Explore
Camping and Beaches
Council offers several camping locations across our beautiful region.
- Gladstone Harbour Islands
- Workman's Beach Camp Grounds, Agnes Water
- Lilley's Beach, Boyne Island
- Calliope River Picnic Area, River Ranch
- Futter Creek Camping Reserve, Boynedale
- Caravan chemical dump points
Overall terms and conditions
- Strictly no fires. Please use a gas or kerosene stove
- Beach fires are strictly prohibited
- Wood fires can only be lit in authorised, Council maintained, wood-fired barbecues
- Place rubbish in bins, where provided. If no bins, take rubbish with you when leaving
- Low noise generators are permitted for use between 7am and 7pm
- Behaving in a riotous, disorderly, indecent, offensive, threatening or insulting manner will not be tolerated. Offenders will be requested to leave the camping ground and may incur a fine or permanent ban
- Be considerate of other campers by limiting noise between 10pm and 7am
- Interfering with a plant or any turf, sand, clay, soil or other material is prohibited. Penalties apply
- Interfering with any facility or equipment located at camping grounds is prohibited. Penalties apply
- Chemical toilet waste cannot be emptied in composting toilets or septic ablution blocks as the chemicals kill the organisms required for the effective operation of the composting/septic systems
- Chemical toilet waste must not be buried or disposed of in the sea or rivers
- Camp sites must be kept and maintained in good repair and clean, tidy and sanitary condition. The camping site must not be left unoccupied for more than two days. Council will remove and dispose of equipment from abandoned camp sites
- Where dogs are allowed - dogs must not cause a nuisance to others and it is the responsibility of their owners to clean up after them.
Gladstone Harbour Islands
Limited permits, allocation on a ‘first in’ basis
- The Oaks Camping Ground, Facing Island
- South End Camping Ground, Curtis Island
How to get a permit
- Book online for The Oaks Camping Ground, Facing Island
- Book online for South End Camping Ground, Curtis Island
- Visit the Gladstone Visitor Information Office, Bryan Jordan Drive (Marina complex), open seven days 8.30am-5pm weekdays and 9am-5pm weekends.
Fees (maximum of six people per camp site)
- Fees are set annual and are publised in the Fees and Charges booklet.
- No age restriction for camping on the islands but must be 18 years or older to book.
- Maximum of three sites per family – bookings up to 12 months in advance.
- Pay by cash, cheque or credit card. Bookings only confirmed when full payment received.
- ‘No Refund’ policy if a customer changes their mind, doesn’t attend on the booked dates, or misses the barge.
- Submit all booking refund requests to info@gladstone.qld.gov.au with a copy of the booking confirmation and reason for requesting a refund.
Facilities
Camp site maps available from GAPDL
- The Oaks – 32 camp sites
- South End – 20 camp sites
- Composting toilets at both campgrounds; cleaned regularly by caretakers on the island.
Site terms
- All overnight campers require a camping permit. Day visitors do not need a permit
- Maximum stay is 42 days. The area is regularly patrolled, and penalties apply for exceeding the maximum stay period
- No fires. No beach fires
- You may take a chemical toilet for short term stays but there are no chemical toilet waste disposal units on the islands
- Dogs must be on a lead or tethered at all times.
Workman's Beach Camp Grounds, Agnes Water
Limited camp sites, allocation on a ‘first in’ basis, no bookings.
Located off Springs Rd, Agnes Water, about 1km from Agnes Water township. The signed turn off to the camp is adjacent to the Agnes Water Skate Park; across 200m of dirt/sandy road.
Fees (maximum of six people per camp site)
Workman's Beach Camp Grounds is managed by Discovery Coast Ranger Services.
Fees are collected daily and the camping area is monitored regularly.
- Fees are set annual and are publised in the Fees and Charges booklet.
Facilities
- Popular, low maintenance facility
- 38 camp sites available for tents and caravans
- Allocation is on a 'first-in' basis only; no camp sites can be booked
- Unisex and disabled toilets
- Cold water beach shower
- Picnic tables
- Free gas barbecues
- Bins provided
- Drinking water
- No chemical toilet waste disposal units at the camp ground. Chemical toilets must be emptied at the designated dump point outside the Seventeen Seventy SES Grounds on Captain Cook Drive, Seventeen Seventy
- From the camp site there is a path leading down to an unpatrolled beach (about 200m) that is naturally steep and could be considered unsuitable for someone who is mobility impaired. The path requires a moderate level of fitness and users may encounter hazards such as slopes and unstable or uneven surfaces; users are responsible for their own safety.
