Green Island National Park
| Green Island National Park | |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Nearest town/city | Cairns |
| Coordinates | 16°45′47″S 145°58′11″E / 16.76306°S 145.96972°E |
| Area | 12 ha |
| Established | 1937 |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Official site | Green Island National Park |
Green Island National Park[1] is a protected area declared over a small (12 ha) coral cay 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]
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[edit] Park features
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]
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.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Queensland Government Placenames
- ^ a b c Explore Queensland's National Parks. Prahran, Victoria: Explore Australia Publishing. 2008. pp. 22. ISBN 9781741172454.
- ^ a b c Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service Webpage Accessed 20 November 2007
[edit] External links
- Australian Explorer Green Island page, a brief outline and some photographs.
