Private Tropical Island Camps — Explore, Fish & Catch and Cook in Tropical North Queensland

The Experience

Spend multiple days living on a remote tropical island with a fully guided, all-inclusive experience designed around fishing, exploring, and a hands-on catch and cook lifestyle.

Guests are collected from Cairns in the morning and transferred south to the coastal town of Cardwell, where the trip begins. From there, we launch the boat and travel out to a remote island base, arriving in time to set up camp and enjoy an afternoon session fishing or exploring.

Packages typically run over 3 to 5 nights, allowing guests to settle into island life and make the most of changing conditions across the trip. Days are flexible and can include fishing the surrounding fringing reefs, exploring nearby estuaries such as Missionary Bay, beach fishing, or simply walking the coastline and relaxing around camp.

Fishing & Island Environment

The fishing opportunities are diverse and can be tailored to suit your preference. Target species include mangrove jack, barramundi, coral trout, golden snapper, mackerel, trevally, and queenfish across a mix of river, estuary, bluewater, and fringing reef environments.

Beyond fishing, the island itself offers plenty to explore. Mud crabs and oysters can be collected and prepared fresh as part of the daily catch and cook experience, adding another layer to the trip.

The area is rich in wildlife, with abundant birdlife, turtles regularly seen around the island, and dugong habitat throughout the Hinchinbrook region—one of the strongholds for this unique and iconic species.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is provided in a fully set up island camp, with all camping equipment, comfortable bedding, and cooking facilities supplied. The camp is positioned to make the most of the surrounding environment, offering direct access to beaches, reef systems, and island tracks.

Meals are provided throughout the trip, with a focus on fresh, simple food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, with fresh fruit and local produce supplied. There is a strong emphasis on catch and cook, with guests able to enjoy freshly caught fish prepared on the beach.

When conditions allow, there is also the option to run around to the eastern side of Hinchinbrook Island for a day trip into Zoe Bay, with a short hike to Zoe Falls and time to swim and explore.

These trips can be tailored to be more fishing-focused or kept as a balanced mix of fishing and island exploration, depending on guest preference.