Cape Palmerston National Park Mackay

Rocky headlands, mangroves, swamps and sand dunes are iconic features of Cape Palmerston National Park. Photo credit: Paul Curtis © North Queensland Wildscapes

Be inspired: Coastal camping adventures for intrepid families at Cape Palmerston

Intrepid: fearless, adventurous, audacious, daring… If that sounds like your family facing up to a few days’ camping in a scenic coastal ‘wilderness’, read on! Photo credit: John Atkinson © Queensland Government

About Cape Palmerston

    Park features

    Windswept rocky headlands, mangroves, swamps, rainforest and sand dunes are all part of Cape Palmerston National Park’s rugged beauty. Open eucalypt woodland with ironbark and poplar gum grows on the ridges, and paperbarks grow in gullies. The distinctive 344m Mount Funnel towers over the park.

    Mangroves provide habitat for water mice (a threatened species) and melaleuca wetlands are home to frogs and numerous other wetland species. Threatened beach stone-curlews nest and feed along the foreshores. Pied imperial-pigeons, which visit in late winter and in spring, are close to the southern limit of their range.

    The cape provides a vantage point to view humpback whales passing by during cooler months and turtles are often visible in the water below. These adjacent seawaters and the Cape Creek system are protected marine parks, with Ince Bay zoned a Dugong Protection Area.

    Middens are a reminder of the special connection the Yuwibara people have with this place.

    Read more about the nature, culture and history of Cape Palmerston National Park.

    Looking after the park

    • Bring your own above-ground fire container and clean, milled timber for fires. On-ground campfires are prohibited. Fuel stoves are recommended.
    • Pack sturdy rubbish bags and take all rubbish home with you. Carry a container for cigarette butts.
    • Drive carefully, especially around shorebirds on beaches.
    • Follow the boating and fishing regulations that apply in the adjoining marine park.

    See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

    Park management

    Cape Palmerston National Park was gazetted in 1976. The 7,200ha park is managed primarily to conserve its natural values, particularly its diverse vegetation communities and coastal landscapes.

    The Cape Palmerston National Park Management Statement 2013 (PDF, 103.4KB) is available.

    The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of Environment and Science and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority are jointly responsible for managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

    Tourism information links

    Mackay Region Visitor Information Centre
    www.mackayregion.com
    Field of Dreams Parkland
    1 Railway Square
    SARINA  QLD  4737
    Phone: (07) 4944 5888 or 1300 130 001
    Email: bookings@mackayregion.com

    To learn more about the activities, tours and accommodation in this region visit Mackay Region

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.

    • There are currently no park alerts for this park.

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