. However you choose to do it, the Whitsundays offer the ultimate camping experience, sleeping out under the stars on a tropical, Great Barrier Reef island, making memories to last a lifetime.
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