About Mangkalba (Cedar Bay)

Park features

Sandy beaches and fringing reefs are backed by dense, tropical rainforest in this remote section of national park. The mountainous, rainforest landscape forms part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Much of this forest has never been logged or disturbed.

Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park is home to a wonderful variety of wildlife including the near threatened Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, the endangered southern cassowary and the vulnerable beach stone-curlew.

Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park is the traditional country of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, whose country extends along the coast to Mossman. Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park was a major turtle (ngawia) hunting area and contains important cultural sites including the canoe (murabaymba), turtle (ngawaia) and saltwater eel (ngiwa) story sites.

Read more about the nature, culture and history of Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park.

Looking after the park

Please assist the Traditional Owners and rangers in preserving the natural and cultural values.

• Everything in the park, living or dead, is protected. Please leave everything as you found it.
• Please help to protect the sites of natural and cultural significance—stay on the walking tracks at all times.
• Do not bring in any plants or plant material—they can become weeds and threaten native plants and animals. Regularly check your footwear and clothing for seeds. Remove, wrap and carry seeds out of the park.
• Leave domestic animals at home—they are prohibited in national parks.
• Littering is prohibited. Take all your rubbish with you when you leave—it is unsightly and can harm wildlife.
• Toilets are not provided. Use a trowel to bury toilet waste and paper. Dig a 15cm hole at least 100m away from camping areas, walking tracks and all watercourses. Failure to do this leads to unsightliness, unpleasant odours, pollution of watercourses and potentially dangerous hygiene problems.
• Avoid using soap, shampoo, toothpaste or detergent in or near waterways.

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

Park management

Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in collaboration with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people. The park is managed to ensure the natural and cultural values, which have led to its inclusion in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, remain for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

In March 2007 the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people signed a series of Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) with the Queensland Government and other bodies, recognising Eastern Kuku Yalanji people’s rights to be custodians and managers of their traditional country. Under one of these ILUAs the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will be more involved in managing Mangkalba (Cedar Bay), Ngalba Bulal National Park.

Tourism information links

Cairns and Tropical North Visitor Information Centre
www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
51 The Esplanade, Cairns Qld 4870
Phone: 07 4051 3588
Email: info@ttnq.org.au

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.