Camping in the Fraser Coast

The Fraser Coast is whale country. Hervey Bay was named the world's first Whale Heritage Site in 2019, and just offshore, K'gari is the largest sand island in the world, about 123 km long, with more than 100 freshwater lakes, some over 35,000 years old. Between them, Maryborough adds a heritage river town with a famous storybook connection.

Where is the best place to camp in the Fraser Coast?

Most of the camping is along the Hervey Bay foreshore, where a string of beachfront parks sit on calm, north-facing beaches, such as Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park. Inland in Maryborough, The Wharf on the Mary River has showers, power and room for pets. For the island, you camp in the national park, including Waddy Point Beachfront Campground right on the beach.

What is there to do in the Fraser Coast with kids?

From Hervey Bay, humpback whales come through between April and October, and their numbers grew from about 2,000 in 1992 to around 33,000 by 2018. A 14 km foreshore path runs along the beaches for walking and cycling, Wetside Water Park is right on the Pialba foreshore, and the Historical Village is close to the parks. In Maryborough, the Mary Poppins statue stands outside the building where P.L. Travers was born, The Story Book and the Whistle Stop Rail Museum are near The Wharf, and the heritage markets run every Thursday.

• Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens – Gardens and outdoors, Urangan. Closest campground: Windmill Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Maryborough Bond Store Museum – Museums and history, Maryborough. Closest campground: The Wharf, under 1 km
• Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum – Museums and history, Maryborough. Closest campground: The Wharf, under 1 km
• The Story Book – Museums and history, Maryborough. Closest campground: The Wharf, under 1 km
• Whistle Stop Rail Museum – Museums and history, Maryborough. Closest campground: The Wharf, under 1 km
• Hervey Bay Historical Village & Museum – Museums and history, Scarness. Closest campground: Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Wide Bay Hospitals Museum – Museums and history, Maryborough. Closest campground: City Caravan Park, 1 km
• Bauple Museum – Museums and history, Bauple. Closest campground: Tiaro Tourist Stopover, 10 km
• Burrum and District Museum – Museums and history, Howard. Closest campground: Burrum Shores Beachfront Campground, 15 km
• Wetside Water Park – Swimming, Pialba. Closest campground: Beachfront Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Maryborough Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Maryborough. Closest campground: The Wharf, under 1 km
• Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre – Swimming, Wondunna. Closest campground: Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park, 2 km

What is there to see on K'gari?

On K'gari, Seventy-Five Mile Beach runs 120 km and doubles as the island's main road and a landing strip for planes. Near Waddy Point, the Champagne Pools and the rocks around Ngkala are the spots to aim for, and the freshwater lakes are the island's great sight.

• Waddy Point – Lookout. Closest campground: Waddy Point Beachfront Campground, 1 km
• Champagne Pools – Lookout. Closest campground: Waddy Point Beachfront Campground, 3 km
• North Ngkala Rocks – Lookout. Closest campground: Waddy Point Beachfront Campground, 13 km

Do you need to book campsites in the Fraser Coast?

Check Queensland Parks for permits and camping on K'gari before you go. The island is reached by barge or passenger ferry from Hervey Bay, and you need a four-wheel drive on it. Dogs are not allowed, to protect the island's dingoes, and visitors are asked to keep to marked tracks and boardwalks.

Are there powered sites in the Fraser Coast?

Yes. 7 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including The Wharf, Burrum Heads Beachfront Caravan Park. and Huntsville Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Hervey Bay from Brisbane?

The Fraser Coast, taking in Hervey Bay, Maryborough and K'gari, is about 250 km north of Brisbane.

Facts from Wikipedia, "K'gari" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Hervey Bay" (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikipedia, "Maryborough, Queensland" (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Map of campgrounds in the Fraser Coast

22 campgrounds

• The Wharf — Maryborough, QLD. campfires allowed, caravan sites, drinking water, dump point, pets allowed, picnic tables, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Burrum Heads Beachfront Caravan Park. — Burrum Heads, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wheelchair accessible
• Huntsville Caravan Park — Tinana, QLD. dump point, powered sites, wifi
• Colonial Village Resort — Urangan, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Hillcrest Holiday Park — Burrum Heads, QLD. powered sites, tent sites
• Pier Caravan Park — Urangan, QLD. dump point, powered sites
• Waddy Point Beachfront Campground — K'Gari, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Wallace Motel & Caravan Park Maryborough — Maryborough, QLD. dump point, powered sites
• Windmill Caravan Park — Urangan, QLD. caravan sites, tent sites
• Harbour View — Urangan, QLD. powered sites
• Beachfront Tourist Park — Torquay, QLD
• Beachfront Tourist Park — Pialba, QLD
• Burrum Shores Beachfront Campground — Burrum Heads, QLD
• City Caravan Park — Maryborough, QLD
• Coconut Grove Caravan Park — Kawungan, QLD
• Display / Camp area — Maryborough West, QLD
• Maaroom Caravan Park — Maaroom, QLD
• Maryborough Caravan & Tourist Park — Tinana, QLD
• Point Vernon Holiday Park — Point Vernon, QLD
• Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park — Scarness, QLD
• Sun Lodge Ocean Front Tourist Park — Point Vernon, QLD
• Tiaro Tourist Stopover — Tiaro, QLD

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.