Bribie Island is on Kabi Kabi and Joondoburri Country. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this area and their connection to Country, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Picture this: Relaxing behind the dunes with views of the ocean and just a few steps to the water.
This is what ocean beach camping in Queensland is all about. And one of the easiest places to do just that is at Bribie Island National Park.
Because it’s only 65km north of Brisbane and connected to the mainland via the Pumicestone Passage Bridge, Bribie is an incredibly popular weekend getaway spot. You don’t even need to book a ferry to get there.
The only downside is that you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD to make your camping trip to Bribie possible. The sand here is soft, deep and often rutted—not the place to bog your AWD on a test drive.
Geographically, Bribie is the first stop on my list of camping spots in southeast Queensland. If you need to figure out what to do between setting up camp and dealing with the midges, you can find some ideas in my 4WD guide to Bribie Island National Park.
So, the only question remains: Where should you camp on Bribie Island?
BRIBIE ISLAND CAMPING OPTIONS
You have a few choices for pitching a tent in the national park, ranging from beach camping to coastal bush settings. Remember that you’ll need to book your site and your vehicle access permit online before you show up.
There are five different camping areas in total but two of them are boat-access only.
For the other three camping spots—Ocean Beach, Poverty Creek and Gallagher Point—you’ll need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to get there.
Camping on Ocean Beach is the most popular option. If you want to avoid the ocean side, choose Poverty Creek or Gallagher Point. Both of these are on the western side and sit on Pumicestone Passage.
Keep in mind though because of the coastal erosion and the breakaway of the northern part of Bribie Island a few years ago, campsites on the western side are frequently closed due to high tides and tidal inundation.
Expect mozzies and midges pretty much everywhere. While the western passage sites have a reputation for being worse, we actually got devoured on the ocean side and found Poverty Creek surprisingly clear during a lunch stop—so your experience may vary depending on the wind.
OCEAN BEACH CAMPING
The camping area along Ocean Beach stretches for over 3km so unless you come during school holidays or long weekends, you should be able to find a quiet spot. You’ve got 62 marked camping spots to choose from, now all divided into sections (A-V).
The only option for portable-toilet-dislikers like me is to book a site in Section P. Otherwise, you must bring your own portable toilet system now.
OCEAN BEACH CAMPING AREA: SECTION P
Bribie Island (Ocean Beach—Section P) Camping Area At a Glance
Pros: Clean enough eco-toilets; cold showers; largely away from the strong ocean winds; some privacy if you can score a site off into the bushes
Cons: Lots and lots of mozzies!; not every site is shady so we ended up in a super sunny one; drive-in sites are pretty much sand-only; there’s a bit of traffic coming in to use the toilets but it’s not too bad outside school holidays
Costs: $7.50 pp/pn (2026); Pre-bookings required via the QNP Booking Service
While Section P has toilet and cold shower facilities, you won’t get any direct ocean views. It’s more like a typical campground cluster in a sandy bush setting behind the dunes.
We booked Site 40 but then wished we had the one next us. We had full sun pretty much all day, making our late November camping getaway a rather hot one. Sites #41, #42 or #43 all looked shady and with a little more privacy. #49-51 might also be good because you’re on your own little loop.
Alternatively, Section Q would be awesome because you’ll actually have ocean front but are close enough to the amenities to walk there.
The drive-in sites are all very sandy so be prepared for a battle with sand while you’re camping, eating and sleeping.
The walk-in sites in Section P actually work fine for car-based camping with the cars are parked right next to the sites. You’ll find slightly less sand and more dirt or grassy spots on those.
The worst part about camping here is actually the relentless attack of the mosquitoes! I finally get why Queenslanders like to sit out on the beach all day in spite of mighty windy breezes—it’s the only place to escape those pesky bugs.
OTHER CAMPING OPTIONS ON BRIBIE ISLAND
If beachfront camping isn’t your thing, you can stay at Gallagher Point (6 sites, no facilities) or Poverty Creek (14 marked sites) on the west side of the island. Both offer more of a coastal bush experience than sand-in-your-eyes beach one.
We had a picnic lunch at Poverty Creek once and it looked quite pleasant, with plenty of shady sites (though not much privacy) and micro-flush toilets and cold showers.
The onslaught of mozzies here may not actually be any worse than on the ocean side, depending on the time of year you visit. Plus, the great thing about camping along the western side is that you can easily launch a kayak or SUP to explore Pumicestone Passage right from the banks.
On the downside, these campsites are now also frequently closed due to rising waters and tidal inundation so check park alerts before heading out.
No matter where you choose to set up, just make sure to practise responsible camping.
READY FOR BEACH CAMPING AT BRIBIE?
With Brisbane so close, Bribie is one of the easiest options for a quick weekend escape into the coastal bush or right onto the beach. Just make sure you track down the right permits, pack plenty of insect repellent and drop your tyre pressures before you hit the “beach road”.
Before you head out, don’t forget to take a look at my 4WD guide to Bribie Island National Park for things to do between relaxing at camp.
Happy camping,
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