Camping At Double Island Point: 4X4 Guide + Permits 2026

Last updated: September 2026

Camping at Double Island Point is the ultimate 4×4 camping experience for adventurous travellers. If there’s one spot that keeps on blowing us away every time we visit, it’s Double Island. Think clear waters, white sandy beaches and epic camping spots and you’ll understand why Double Island Point is a coastal gem.

The best thing? You’ll need a 4WD to get there. And that’s half the fun. We’ve spent plenty of time exploring DI, and in this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get there, the best places to camp, what the permits cost, helpful tips about beach driving, and a bunch of activities to do.

Not keen on reading? Check out our 10-minute YouTube video for the ultimate guide to Double Island.

About Double Island Point Camping

Why is it called Double Island point?

First things first. Double Island isn’t actually an island. Double Island is a coastal headland located in Queensland between Noosa and Rainbow Beach. This little piece of paradise falls in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. From a distance, it looks like two separate islands, which is why Captain James Cook named it “Double Island” when he was passing there in 1770.

History aside, what you’ll find today is a slice of untouched coastline that feels worlds away from civilisation.

Know before you go!

Do you need a 4WD to get to Double Island Point?

Yes, there’s no way around it. You’ll need a high-clearance 4WD to explore Rainbow Beach, camping at Double Island Point and Teewah Beach. It’s the only way to access the different camping sites and beaches. The tracks, tides and sandy stretches aren’t built for 2WDs. But don’t stress! If you’re new to beach driving, this is the perfect place to learn, as long as you keep an eye on the tides, drop your tyre pressure and take it easy.

No 4WD? You can still see it. Several operators run 4WD tours to Double Island Point from Noosa and Rainbow Beach, and it’s a great way to see what the fuss is about before you commit to bringing your own vehicle.

→ Book your Double Island adventure here.

Double Island Point Permits: what you need and what it costs

Before you head out, you’ll need two things:

1. Vehicle Access Permit: This covers your 4WD anywhere in the Cooloola Recreation Area, including the beach from Noosa North Shore, Double Island Point, Teewah Beach and Freshwater Road past the Bymien day-use area

→ Buy it online before you go. It’s cheaper, and phone reception is patchy on the North Shore. Number plate cameras run 24 hours a day and the fine for not having a permit is $518.

2. Camping Permit: If you plan to go camping at Double Island Point, you’ll also need a camping permit for Teewah Beach or Freshwater. It costs $7.75 per person per night, or $31 per night for a family (one or two adults and their kids, up to 8 people). Kids under 5 are free. For Teewah Beach, you book a specific zone, not a specific site.

→ Both are booked through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service or on 13 QGOV (13 74 68). We’ve listed the links here to purchase your Double Island Point Vehicle Access Permit and Camping Permits.

Double Island Point Tides

The tides rule everything on Double Island. Always check the tide times before you go. The beach is only accessible around low tide. Usually about two to three hours either side from Noosa. Access from Rainbow Beach is tricky due to the rocks, if you can avoid driving via the Rainbow Beach side, do it. If you time it wrong, you risk being bogged, or worse, loose your car. The beach isn’t accessible at high tide.

→ CURRENT ALERT: Deep holes in the lagoon! Queensland Park has an alert running until at least 5 December 2026. Natural sand movement in the saltwater lagoon at Double Island Point keeps creating deep holes, and they can stop vehicles reaching the Wide Bay side of the point, the sandpit, or driving through to Rainbow Beach at any tide. Parks say the safe way in is via the Leisha Track or Freshwater Road, only within two hours of low tide, and to stay out of any hole you’re not sure about. Check the Park Alerts and the Cooloola conditions reports the morning you go.

Beach Driving To Double Island

A few quick tips for an enjoyable beach drive:

• Tyre Pressure: Drop your tyre pressure to 15 – 20 psi before hitting the sand.
• Traction Control: Switch traction control off if your 4WD has it. Most modern 4WDs come with this feature these days.
• Recovery Gear: Always carry recovery gear with you to recover yourself or your mates.
• Speed: The recommended limits are 80 km/h on the beach, 40 km/h through the camping zones and 30 km/h on inland tracks. All Queensland road rules apply on the sand, including seatbelts and licensing.
• Insurance: Before you go on your adventure, double-check that your policy covers off-road driving. We went with Club 4X4 for the confidence to enjoy beach driving and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations like Double Island.
• Where you can’t drive: The stretch of Teewah Beach between the first and third cuttings is closed to vehicles at all times, so you get on the beach at the third cutting.

We learned this the hard way the first time. Rushing when the tide comes in is pretty stressful, and reversing in soft sand to enter the Leisha Track is even worse when there are plenty of cars waiting. Avoid making our rookie mistakes and come well-prepared.

Is Double Island Point Dog Friendly?

