Denham Group National Park Tropical North Queensland

Boydong Island, Denham Group National Park Photo credit: Queensland Government

About Denham Group

    Park features

    The islands of Denham Group National Park are remote, relatively undisturbed and highly significant for bird and turtle nesting. To protect significant seabird and turtle nesting sites, access is not permitted to Milman Islet (PDF, 256.3KB) and Aplin Islet (PDF, 232.8KB) .

    Green turtles and hawksbill turtles nest on several of the islands Milman Islet is the largest hawksbill turtle breeding site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Hawksbill turtles are listed as vulnerable in Queensland and nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

    Hundreds of nesting seabirds gather on Aplin, Milman, Cholmondeley and Wallace islets during the breeding season. The islands also provide important roosting and breeding areas for migratory birds, including pied imperial-pigeons which breed on Boydong Island and Cairncross Islets.

    The vegetation varies from island to island and includes grassy areas, small patches of low closed forest, fringing mangroves and shrublands. Wallace Islet has a small area of Pisonia grandis forest which is of high conservation value and important seabird nesting habitat. The surrounding marine habitat provides food and shelter to many marine animals including turtles, dolphins, dugongs and estuarine crocodiles.

    Looking after the park

    • To protect the important conservation values of this national park, there are restrictions on access to some of the islands. See Getting there and getting around for more information.
    • Check zoning information and maps before entering or conducting any activities in the marine parks.
    • Domestic animals are not permitted in Denham Group National Park or on tidal lands adjacent to the national park within the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. Tidal areas include beaches, rocks and mangroves.
    • Do not feed wildlife, including birds and fish—it is harmful to their health.
    • Take rubbish (including food scraps) home with you.
    • Anchor only on sand—corals are fragile and easily damaged.
    • Everything in the park, living or dead, is protected. Please leave everything as you found it.

    Be pest-free!

    Our precious Great Barrier Reef World Heritage islands are among the most pest-free islands in the world. They need your help to stay this way. Please Be pest-free! (PDF, 573.6KB) before your visit.

    Before you visit, please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.

    Be sure to:

    • Unpack your camping gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in stored camping gear.
    • Clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil.
    • Check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.

    While you are on the islands, remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.

    Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.

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

    Park management

    Denham Group National Park was declared in 1994 and is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to protect cultural values, species of conservation significance and regional ecosystems. A management framework is provided by the Nature Conservation Act 1992, Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007, and the Aboriginal Land Act 1991. The park has been identified for future joint management negotiations.

    The reef and waters surrounding the Denham Group National Park are protected within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

    Tourism information links

    Nature’s Powerhouse
    www.cooktownandcapeyork.com
    Cooktown Botanic Gardens
    Walker Street, Cooktown Qld 4895
    Phone: (07) 4069 5763
    email: chill@kindredcafe.com.au

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

    • There are currently no park alerts for this park.