Camping on Fraser Island (or K’gari) is a right of passage for any adventure traveller in Australia. It’s the world’s largest sand island and has a number of incredible campsites to choose from.
But with so many options, it can be overwhelming – especially when these campsite bookings need to be made before you arrive on the island.
Camping areas vs camping zones. Fenced off vs not. Showers? Open fires?
I spent five nights on Fraser Island and have put together this detailed guide on how to plan your trip. It’s the Fraser Island camping guide I wish I had, including the best campsites, how much they cost and how to book them.
Where to go camping on Fraser Island
Fraser Island is 4WD territory, and you’ll need an off-road vehicle to explore the island independently.
Unlike camping on Moreton Island (which is closer to Brisbane), there are a lot more camping grounds on Fraser.
You can spend hours trying to figure out which ones to book.
For simplicity, there are two types of camping on Fraser: Camping areas and camping zones.
- Camping areas: These are fenced-off campgrounds. Some have amenities (hot showers and flush toilets), others do not. These camping areas are a lot busier than the camping zones.
- Camping zones: Beachfront sites that are not fenced off and have no amenities. These offer a wilder experience with more privacy.
If you have big camp setups, you may want to pick one camping area or zone and use it as your base for your trip. I had a small tent and decided to camp at a new site every night. I preferred this option as the campgrounds on Fraser Island are all so different, and I enjoyed experiencing more of them.
Costs for camping on Fraser Island
All camping on Fraser Island requires prior bookings. No free camping is allowed, and rangers check up on this. You’ll also need a 4WD vehicle access permit to drive on the island.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for your camping trip.
- Camping fees: $7.25 per person per night. Find out more here.
- Ferry: $130 return for two people and a vehicle. Book your ferry here.
- Vehicle access permit: $58 per vehicle (1 month validity). Find out more here.
My favourite campsites on Fraser Island
This comprehensive list includes all the places to camp on Fraser Island.
One thing to be aware of are the dingos on Fraser. They may seem harmless, but they can be dangerous. There have been recent dingo attacks on humans, more so on children, so fenced-off campgrounds are often the preferred option for families.
Below, I’ll start with the camping areas which are fenced off with dingo deterrent fencing, and then dive into the camping zones, which are not fenced off.
Save this map of Fraser Island for later!
Camping Areas: Fenced off from dingos
1. Central Station Camping Area
- Location: Middle of Fraser Island, halfway between the ferry landing point and Eurong
- Dingo fence: Yes
- Pros: Beautiful campsite in a rain forest | Has hot showers
- Cons: A bit of a drive to the beach
- Find out more: Here
Central Station is the best campsite on Fraser Island! I absolutely loved camping here as each site is surrounded by lush trees. The sites are large and private and are suitable for tents and trailers.
It’s also fenced off, so you can walk around freely without worrying about dingoes!
Central Station is nestled in the middle of the island, close to Lake McKenzie. It’s an excellent campsite for your first or last night on Fraser if you’re taking the ferry from Kingfisher Bay on the west of Fraser Island.
There are flush toilets available at Central Station, as well as hot water showers ($2).
2. Dundubara Camping Area
- Location: North of Eli Creek
- Dingo fence: Yes
- Pros: Fires allowed | Has showers
- Cons: Gets crowded as there are 42 sites
- Find out more: Here
Dundubara campground is a family-friendly camping ground conveniently located north of Eli Creek, between the SS Moheno Shipwreck and Indian Head.
While the camping ground doesn’t have ocean views, it’s a short walk to the beach. The trail to Wangul Sandblow starts from this campsite.
The large grassy sites are suitable for tent campers and camper trailers.
Flush toilets and hot water showers ($2) are available.
I camped at Dundubara for one night and enjoyed it (but not as much as Central Station and the beachfront camping zones). I chose this campground as I wanted to have an open fire, but I didn’t realise that there are strict conditions for making fires. We were lucky to be visiting out of season and had a fire ring to ourselves. But had we been travelling during a holiday or long weekend, our experience would have been very different.
3. Waddy Point Camping Area (Top campground)
- Location: Northeast of Fraser Island
- Dingo fence: yes
- Pros: Fires allowed | Has showers
- Cons: The track between Indian Head and Waddy Point is sandy, so you’ll need a prior 4WD experience and recovery gear in case you get stuck
- Find out more: Here
Waddy Point camping area is a large campground that can accommodate 25 groups in tent camping and 6 camper trailers.
It’s located toward the northern part of Fraser Island, close to Champagne Pools and Sandy Cape Lighthouse.
But accessing this campsite can be challenging, and people often get bogged (we nearly did).
Waddy Point is one of the best places to go camping on Fraser Island, as it’s a lot quieter due to its location up north.
There are flush toilets available as well as hot water showers ($2). You can have open fires in the communal fire rings, but it’s the same case as Dundubara, where strict rules are in place.
4. Eli Camping Area
- Location: Alongside Eli Creek
- Fenced: Yes
- Pro: Central location close to Happy Valley
- Cons: No amenities
- Find out more: Here
Eli camping area is a newly fenced camping area on Fraser Island.
The facilities here are minimal – there are no toilets or showers. Instead, you’ll be treated to sites alongside the beach and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.
There are 3 tent sites and 3 trailer sites at Eli camping area – so book your spot quickly!
Note: Don’t confuse this Eli camping area (fenced) with the beachfront camping zone near Eli Creek. The latter is not fenced off. I’ve included the camping zones further down in this post.
5. One Tree Camping Area
- Location: Close to Lake Wabby
- Fenced: Yes
- Pros: The beach is a short walk away
- Cons: No toilet or shower facilities
- Find out more: Here
One Tree Camping Area is located between Eurong and Lake Wabby. It’s a fenced campground with 8 tent sites and 2 trailer sites.
