K'gari runs on three things: a vehicle access permit, camping booked in
advance, and the tide. Get those right and the rest is manageable. Get the tide
wrong and you are in soft sand or salt water, neither of which ends well.
Permits before the barge
Queensland Parks requires a vehicle access permit for every vehicle entering
K'gari. Camping permits are required for QPWS camping areas and must be bought
before you arrive. Sort both before you get to the barge, because turning up
without them is a wasted trip.
The vehicle
A high clearance four wheel drive with low range is the requirement, not a
suggestion. Soft sand, washouts and steep inland tracks all punish anything less.
Drop tyre pressures for sand, carry a compressor to air back up, and know how to
recover yourself before you need to.
Tides shape the whole day
Beach driving is a tide activity. Plan movements around low tide and check the
current tide times for the days you are there rather than working from a general
rule. Soft sand above the high water mark and washouts near creek mouths are
where most people get into trouble, and a rising tide turns a delay into a
serious problem quickly.
Where a rooftop tent earns its keep
Sand is a poor surface for a ground tent and a good reason to sleep above it.
A rooftop tent puts you off the sand, away from what moves around at night, and
means you are not pegging into something that will not hold.
The one thing worth doing carefully is parking level. Sand gives under a
wheel, so what looked flat at setup can be a lean by bedtime. Take the extra
minute.
Salt is the real enemy
This is the part people skip. Salt air and salt spray keep working on
fittings, hinges and fasteners long after you are home. Wash the vehicle
underneath and wash the tent's fittings after a K'gari trip, and let everything
dry properly before it goes away.
On The Horizon tents use 350gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, which is water
resistant rather than waterproof. Like any canvas, closing it up damp and salty
for weeks is what causes problems, not the trip itself.
Humidity and condensation
Coastal nights are humid, and humid nights produce condensation. Ventilate at
both ends even when it feels warm, keep wet gear and wet dogs outside, and make
sure air can move under the mattress. Every On The Horizon tent includes an
anti-condensation pad and a moisture barrier through the base for exactly this.
Before you go
- Buy your vehicle access permit and camping permits before the barge
- Check current tide times for your dates
- Check current conditions with Queensland Parks
- Carry a compressor, recovery gear and the knowledge to use both
- Plan to wash salt off the vehicle and the tent fittings afterwards
Common questions
Do you need a permit to drive on K'gari?
Yes. Queensland Parks requires a vehicle access permit for every vehicle, and
camping permits are required for QPWS camping areas and must be purchased before
you arrive.
What vehicle do you need for K'gari?
A high clearance four wheel drive with low range. Soft sand and steep inland
tracks make anything less a recovery waiting to happen.
Is a rooftop tent good for K'gari?
Yes. Sleeping off the sand solves the two biggest problems with camping there,
pegging into sand that will not hold and what moves around at night. Park level,
because sand settles under a wheel, and wash salt off the fittings when you get
home.
Related guides
K'gari Rooftop Tent Touring Guide: Permits, Tides and Sand
K'gari runs on three things: a vehicle access permit, camping booked in advance, and the tide. Get those right and the rest is manageable. Get the tide wrong and you are in soft sand or salt water, neither of which ends well.
Permits before the barge
Queensland Parks requires a vehicle access permit for every vehicle entering K'gari. Camping permits are required for QPWS camping areas and must be bought before you arrive. Sort both before you get to the barge, because turning up without them is a wasted trip.
The vehicle
A high clearance four wheel drive with low range is the requirement, not a suggestion. Soft sand, washouts and steep inland tracks all punish anything less. Drop tyre pressures for sand, carry a compressor to air back up, and know how to recover yourself before you need to.
Tides shape the whole day
Beach driving is a tide activity. Plan movements around low tide and check the current tide times for the days you are there rather than working from a general rule. Soft sand above the high water mark and washouts near creek mouths are where most people get into trouble, and a rising tide turns a delay into a serious problem quickly.
Where a rooftop tent earns its keep
Sand is a poor surface for a ground tent and a good reason to sleep above it. A rooftop tent puts you off the sand, away from what moves around at night, and means you are not pegging into something that will not hold.
The one thing worth doing carefully is parking level. Sand gives under a wheel, so what looked flat at setup can be a lean by bedtime. Take the extra minute.
Salt is the real enemy
This is the part people skip. Salt air and salt spray keep working on fittings, hinges and fasteners long after you are home. Wash the vehicle underneath and wash the tent's fittings after a K'gari trip, and let everything dry properly before it goes away.
On The Horizon tents use 350gsm ripstop poly-cotton canvas, which is water resistant rather than waterproof. Like any canvas, closing it up damp and salty for weeks is what causes problems, not the trip itself.
Humidity and condensation
Coastal nights are humid, and humid nights produce condensation. Ventilate at both ends even when it feels warm, keep wet gear and wet dogs outside, and make sure air can move under the mattress. Every On The Horizon tent includes an anti-condensation pad and a moisture barrier through the base for exactly this.
Before you go
Common questions
Do you need a permit to drive on K'gari?
Yes. Queensland Parks requires a vehicle access permit for every vehicle, and camping permits are required for QPWS camping areas and must be purchased before you arrive.
What vehicle do you need for K'gari?
A high clearance four wheel drive with low range. Soft sand and steep inland tracks make anything less a recovery waiting to happen.
Is a rooftop tent good for K'gari?
Yes. Sleeping off the sand solves the two biggest problems with camping there, pegging into sand that will not hold and what moves around at night. Park level, because sand settles under a wheel, and wash salt off the fittings when you get home.
Related guides