The two camps along the Ngaro Track are more than overnight stops on the track. They offer moments of stillness in the Whitsundays, places shaped with care, and are part of the story of walking this island. 

Every traveller, regardless of how you choose to walk the Ngaro Track, will spend a night in each, Bowarri yamba and Dhula yamba.

Set quietly into their surroundings and guided by Ngaro cultural knowledge, Bowarri yamba and Dhula yamba offer two distinct moods of Whitsunday Island: open and moonlit, or sheltered and forested.

1. Bowarri yamba (Moon Camp)

Night One. A coastal perch where the moon lifts over the sea

Meaning: Bowarri yamba means Moon Camp, named by Ngaro families for the way the moon rises over the water here - a slow, silver arc that lights the trees and the sea in equal measure.

The setting

The approach to Bowarri yamba feels like a quiet reveal. After walking from Whitehaven Beach and wandering through rainforest growing on sand, the track eases into a more open landscape. The air changes, the light softens, and you feel the southern edge of the island expand around you.

When dusk arrives, the place lives up to its name: calm, broad sky, and a sense of gentle isolation far from the day-trip crowds.

What to expect

• Simple timber platforms nestled between trees
• A communal shelter where shade, breezes and conversation naturally gather
• A toilet set discreetly on the hillside, with a surprisingly beautiful outlook
• Rainwater tanks (treat before drinking)
• Open coastal views and plenty of quiet space

For In Comfort Walk guests, raised beds and comfortable mattresses are ready on arrival, and guides prepare dinner as the light fades, an easy, welcome end to a full first day.

2. Dhula yamba (Tree Camp)

Night Two. A forest retreat shaped by palms, pines and soft evening air

Meaning: Dhula yamba means Tree Camp, and when you walk into it, the name makes perfect sense. Tall palms, hoop pines and a cool, green canopy cradle the camp, giving it a sheltered, almost hidden feel.

The setting

Reaching Dhula yamba feels like stepping into a different world. After climbing Whitsunday Craig, crossing rocky headlands, and skirting the unique samphire flats, the track lowers gently into forest. Shade gathers, birdlife stirs, and the sound of the ocean softens behind the trees.

If the tide is low, some walkers arrive via the creek mouth - a lovely, grounded way to enter a place that already feels deeply connected to the land.

What to expect

• Timber tent platforms surrounded by palms and forest
• A central shelter for resting, eating and swapping stories
• A toilet designed to sit quietly in the landscape
• Rainwater tanks nearby (treat before drinking)
• Forest calm and the beach only steps away

For In Comfort Walk guests, raised beds and mattresses await, with your guides preparing dinner as evening settles in under the trees.

Designed with purpose: what “architecturally designed” really means here

These camps are built to belong. Architects, rangers and Ngaro families worked together so each structure feels like part of the island.

The shelters echo the curve of the ridgelines. The colours match the forest and rock. Open layouts let breezes move through as freely as the birds and the light. Platforms are elevated just enough to protect the ground without taking away from the natural feel.

Everything is shaped to sit lightly, to offer comfort without excess, and to keep the wild character of Whitsunday Island front and centre.

Why these camps feel special

Culturally grounded

Their names, locations and stories come from Ngaro families, whose knowledge shaped how walkers experience this Country.

Part of the landscape, not separate from it

No harsh edges, no visual intrusion. The design simply folds into the trees, ridges and coastline.

Low impact by design

• No fires
• Pack-in/pack-out approach
• Water tanks instead of plumbing
• Structures built to minimise disturbance

Same camps, three styles of experience

• Independent Walk: Pure self-reliance. Bring everything, carry everything.
• Full-Pack Guided Hike: The traditional trek - full pack on your back, guides for safety and interpretation.
• In Comfort Walk: Lighter packs, raised beds, meals prepared for you - the more restful way to walk the reef.

Bowarri yamba or Dhula yamba?

Both, of course!

Bowarri yamba is open, airy, touched by moonlight and sea.
Dhula yamba is cool, green and quietly held by the trees.

Together, they show two completely different sides of Whitsunday Island, and give the Ngaro Track its rhythm.