Being prepared for a visit to K’gari is important – from what essentials to bring, to dingo safety and driving safely on the island’s beach and sand tracks.

K’gari is a remote, wilderness area, with patchy mobile coverage, and limited options for food, fuel and fresh driving water.

Before your visit

• Travel on the island is restricted to 4WD vehicles. Visitors will need to arrange their own transport either through bus companies operating on the island or using their own or hired 4WD vehicles. UniSC’s K’gari Research Station can advise on your transport needs.
• Permits are required for every vehicle entering the island, and to camp in National Park camp grounds. Purchase in advance from the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing or telephone 13 74 68.
  Camping permits are not required if staying at the K’gari Research Station, and you do not plan to camp elsewhere.
• Tides affect driving on K’gari, so plan your trip around the tides and beach conditions – Check the K'gari conditions report before travelling. The best beach driving times are two hours either side of low tide.

What to bring
Stock up on water, food and essentials before you arrive.

• Fresh Water: Bring a clean container of fresh drinking water. Not all day-use areas have water suitable for drinking. Always treat water before drinking.

• Camping equipment: You will need to bring all your camping gear with you, including cooking equipment.

• Food and fuel: Bring enough food and other provisions with you for your visit. K’gari Station does not sell grocery items or fuel. There are shops, with limited supplies, at Eurong Beach, Happy Valley, Kingfisher Bay Resort and Orchid Beach.

• Café and dining is available at K'gari Beach Resort (Eurong), Happy Valley, Kingfisher Bay Resort.
• Fuel is available at Eurong, Kingfisher Bay, Happy Valley and Orchid Beach. LPG for vehicles is not available on the Island. ATMs are not available, but most stores and hotels have EFTPOS.

K'gari is World Heritage-listed so please remember that everything you bring to the island must be taken back with you.

When travelling outside of K'gari Research Station, always keep your food and rubbish safely stored away from dingoes. You will also need to keep your food and rubbish safely stored away from wildlife (such as goannas) at K’gari Research Station.

More advice from the Department of Environment can be found here.

Getting to K’gari Research Station

K'gari is about 300km north of Brisbane and 15km off the coast of Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
K’gari Research Station is located on the eastern side of the Island, 24km north of Hook Point.

Inskip Point Barge to Hook Point offers the closes access to the station for vehicles and walk-on passengers.

The barge service departs from Inskip Point, approximately 6km from Rainbow Beach (east of Gympie), via Inskip Avenue. Barges run regularly from 6am to 5.30pm daily. No bookings required.

After disembarking, follow Eastern Beach to reach K’gari Research Station, or follow the inland track.

River Heads Barge. SeaLink K'gari Ferries operates daily services for vehicles and walk-on passengers to the western side of the island, departing from River Heads (42 km east of Maryborough, 22km from Hervey Bay). Services run to Kingfisher Bay Resort and Wanggoolba Creek.