There are no facilities here, but it’s only a stone’s throw from the beach, making it a great option if you want to camp in a dingo-safe area close to the beach.
6. Lake Boomanjin Camping Area
- Location: Inland, South of Central Station
- Fenced: Yes
- Pro: Not as crowded as other Fraser Island camping sites
- Cons: Walk-in campsite, meaning you’ll need to carry your things to the site
- Find out more: Here
Lake Boomanjin camping area is a lake-side campground south of Fraser Island. It’s also inland, which means you don’t have direct beach access. Instead, you’ll find large shaded sites surrounded by tall trees (but not quite as impressive as Central Station).
There are toilets available, but no showers. Lake Boomanjin Campground is also fenced off camping ground, and it’s a short walk from the parking area to the camping ground.
7. Wongai Camping Area
- Location: South of Eurong
- Fenced off: Yes
- Pro: Close to Inskip Barge
- Cons: No amenities
- Find out more: Here
Wongai Camping Area lies southeast of Fraser Island. There are 6 tent sites and 3 trailer sites available, but as with most camping areas, there are no bathroom or shower facilities here.
8. Cornwells Camping Area
- Location: Close to Lake Wabby
- Fenced off: Yes
- Pro: Large sites
- Cons: No amenities
- Find out more: Here
Cornwells camping area is located close to Lake Wabby. It’s a fenced-off campground with 8 tent sites and 3 trailer sites.
There are no facilities here, but it’s only a stone’s throw from the beach. It’s another great option for families wanting to camp in a dingo-safe area.
Camping zones: not fenced
Next up are the camping zones on Fraser Island. There are 9 of them, all of which offer beautiful sites hidden behind sand dunes on the island’s eastern beach.
These beach camping zones do not have any amenities, meaning you’ll go without toilets and showers when camping here. They are also not fenced off, so you’ll need to be dingo-safe at all times. Keep your food and trash secured and stored away, and always have a dingo stick close by.
I loved camping in these beachfront zones. The sites are much bigger and more private than the fenced-off camping areas. Although we saw a few dingos while camping here, they didn’t come near our site, and I felt very safe.
Beach camping zones on Fraser Island
- Beach camping zone 1 (Dilli Village to Eurong)
- Beach camping zone 2 (Eurong to Poyungan Rocks)
- Beach camping zone 3 (Poyungan Rocks to Happy Valley)
- Beach camping zone 4 (Happy Valley to Eli Creek)
- Beach camping zone 5 (Eli Creek to The Pinnacles)
- Beach camping zone 6 (The Pinnacles to Dundubara)
- Beach camping zone 7 (Dundubara to Tukkee Wurroo (Indian Head))
- Beach camping zone 8 (Waddy Point to Ngkala Rocks)
- Beach camping zone 9 (Browns Rocks to Sandy Cape)
Other places to camp on Fraser Island
Coolooloi Creek Camping Area
- Location: South of the island
- Dingo fence: No
- Pro: Close to the In-Skip Point barge drop-off point
- Cons: No facilities and not fenced off
- Find out more: Here
Coolooloi Creek camping area is the southernmost camping ground on Fraser Island. It’s close to Inskip Point, where many people catch the barge when coming from Rainbow Beach (on the mainland) to Fraser Island.
Camping at Coolooloi Creek is ideal for those arriving late or if you need to wait for low tide to access the beach’s eastern side.
There are no facilities here, and it’s not the best place to camp on Fraser Island – that’s why it’s a lot quieter than other camping grounds. It is, however, a convenient option.
Know before you go: Tips for camping on Fraser Island
- Open fires are not allowed on Fraser Island except at two camp areas: Dundubara and Waddy Point. However, the fires must be made in the designated communal fire rings, which are not allocated to each site. This means there’s generally one fire pit to share between a few sites.
- The east side of the island is more accessible (thus more popular) than the west. You’ll spend most of your time camping on Fraser here.
- A few campgrounds have hot water showers. This costs $2, so remember to bring coins with you.
- Animals are not allowed on Fraser Island.
- Here’s my guide to taking a 4WD to Fraser Island with everything you need to know.
Fraser Island camping FAQs
When is the best time to go camping on Fraser?
We planned our trip for August and it was a great time to visit Fraser Island. It was just before high season, so it wasn’t too crowded, and the weather was amazing!
Availability for campsites in Fraser will most likely affect your travel plans. The demand is particularly high between September and April, so I recommend booking at least eight weeks in advance.
How much does it cost to camp on Fraser Island?
Camping fees for Fraser Island are $7.25 per person per night. You’ll also need to purchase a vehicle access pass, which costs $58.
Can you wild camp on Fraser Island?
No, you need to book a campsite at one of the registered camping areas or camping zones on Fraser Island. This needs to be booked before you arrive on the island, and rangers will check for your camping permits, which should be placed on your tent.
Can you have a campfire on Fraser Island?
Open fires are only allowed at Dundubara and Waddy Point camping areas, and they need to be made in the communal fire rings. Other than that, open fires are not allowed on Fraser Island.
Where is the best place to camp on Fraser Island?
I loved camping in the rainforest at Central Station, which is a fenced camping area. I also recommend camping in one of the beach camping zones, which offer more privacy and larger sites.
Is a Fraser Island camping trip worth it
Yes! Camping on Fraser Island was one of the best adventures I’ve done in Australia. It’s a popular island to explore, but because of its large size, it never feels too crowded.
If you’re coming from Brisbane, you should also consider Moreton Island, which offers a similar experience – the difference is that it’s a lot closer to Brisbane. I’ve written this guide on Moreton Island vs Fraser Island, which you should take a look at.
Do you have any questions about camping on Fraser Island? Drop me a message in the comments section below!
Looking for more Queensland travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
