North West Island | Capricornia Cays National Park (2024)

• Pitch your tent in the shade of pisonia forests at Lady Musgrave and North West islands. Photo credit: David Watson © Queensland Government
• Luxuriate on the island's pristine white beaches. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Birds are plentiful, particularly during seabird nesting season between October and April. Photo credit: Graham Hemson © Queensland Government
• Even butterflies can't resist visiting North West Island. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Photo credit: © Queensland Government
• You'll need more than a day to discover the wonders of North West Island. Photo credit: Andrew McDougall © Queensland Government
• Reef walk along sandy tracks at low tide or enjoy snorkelling at high tide. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• In summer, listen for the mournful howling call of wedge-tailed shearwaters. Photo credit: John Augusteyn © Queensland Government
• Look for turtle tracks on the beach. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Seabirds, like these black noddies, arrive in October to breed on the islands. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Between November and January, you might be lucky enough to see nesting sea turtles. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• From January to March there's a chance of seeing turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• You can reach North West Island by private boat or commercial vessel. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Enjoy ocean views from your tent. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Watch seabirds swooping and soaring about the reef. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Seeing turtle hatchlings making their way from their nest to the ocean is an unforgettable experience. Photo credit: Andrew McDougall © Queensland Government
• Learn all about the island and the surrounding waters. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government
• Camp on your own coral cay within the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Photo credit: Collette Bagnato © Queensland Government

Sleep listening to the noddies rustling in the pisonia trees, the shearwaters howling from their burrows and waves lapping the shoreline. Refreshed, grab your snorkel, swim or walk to the reef's edge, and plunge in to discover an underwater treasure trove of corals and other spectacular marine life.

Back on dry land, cross the island on the North West Island track and check out the evidence of the island’s industrial past. Wildlife abounds here! At various times of the year you’ll see nesting and hatching sea turtles, breeding seabirds and migrating humpback whales.

Capricornia Cays National Park is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, famed for its superlative natural beauty, outstanding examples of reef ecosystem development, evolutionary history and amazing diversity.

Getting there and getting around

North West Island camping area is in Capricornia Cays National Park, 75km north-east of Gladstone in the southern Great Barrier Reef.

• The camping area is on the north-western side of North West Island.
• From the drop-off point, walk up the beach into the camping area.

Getting to the island

• You can reach the island by private boat or commercial vessel. The nearest departure points are Gladstone, and Yepoon.
• The island does not have a regular charter service. You need to check with operators for timetables.
• Access is restricted by tides. Commercial vessels (barges) will generally drop you and your gear on the beach at high tide.

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland.com, and for friendly advice on how to get there, where to stay and what to do, find your closest accredited visitor information centre.

Staying safe

Be SharkSmart. Sharks are present at all times of the year in open ocean.

Before you visit

Be pest-free!

Our precious Great Barrier Reef World Heritage islands are among the most pest-free islands in the world. They need your help to stay this way. Please Be pest-free! (PDF, 573.6KB), Be pest-free! video—YouTube before your visit.

Before you visit, please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.

Be sure to:

• Unpack your camping gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in stored camping gear.
• Clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil.
• Check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.

While you are on the islands, remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.

Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Opening hours

North West Island camping area is open 24 hours a day. Check-in to your camp after 2pm and check-out by 11am on the day of departure.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Seasonal closures

• North West Island camping areas is open from the first day of the Queensland Easter school holidays until the day after the Australia Day long weekend (or the day after the Australia Day public holiday, if the holiday falls midweek).
• The camping area is closed at all other times, but you can visit the island during the day.

Camping areafeatures: Nestled in pisonia forest with access to island walking track. Snorkel and dive in surrounding waters or reef walk at low tide.

Location: 75km north-east of Gladstone.

Access: The camping areacan be reached by boat only.

Number of sites: Open area without separately defined sites. Up to150 people can camp here at any one time. Camp only in the designated area inland of rope barriers.

Maximum Number of camping nights: 21

Camp sites are suitable for: tent camping only.

Camp site surface: Sand.

Facilities: Composting toilets, fuel storage and compressor bunker.

Fires: Prohibited (open and closed). Gas or liquid fuelled stoves for cooking purposes are permitted.

Generators: Not permitted. There is no medical exemption to operate a low decibel 65dB(A) generator in the Capricornia Cays National Park’.

Essentials to bring: All food and drinking water, sturdy rubbish bags, insect repellent, sun protection, first-aid kit, reliable torch. Read more about before you visit.

Bookings: book online or learn about our camping booking options.Advance bookings are essential forschool holiday periods.

Mobile phone coverage: Unreliable. Marine radios and satellite phones are recommended.

Upcoming camping area availability

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Capricornia Cays safely and camp with care.