About Wild Cattle Island

Park features

Wild Cattle Island National Park comprises two low vegetated sand islands separated by mangroves and intertidal creeks and flats. The 580ha park is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and is important habitat for endangered migratory birds and nesting sea turtles.

Visitors can enjoy a quiet camp behind the dunes, a picnic on the wide sweeping beach on the parks eastern boundary or explore the estuaries and creeks for a spot of fishing.

Read more about the nature, culture and history of Wild Cattle Island National Park.

Looking after the park

Parks and forests protect Queensland's wonderful natural diversity and scenery. Help keep these places special by following these guidelines.

• Take no pets. Leave domestic animals at home. Pets disturb native wildlife and other campers.
• Take rubbish with you. Bins are not provided. Please help by collecting rubbish left by others.
• Avoid clearing plants and leaf litter when setting up camp. All vegetation—including grasses, vines, fallen timber and leaves—are part of the natural ecosystem. Remember, all plants are protected on national parks and collecting is not permitted.
• Open campfires are prohibited. Use a fuel stove to protect the native vegetation and turtle nesting sites from the impacts of open camp fires. Light from beach campfires can disorientate nesting turtles.
• Bury human waste at least 15-20cm deep and at least 100m from any watercourse. Take nappies and sanitary products home with you for disposal.
• Shorebirds are easily disturbed, watch them from a distance and keep clear of their nesting areas on the sand above high-water mark.

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

Wild Cattle Island National Park was gazetted on 16 December 1992 based on its important migratory bird wetlands and turtle rookery. The island is managed primarily to conserve its natural and cultural values.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is responsible for managing Wild Cattle Island National Park and adjoining State waters in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Marine Parks Act 2004. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is jointly managed by QPWS and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park zoning plan has been introduced to manage the waters and coastline not covered under Commonwealth legislation. Where fishing is permitted, Queensland fisheries legislation applies.

Tourism information links

Tannum Sands Visitor Information Centre
www.gladstoneregion.info
Ocean Street
Tannum Sands QLD 4680
ph (07) 4973 8062
email gapdl@gladstoneregion.org.au

Gladstone Visitor Information Centre
www.gladstoneregion.info
Marina Ferry Terminal, Bryan Jordan Drive
Gladstone QLD 4680
ph (07) 4972 9000
fax (07) 4972 5006
email gapdl@gladstoneregion.org.au

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