About South Cumberland Islands

Park features

The South Cumberland Islands National Park encompasses nine islands. Rocky, rugged, hoop pine-dominated headlands stand out from the open eucalypt woodland and extensive grasslands of the wind-exposed slopes. Protected coves shelter long, sandy beaches, while deep gullies hide remnants of dry rainforest.

Ringed by fringing reefs, many of the islands are important rookeries for flatback and green sea turtles.

Looking after the park

Please appreciate, respect and help care for the outstanding natural and cultural values of these parks. National parks, including heritage sites and artifacts, are protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Penalties apply for breaching the Act.

Please follow these guidelines to help conserve these very special places.

Leave no trace

• Take all rubbish, including food scraps and fishing tackle, back to the mainland. Bins are not provided. Remove excess food packaging before your trip to minimise the rubbish you bring home.
• Use a fuel stove. Open fires are prohibited.
• Do not bury or burn anything. Even small fragments of line and string can become entangled around birds’ legs with agonising and fatal results.

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.

Look out for wildlife

Watching wildlife is rewarding but visitors need to follow some guidelines to ensure habitats are not disturbed. All wildlife in national parks is protected.

• Allow native animals to find their own food. Do not leave food or scraps around your camp site. Feeding wildlife is prohibited as it can affect their health, alter the natural population balance, and wildlife may also pester other visitors after you.
• Keep your food and scraps safe from wildlife in secure containers, not in plastic bags hanging from trees.
• Avoid disturbing sea turtles and nesting sea and shorebirds. Using strong lights, making loud noises or moving suddenly can disrupt nesting behaviour.
• Observe any closures and activity restrictions. Closures and restrictions may apply in certain areas to protect vulnerable wildlife.

Park management

Each park in the Whitsundays region has unique attributes and all are managed to conserve their natural condition and protect their cultural resources and values. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is responsible for the island national parks in the region, and jointly manages the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Tourism information links

Mackay Visitor Information Centre
www.mackayregion.com
The Mill, 320 Nebo Road,
Mackay QLD 4740
Phone: 1300 130 001
Fax: (07) 4952 2034
Email: info@mackayregion.com

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

Further information

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
www.gbrmpa.gov.au
Phone: (07) 4750 0700 or 1800 990 177