Off Road Caravan Paradise: Brisbane Home to the World TOP Four Sand Islands
There’s no off-road caravanning destination quite like a sandy beach. Traditionally caravan and camping enthusiasts didn’t drag their “home away from home” off a beaten path made of sand because of the caravan’s limitations. Hybrid off road caravan design has come a long way, and triggered a surge in popularity in offroad caravanning. The old “4x4” beach drives are now dotted with well-equipped camping set ups, suitable for longer stays. Beach caravanning is the ultimate experience, and travelers are turning their sight’s to Brisbane’s four natural wonders – the Sand Islands.
The Four Biggest Sand Islands on Earth are just off the Coast of Queensland
K’gari (Fraser Island)
The largest sand island on earth is K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island. The northern most of the four large sand islands, K’gari lays off the coast of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. K’gari is a leading tourist destination so before hitting the beaches in your off road camper, check local regulations.
Stradbroke Island
Stradbroke Island, or Straddie, is just off the coast of Redlands in Brisbane’s south East. It delivers just the right mix of tourist convenience and relatively low popularity on the international scene – fewer tourist busses, more expansive beaches to explore. Stradbroke is the go to for nature lovers, boasting plenty of wildlife compared to Moreton, and less threatening wildlife compared to K’gari.
Moreton Island
Moreton Island is off the coast of Central Brisbane, just north of Stradbroke. Less than 2% of Moreton Island could be considered a “tourist trap” with the famed “Tangalooma Resort” attracting families and short stay tourists all year round. The rest, is yours to explore. Featuring breathtaking blue lagoons, “sand deserts” and 58 kilometers of breathtaking coastline, it’s the perfect location for a little 4x4 exploration. Except, for one thing…. Getting to and from Moreton Island with an offroad camper can be a bit tricky, as the resort dominates the transport industry and controls tourism very carefully. The North West,. Yellow Patch and South West zones are deemed suitable for caravan access but you’ll need to be a skilled off road camper to take on the interior tracks.
Bribie Island
Families and retirees…everywhere. Bribie is the go-to beach destination, just off the coast of Brisbane’s northern suburbs for locals who don’t want to trek to the Sunshine Coast but want to soak up a few rays, especially with very young kids. But, just north of Woorim, you’ll find a track or two that transforms the Bribie experience into an off-road paradise.
Check with Councils Before You Go
The supply of off-road campers Brisbane and beyond has burgeoned in the past few years, so councils are becoming more flexible with regulations. Brisbane is attracting more and more Sydney off road campers and from across Australia, Each of Queensland’s sand islands falls under a different local council jurisdiction so you will need to check with regulations on off-road camping on the island.