Green Island National Park

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For the coral cay, see Green Island (Queensland).

Green Island National Park
Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)
Green-island-national-park.JPG
Green Island National Park is located in Queensland
Green Island National Park
Green Island National Park
Nearest town or cityCairns
Coordinates16°45′35″S 145°58′28″E / 16.75972°S 145.97444°E / -16.75972; 145.97444Coordinates: 16°45′35″S 145°58′28″E / 16.75972°S 145.97444°E / -16.75972; 145.97444
Established1937
Area12 ha (30 acres)
Managing authoritiesQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service
WebsiteGreen Island National Park
See alsoProtected areas of Queensland

Green Island National Park is a protected area declared over a small (12 ha) coral cay of Green Island, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.[1] It is known to the local Gungganyji Aboriginal peoples as Dabuukji. The Gungganyji people used the island as an initiation ground.[2]

It is 27 km offshore from Cairns (1394 km northwest of Brisbane), Queensland, can be accessed by a choice of boats leaving daily from Cairns, and is reputed to be the most visited (popular) island National Park within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.[3]

Park features[edit]

Green Island is a true coral cay formed over thousands of years by the build-up of sand and coral rubble deposited on the calm side of a platform reef. The island is covered in tropical vine forest which supports a diversity of birds and insects. The surrounding coral reef is home to many kinds of corals, clams, fish, stingrays and other reef life. Green and hawksbill turtles are seen offshore.[3] More than 60 species of bird are found on the island.[2] While exploring the east coast in 1770, Lieutenant James Cook recorded on his chart "a low green woody island" and named the island after his ship's astronomer, Charles Green. In 1857, the first of many beche-de-mer fishing stations was established on the island. In 1928, the first regular ferry service began in the region.[4]

Green Island has been a popular tourist resort for more than a century. The island became a national park in 1937,[2] a marine park in 1974 and part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in 1981. Today the island, reef and beaches are managed together as a recreation area.[3]

Camping on the island is not permitted. A small luxury resort is built on the island with daily ferry services providing access.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Green Island National Park (entry 14741)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c Explore Queensland's National Parks. Prahran, Victoria: Explore Australia Publishing. 2008. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-74117-245-4.
  3. ^ a b c "Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service". Archived from the original on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Non-Indigenous culture and history". Queensland Government Parks and Forests. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.

External links[edit]


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