Visiting Kurrimine Beach safely

Getting there and getting around

Travel south from Cairns on the Bruce Highway for 115km to the Kurrimine Beach turn-off on the left. It is 10km from the turn-off to Kurrimine Beach; the entrance to the conservation park is on Jacobs Road.

The national park is north of the conservation park, between Kurrimine Beach and Cowley Beach, but there are no facilities and no public access.

Wheelchair accessibility

The Paddy Illich track at Kurrimine Beach Conservation Park is a narrow, formed gravel track. With care and assistance it may be wheelchair accessible depending on weather conditions.

Staying safe

For an enjoyable visit please follow the safety advice below.

• Visitors to the Kurrimine Beach area are advised that a rifle range lease is in operation on state land adjoining Kurrimine Beach National Park. A portion of the Kurrimine Beach National Park falls within the danger area of the rifle range lease. Please observe all warning signs erected concerning the operation of the rifle range.
• Tar trees are found along the Paddy Illich track in Kurrimine Beach Conservation Park. Never touch these trees. Contact with any part of a tar tree can cause severe skin irritation while contact with the eyes may lead to blindness. Tar trees can be identified by black sap stains on their trunks and by their leaves, which look similar to those of a mango tree.
• Wear insect repellent, adequate clothing and sturdy footwear for protection against stings, scratches and bites.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt, even on cloudy days.
• Ensure you carry plenty of drinking water.
• Stay on the track and take care on uneven surfaces, especially in wet conditions.

For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

Before you visit

Essentials to bring

• sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
• binoculars for spotting wildlife.

Opening hours

There is no public access to Kurrimine Beach National Park. Kurrimine Beach Conservation Park is open 24 hours a day.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in either the national park or the conservation park.

Climate and weather

The area around Kurrimine Beach has a high annual rainfall, regularly exceeding 3500mm. Most of the rain falls during the wet season, usually from December to about April. These summer months are characterised by high temperatures. Maximum temperatures are generally above 30°C with very high humidity, relieved only by intense downpours of rain. By contrast the drier, cooler months between May and November are very pleasant with lower humidity and temperatures (a daily range of 16–26°C) and frequent clear, sunny days.

For more information see the tourism information links.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and basic supplies are available at Kurrimine Beach.