Photos from the REAL Australia

The Islands of North Queensland

The Great Barrier Reef extends about 2,000 kilometres along the Queensland coast, from the Gulf of Papua to Hervey Bay and is the largest coral reef system in the world, with over 2,600 separate reefs. Sections of the reef are easily accessible from Cairns, with many tours catering for snorkelers and scuba divers. There are also around 300 islands offshore and many of these have facilities for tourists and can be reached in day tours. There are hotels for a longer stay as well and there are plenty of opportunities to explore the islands on bush walks and to swim and snorkel in the clear tropical sea. There are day tours to the Outer Barrier Reef, with opportunities to stay overnight as well.

Green Island is a coral island of about 15 hectares on the inner side of the reef off Cairns, and is readily accessible on the daily tours that go there. It is an ideal spot to relax on a day trip. There is an underwater observatory, a museum, a good restaurant and accommodation for a longer stay as well. On the other side of Cape Grafton, a 45 minute ferry ride from Cairns is Fitzroy Island, a continental island, rising to a peak of 270 metres above the surrounding sea. There is a resort catering to day visitors and there are camping facilities and lodge and villa style accommodation. A little further south is Normanby Island, part of the Frankland Islands group and reached from the mouth of the Mulgrave River, south of Cairns.

Further south, off the coast at Mission Beach, is Dunk Island, named by Captain Cook and part of Family Islands National Park. It has a peak of 240 metres and can be reached by ferry and even by plane: there is an airport. It caters for resort guests and campers. There are some great walks on the island, through rain forests to beautiful beaches. Continuing south, near Cardwell, is Hinchinbrook Island, a 35 kilometres long island separated by the Hinchinbrook Channel from the mainland and actually an extension of the coastal ranges. It is a fantastic place to explore; the whole island and the channel is a National Park; there are long beaches, waterfalls, mountain lookouts, rain forests and mangrove stands. A full walk across the island may take four days! There are ferries from both sides of the island and there are camping facilities and resort accommodation.

Palm Island was named for the cabbage tree palms growing there by Captain James Cook in 1770. The island has forested hills and nice sandy bays and coral reefs. It became an Aboriginal settlement for people from very different tribal groups who were brought here in the forties and fifties by the white administration, especially children of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, the "stolen generation". It is now a self governing Aboriginal community called Bwgcolman with daily ferry links to Townsville. Just off Townsville is Magnetic Island, also named by Captain Cook in 1770 because of the erratic readings the ship's compass was giving him at the time. The island houses about 2500 but is a popular holiday destination as well. There are frequent catamaran and ferry links to Townsville.

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Pier of Green Island	Green Island	Magnetic Island	Palm Island pier	Bwgcolman street
Palm Island bay	Underwater Observatory	Snorkelling, Green Island	Fitzroy Island	View from Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island beach	View, Dunk Island	Dunk Island forest	Strangler fig	Beach, Dunk Island
Hinchinbrook Island	Ramsey Bay	Mangrove forests	North Hinchinbrook Island	Tourist boat
Great Barrier Reef	Hamilton Reef	Coral reef	To Frankland Islands	Tourists in the Franklands
Normanby Island	View to Mabel Island	View to Normanby Island	Normanby Island shore	Snorkelling

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