About Three Islands Group

Park features

Three Islands Group National Park protects natural, cultural and World Heritage values including coastal bird habitats that are regionally and nationally significant.

Shallow lagoons separate the islands within each of the Three and Two islands sub-groups—crystal blue water lapping against the islands’ sandy beaches. Mangroves, beach woodlands, grasslands, closed forest and casuarinas are some of the plant communities seen while island hopping. Varied vegetation can be found on the continental islands of the Rocky Islets sub-group. Significant pisonia forest, woodland and vine forests can be found on island (a), while island (b) is scattered with herbland and shrubland interspersed with sandy areas. In contrast, the steep, dark, granite boulders of island (c) appear to rise from the sea, highlighted against the skyline. Stark from a distance, closer viewing reveals the rocks are teeming with seabirds.

Looking after the park

We need your help to protect this national park.

• Leave everything as you found it—everything in the park is protected.
• Avoid nesting seabirds at all times. If parent birds are disturbed chicks and eggs can become vulnerable—easily destroyed by heat, cold and predators if left unprotected. Stay clear of roosting birds also.
• Never feed birds, fish or other wildlife—it can affect the health of wild animals.
• Leave your pets at home—domestic animals are not permitted in the national park; including between low and high tide marks.
• Avoid touching, kicking or standing on coral.
• Use fuel stoves only—fires are not allowed.
• Take away everything brought onto the islands, including rubbish. Disposing of garbage in the marine parks is prohibited.
• Minimise the use of soaps and detergents as they can affect water quality.

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

Three Islands Group National Park is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in accordance with the Three Islands Group National Park Management Plan (PDF, 1.3MB) to preserve the highly significant natural and cultural values of the islands, while also providing and managing a range of visitor settings.

The reef and waters surrounding the islands are protected within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. They also form part of the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park (State) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth).

Complementary management of waters adjacent to these islands is vital and continued close cooperation between QPWS and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is essential.

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.