Unfortunately, no. Double Island is part of a National Park, so no domestic animals are allowed. If you’re travelling with your dog, the camping areas at Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach allow dogs on a lead. Just note you can’t drive through the Cooloola beaches to get there with a dog on board. Take the sealed roads via Rainbow Beach.

➤ We cover all seven sites in our Rainbow Beach Camping Guide.

Shops and Petrol

There are no shops or petrol stations on Double Island. You’ll need to bring all your own supplies and stock up before your trip. There are shops at either Noosa or Rainbow Beach. Rainbow Beach has an IGA, fuel, a bottles hop and a dump point on Clarkson Drive.

➤ We’ve listed our favourite pots to eat in our Rainbow Beach Travel Guide.

Phone Service

There’s limited to no phone service on Double Island. Book your permits and download the tide times before you go.

How can you get to Double Island Point?

There are three ways to get to Double Island, all requiring a high-clearance 4WD and beach driving.  

Drive Times Overview

Noosa North Shore Ferry

The first way is via Noosa. Head to Tewantin and take the Noosa North Shore ferry across the Noosa River. The ferry only takes a few minutes, but it can get busy during weekends and school holidays. It runs every 10 minutes or so from 5:30 am, until 10:20 pm Sunday to Thursday and until 12:20 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The 2026 fare is $18 per vehicle one way or $36 if you’re towing a trailer, boat or caravan. They accept both cash and card, and you can now pre-buy your ticket online and show a QR code when you board, which saves a bit of time.

→ You can find more information about Noosa North Shore ferry prices and tickets on their website.

When you arrive at the North Shore, follow Beach Road and the signs to the third cutting to access the beach. From here, it’ll take about an hour before you reach Double Island. It’s a beautiful, long stretch and an incredible beach to drive on at the Sunshine Coast.

➤ You’ll pass all seven Teewah Beach Camping Zones on the way, so if you’re camping, see our Teewah Beach camping zones guide to work out which one to aim for.

Rainbow Beach to Double Island Point

Another option is via Rainbow Beach. This scenic drive along the famous coloured cliffs can only be done at a very low tide, and in recent years it’s been tricky due to sand shifts and debris around Mudlo Rocks. Queensland Parks says to attempt it only at low tide and only if you’re an experienced driver, and the rocks can be impassable even at low tide. If it’s open, it’s one of the most scenic beach drives we’ve ever done. But check the conditions first. The best way to check is to follow the famous Iceman on Facebook for daily condition updates.

You get on the beach at the end of Rainbow Beach Road. Turn left onto Kirchner Avenue, then right onto Griffin Esplanade to the council car park. The distance from Rainbow Beach to Double Island is about 11 kilometres and will take you about 40 minutes.

Stay well away from the base of the coloured cliffs as you drive past. Parks currently has an alert out for landslides on the exposed sand cliffs and dunes.

Freshwater Track

If the beach route isn’t an option, you can access Double Island via the inland track named Freshwater Road. You can access this track from Rainbow Beach Road (turn at about the 25 km marker). Freshwater Road is a 15km inland track. The first 3 kilometres, to the Bymien day-use area, can be done with a 2WD and don’t need a vehicle permit. You’ll need a high-clearance 4WD and your permit for the last 12 kilometres. The track takes you through a cool rainforest all the way to Freshwater and Teewah Beach.

Leisha Track

Whichever way you come, you’ll likely to tackle the short but sandy Leisha track to reach the northern lagoon side of DI. This track will only take a few minutes, but the entrance can be challenging, especially in summer due to soft sand. Momentum and lowered tyre pressure are key. With the lagoon alert in place, it’s also one of the two routes Parks currently recommends into the point.

Double Island Point Camping

Camping right on the point isn’t allowed, but you have two great options nearby. The two closest campgrounds to go camping at Double Island Point are Teewah Beach Camping Zone 1 and Freshwater Campground.  You can choose between beach camping at Teewah Beach Camping or bush camping at Freshwater Campground.

You might see “Double Island Point Camping Zones” mentioned online. Those are the Teewah Beach Camping Zones, numbered 1 to 7 from north to south, and zone 1 is the closest to the point/lagoon.

Make sure you check the weather before camping. Set up camp at Teewah Beach when it’s not windy, and at Freshwater Campground when strong winds are forecasted.

Teewah Beach or Freshwater? Quick comparison

Teewah Beach Camping

If you’re chasing that true beach camping vibe, Teewah is the spot. It’s our favourite spot to go camping at Double Island Point. You can set up camp first and start exploring from there. There are seven camping zones at Teewah Beach, with zone 1 being closest to Double Island. Zone 1 is 1.1 km long and takes camper trailers, but not caravans. If you’re towing a van, zone 2 is the closest you can use. This open area behind the dunes offers incredible beach views.