Site terms
- Camping permitted only in designated camping sites
- Camping restricted to 42 nights
- Checkout time is 2pm
- No fires. No beach fires
- No vehicles permitted on Workman's Beach
- Use only established walking trails
- All campsites must be entirely vacated for a minimum of seven consecutive days
- Inappropriate behaviour or breach of a Local Law will result in eviction
- Dogs must be on a lead or tethered at all times.
Lilley's Beach, Boyne Island
Permit required
Lilley's Beach can be accessed by four-wheel-drive only from the Boyne Island Sewerage Treatment Plant via Handley Dr, Boyne Island. The Lilley's Beach brochure contains helpful hints for visiting this sensitive foreshore area and a map for accessing the beach.
Travel at low tide or within two hours either side of low tide (tidal conditions). Driving on sand dunes and seagrass meadows (at low tide) is strictly prohibited. Permits are required before accessing Lilley's Beach and must be in the vehicle, at all times, while in the Lilley's Beach area.
How to get a permit
Purchase vehicle permits online
Information required:
- Email address
- Vehicle make and model
- Vehicle body type
- Vehicle registration number
- Vehicle colour
Fees
Permits cost $50/year or $10 per week. A $5 charge applies for replacement permits.
Facilities
- Camping only permitted in the enclosed area at the northern end of Lilley's Beach
- The site is very basic. No facilities or rubbish bins.
Site terms
- Vehicles are NOT to be driven on the sand dunes or seagrass meadows at any time
- Strictly no fires. Beach fires are strictly prohibited
- Motorbikes are strictly prohibited in this area. Regular patrols are carried out by Council officers
- Dogs are required to be on leash and under effective voice command at all times
- Conservation Volunteers Australia officers monitor the area for turtle and shore bird nests that are often located in the dunes
- Take all rubbish with you when you leave.
Calliope River Picnic Area, River Ranch
(Free rest area)
*** Self-contained travellers are welcome to stay on the North side camp ground, whilst the South side is open to all travellers.
Calliope River Picnic Area is a low-maintenance rest area, located 26km west of Gladstone and 100km south of Rockhampton, beside the Calliope River. Visitors can set up camp above the river on the high northern side, or near the amenities on the southern side.
- Camping is not recommended at the Calliope River Picnic Area if local flood warnings have been issued
- Caution is recommended when swimming in the river, as there have been instances of box jellyfish stings.
Fees
There is no charge to stay at Calliope River Picnic Area
Facilities
- The northern side can be accessed by turning off the Bruce Hwy at the Calliope Historical Village and following the road down to the river. The northern side has one septic toilet block and one composting toilet but there are no showers.
- The southern side can be accessed by turning off the Bruce Hwy on to the Old Bruce Hwy, River Ranch. The southern side has one large septic ablution block.
- Campers should take their own drinking water, as supplied water is untreated bore water and not recommended for consumption.
- Amenities are cleaned and restocked daily during peak season and every second day otherwise. If toilet paper runs out between services, campers are required to provide their own supplies.
- The nearby Calliope Historical Village regularly holds markets, refer to their website for information www.callioperiverhistoricalvillage.com
Site terms
- Maximum stay is 48 hours. The area is regularly patrolled and penalties apply for exceeding the maximum stay period
- There are no chemical toilet waste disposal units at the rest area. Chemical toilets must be emptied at a designated dump point, with the closest located at corner of Taragoola Rd and Dawson Hwy, Calliope
- Dogs must be on a lead or tethered at all times.
Futter Creek Camping Reserve, Boynedale
Futter Creek Camping Reserve is a free rest area located on Gladstone-Monto Rd, about 20km south of Calliope and about 5km north of the Boynedale Bush Camp.
Fees
There is no charge to stay at Futter Creek Camping Reserve.
Facilities
- Low maintenance rest area
- Composting toilets
- Picnic tables
- Amenities are cleaned and restocked regularly. If toilet paper runs out between services, campers are required to provide their own supplies.
Site terms
- Maximum stay is 72 hours. The area is regularly patrolled, and penalties apply for exceeding the maximum stay period
- There are no chemical toilet waste disposal units at the rest area. Chemical toilets must be emptied at a designated dump point, with the closest located at corner of Taragoola Rd and Dawson Hwy, Calliope
- Dogs are NOT allowed.
Caravan chemical dump points
There are four public caravan chemical dump points in the Gladstone Region:
Calliope Caravan Dump Point
Cnr Taragoola Road and Dawson Highway, Calliope
Miriam Vale Caravan Dump Point
Cnr Blomfield Street and Dougall Street, Miriam Vale
Seventeen Seventy Caravan Dump Point
Cnr SES Access and Captain Cook Drive, Seventeen Seventy
Benaraby - Boyne River Rest Area Caravan Dump Point
Bruce Highway, Benaraby
Please note: This site is maintained by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Please call 131 940 with all maintenance issues.