About Russell River

Park features

Russell River National Park occupies a section of the Graham Range between the meandering Russell River and the coast. It also includes a section to the north of the Russell River, near Deeral Landing.

The only point of access into the park is from Bramston Beach. Here, the long sandbar, only 30m across in some areas, supports a fragile environment that changes each year with the tide. Paperbark and mangrove forests line the many creeks and rivers in this tranquil, unspoilt area.

Be aware that crocodiles may be encountered in the area. Estuarine crocodiles live mainly in tidal reaches of rivers and creeks, as well as in freshwater sections of lagoons, swamps and waterways up to hundreds of kilometres from the sea. They can even occur in the ocean and along some beaches. Crocodiles can be dangerous. Do not take unnecessary risks and remember to Be Crocwise in croc country.

• For more information see the staying safe section.

Looking after the park

• Leave all pets at home, domestic animals are not permitted in national parks.
• Rubbish bins are not provided—take rubbish with you when you leave.
• Do not remove plant material, living or dead.
• Do not interfere with, or feed, native animals.

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

Park management

Russell River National Park is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to conserve its natural and cultural resources, to present these resources and their values, and to ensure that the use of these resources is nature-based and ecologically sustainable.

Most of Russell River National Park is within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA). Proclaimed in 1988, the WTWHA extends for about 450km between Cooktown and Townsville. Consisting of nearly 900,000ha, vegetation is primarily tropical rainforest, but also includes open eucalypt forest, wetlands and mangrove forests. The WTWHA meets all four natural criteria for World Heritage listing. These criteria recognise the area's exceptional natural beauty and the importance of its biological diversity and evolutionary history, including habitats for numerous threatened species. The WTWHA also has cultural significance for Aboriginal people who have traditional links with the area and its surrounds.

Find out more about the Wet Tropics Management Authority.

Tourism information links

Innisfail Information Centre
www.tropicalcoasttourism.com.au/innisfail
ANZAC Park, Bruce Highway, Innisfail QLD 4860
ph: 0428 228 962
email: innisfailtourism@ccrc.qld.gov.au

For information on current road conditions contact:

RACQ (The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland)
www.racq.com.au (see Travel>Maps and Directions>Road Conditions)
Phone: 1300 130 595 for 24-hour road reports.

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