Remember, there are no amenities here, so bring your own portable toilet (it’s mandatory, even for one night, and the bag-and-bucket type isn’t allowed) and take your rubbish with you. The skip bins between the zones have been removed. Drop your rubbish at the waste transfer station on Freshwater Road or at the second cutting on Beach Road on your way out, and empty your otilet at th ebeach camper service facility opposite the Freshwater day-use area.

Campfires are banned on Teewah Beach until at least July 2027, with an $864 fine. Bring a gas stove.

➤ Read our full Teewah Beach Camping Guide before heading there.

Here you’ll wake up, watch the sunrise over the ocean, and in the season (June to October) you might spot some humpback whales breaching.

Freshwater Campground

If you want to go camping at Double Island Point with a few extra comforts, Freshwater Campground is the way to go. Tucked just behind the beach, Freshwater Campground is a popular bush camping area that offers toilets and showers (bring $2 coins for hot showers). It’s more sheltered than Teewah Beach, and you’ll most likely wake up to the sound of laughing kookaburras, surrounded by beautiful bushland, protected from the wind. There are caravan and camper trailer sites, plus a separate walk-in tent area. Generators and campfires aren’t allowed.

Close to the campground, you’ll find Freshwater Day Use Area. Here you’ll find BBQ facilities, toilets, and, across the road, the beach camper service facility with a dump point to empty your portable toilet, untreated water, and a cold outdoor shower.

What to do at Double Island Point

This is where Double Island really shines. When you go camping at Double Island Point, you can easily fill a weekend without getting bored. Double Island has two sides: the north side (The Point) and the south side (The Pocket).

North Side – Double Island Point

To reach the North Side, you’ll need to cross the Leisha Track unless you’re coming from the Rainbow side. You can enter or leave the point two hours before and after low tide. The lagoon will fill up with the tide, and it will be impossible to leave or enter this place on high tide.

Surfing

The point break on the North side is the perfect spot for surfing, especially for longboarders.

Snorkelling, kayaking or SUP

Around the headland you’ll often spot turtles and rays. Bring a snorkel or head out with your kayak or SUP.

Swimming & floating

The calm, clear water of the lagoon is perfect for relaxing on a floatie. Remember that DI beach is not patrolled, so be mindful when you go for a swim.

Kitesurfing & Jet skiing

When the wind is up, the lagoon transforms into a playground for kitesurfers.

Lighthouse Walk

A one-hour return hike to the Double Island Point Lighthouse rewards you with some of the best coastal views in Queensland. On clear days, you can see south all the way to Noosa, north to Rainbow Beach, and you can even see K’gari (Fraser Island). The lighthouse is also the perfect lookout for spotting dolphins, turtles or humpback whales (June to October).

The Pocket – Double Island South Side

The south side is accessible from Teewah Beach and Freshwater Road.

Surfing

This side is the ideal spot for shortboarders. And even if you’re not a surfer, it’s just incredible to sit on the beach and watch.

Snorkelling

The headland goes all the way to the north side (Double Island Point). You can either start your snorkelling on the north side or this side.

Lighthouse walk

The track to the lighthouse from this side (the Pocket) is our favourite one. You’ll have breathtaking views over the ocean the entire time. The walk takes about an hour return. Make sure you bring plenty of water.

fishing

Fishing is a popular activity, especially along Teewah Beach. Bream, tailor and whiting are common. And when the tide is right, you can find some pipis in the sand!

Camping

Double Island is a popular day trip from Noosa, but if you can go camping at Double Island Point, do it! It’s one of the best places to camp in Queensland.

When’s the best time to visit?

Winter and spring are ideal times to go camping at Double Island Point. Cooler temperatures, calmer weather, and of course, whale season! Summer can be fun too, but the sand gets softer, there are more crowds, and storms can roll in quickly. Book Teewah and Freshwater well ahead for school holidays and long weekends. Parks suggests at least 6 weeks for popular spots, and you can book up to 12 months in advance.

Double Island Point FAQs

Why should you go camping at Double Island Point?

Double Island Point is one of those places that will leave you speechless. It does take a bit of planning… Organising permits, checking tides, 4WD prep, etc., but once you’re there, you’ll see why it’s a favourite for the locals, and it’s all worthwhile.

If you have any questions about camping at Double Island Point, let us know in the comments! Enjoy your adventure at this slice of paradise. Happy Camping!

Explore more of the Cooloola Coast

Double Island Point is in the middle of a coastline that’s all within an hour or two’s drive. If you’re heading this way, these will help:

• Teewah Beach Camping: all 7 camping zones compared, and which one suits your setup
• Rainbow Beach Camping: Inskip Point, Poverty Point and the dog-friendly sites
• Things to do in Rainbow Beach: the coloured sands, Carlo Sandblow and where to eat

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