Denman Island, Whitsundays, QLD: Camping & getting there

Go camping on Denman Island in Queensland and you can have a tropical island to yourself. The Denman Island campground is basic, and best reached by a boat transfer from Shute Harbour.

What is Denman Island?

Denman Island is one of the smaller islands in the Whitsundays archipelago. There are no resort facilities on Denman Island – just a small campground. Whitsundays cruises rarely visit Denman Island, either – which means that if you can get there, you can essentially have the whole island to yourself.

If you fancy going for the whole Robinson Crusoe on a tropical island vibe, this might just be the place.

Where is Denman Island, Queensland?

Denman Island is in the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland. More specifically, it is in the Molle Islands National Park. It is at the southern end of the Molle Islands chain, lying to the south-east of South Molle Island.

Which Whitsundays cruise should I choose?

For those with limited time: Whitehaven Beach half day tour.
For the highlights reel: Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island day trip.
To see the reef two ways: High speed Whitsundays cruise plus scenic reef flight combo.
For romance, sparkling wine and sunset under sail: Multi-beach and reef Lady Enid cruise.
To see several islands: Sailing and snorkelling adventure.
For an overnight sailing adventure: Matador two day yacht cruise.

Camping on Denman Island

There is no hotel or other accommodation on Denman Island. The only way to stay overnight there is camping, and that means staying at the basic bush campground.

The Denman Island campground is small and for tents only. There are no separately defined sites, the surface is rubble, while generators and open fires are not permitted.

The only facility at the Denman Island campground is a long drop toilet. You’ll need to bring your own drinking water and be self-sufficient.

The major plus point of camping on Denman Island is that there is only room for six people on the campground. Get a small group together, and you can essentially have this glorious tropical island to yourselves.

9 memory-making Airlie Beach experiences to add to your visit

Whitehaven Beach day cruise – with plenty of snorkelling thrown in.
Glass bottom boat tour – see coral and marine life without getting wet.
Heart Reef flight – see the islands and Great Barrier Reef from above before flying over Australia’s famous heart-shaped island.
Proserpine River crocodile safari – see the big crocs from a boat.
Whitsundays sunset cruise – with free snacks and sparkling wine.
Sailing on the Camira – glide around the Whitsunday Islands under sail.
Whizz around the islands on a guided jetski tour.
Waterfall explorer day tour – with swimming in Hinterland rock pools.
Enjoy high speed thrills on a jet boat ride.

Denman Island camping permit fees

Bookings for camping on Denman Island need to be made via Queensland National Parks. Camping permits cost $7 per person per night – or $28 per family per night.

Getting to Denman Island

The only way to get to Denman Island is by kayak or boat. Unless you’re planning to pay for a very expensive water taxi, the best way across is a camping transfer with Scamper. This company offers scheduled boat transfers to various Whitsundays campsites from Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach.

At the time of writing, boat transfers to Denman Island cost $85 per person return.