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Inskip Point is an old favourite of Andrew and mine – camping pre kids used to involve packing up our Trusty Rusty Troopy and hitting the highway late on a Friday afternoon with the boat hitched up. It has been a while since I’ve been at Inskip (5yrs to be exact) but not Andrew, he frequents the place on his solo weekends, boys trips and also takes the kids up there for a night every now and then.

It’s a great spot opposite Fraser Island – you have the best of both worlds, surf beach on the east and south/west you have the calm and sheltered water of Tin Can Bay & the Great Sandy Strait. 

There is a sealed road all the way to Inskip so 2WD’s can easily access the campgrounds by parking on the street (plenty available) then you could walk your gear in if you don’t have a 4WD.

This trip rekindled my love for Inskip. The safe shallow waters were perfect for the young kids to paddle around in while Andrew fished.

Getting There

Generally right on 2 hours from Buddina to Inskip. This can vary slightly depending on road works or if you get stuck behind someone going under the speed limit along the single-lane section heading into Rainbow Beach. It is a super easy drive along sealed roads via Gympie (don’t let google maps take you along Cooloola Way – there is a fair bit of corrugation on this road).
or
Rather than going via Gympie if the tides are right you could take the barge at Noosa across to Noosa North shore, drive up the beach and then take Freshwater Track onto Rainbow Beach Rd.

Accommodation Options

Check out the National Parks map here. There are lots of places to choose from

  1. The Oaks
  2. S.S. Dorrigo
  3. M.V. Natone
  4. M.V. Beagle
  5. M.V Sarawak

Our preference is to be closest to the barge landing area (Sarawak, Beagle, Natone) we don’t usually camp in Oaks or Dorrigo as it is very wind dependant.  Saying this, pre-kids we have camped up high on the dunes of Dorrigo.

Sarawak & Beagle are on the Great Sandy Strait inlet so the beach out the front typically doesn’t have many waves but be warned the current coming through can be very fast.

Sarawak is closest to the ‘sinkhole’ – which is actually a great protected place to swim at and also across the road you can camp on the ‘Pelican Bay’ side of the road – be warned it is super soft sand and very tidal.

All the camping areas have drop toilets, rubbish bins and lots of shady trees to park under.

What we loved

  • LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION nothing beats beach camping – falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. If you are out of peak periods it is usually really easy to find a beach front site. 
  • Wildlife – there is always lots to see Bush Turkeys, Goanna’s, Kookaburras and lots of other birds, Dolphins and turtles in the strait and wild horses often coming through the campground.
  • Fishing – my boys (yes, even the big one) are mad keen on fishing. They pump yabbies on the low tide then head out and fish all day and night.
  • Boat Ramp – If you drive around to Bullock Point you can put the boat in the water and pull it up onto Pelican Bay when not in use. There is so much to explore in the Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Bay
  • Sunrise or Sunset on the Great Sandy Strait section of the beach is just amazing
  • Sunset at Bullock Point
  • It’s just 15min back into Rainbow Beach – if you’ve forgotten something or just want a cooked meal at the pub, surf club and many cafe’s it’s an easy drive back to Rainbow Beach
  • Dog friendly
  • Camp Fires permitted (not when fire prohibition is in place)

Room for improvement

  • Very basic amenities
  • Did I mention I like going to sleep while listening to the waves – well when old mate on the site next to you has the generator going so they can watch TV……
  • Midgies/Mozzies – they are there – all the time. The only relief I’ve found is the breeze – try not to camp out of the wind completely.
  • It gets busy – if it’s a long weekend, school holidays or just awesome weather Inskip can often book out. You can see the number of spaces booked when you are booking your permits. Top tip – go outside of school holidays.

Other Points of Interest: 

  • Carlo Sand Blow at Rainbow Beach – bring the boogie board and slide down the dunes
  • Horse Riding in Rainbow Beach – this one is a must-do if you have the time. Suitable and enjoyable for even the beginner riders out there. More experienced riders also have the option to go swimming in the ocean with the horses during selected sessions. 
  • Dolphin Feeding in Tin Can Bay – it’s only a 30min drive to Tin Can Bay – The Barnacles Dolphin Centre opens at 7am. My suggestion is to leave at 6.30, get there early to secure your tickets for the feeds (yes they can sell out as they don’t overfeed the dolphins) then enjoy breaky at the Cafe onsite.  I’d suggest not queuing up to feed, wait and try to be one of the last ones through as the volunteers tend to allow you to spend a few more minutes in the water feeding the dolphins.
Well, I hope that has inspired you to head camping to Inskip Point. It really does have something for everyone. If there is anything I’ve missed and you think we should include it, feel free to comment below!

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