Whitsunday Island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Coral Sea |
| Archipelago | Whitsunday Islands |
| Total islands | 74 |
| Area | 275.08 km2 (106.209 sq mi) |
| Country | |
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Australia
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| State | Queensland |
| Local Government Area | Whitsunday Regional Council |
Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the Whitsunday group of islands located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia. Whitsunday Island is located at 20°15′S 148°58′E / 20.25°S 148.967°E. The island contains many popular destinations for both day visitors and overnight sailors, including the magnificent pure-white sands of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, the secure anchorage of Cid Harbour, and the sheltered waterway of Gulnare Inlet. Whitehaven Beach was rated as the top Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com in July 2010.[1]
The island is accessible by boat from the mainland tourist ports of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.
Captain James Cook named the island in early June 1770. This island should not be confused with Pinaki in the Tuamotu group which was named "Whitsunday Island" by Samuel Wallis in 1767.
Whitsunday Island covers 27,508 ha (275.08 km2) in area.[2] The island has six campgrounds.[3]
Around the northern bays of the island are seagrass beds which support a diverse range of marine life.[4] Unadorned Rock-wallabies are found on the island.[4]
[edit] Gallery
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Hill Inlet
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Whitehaven Beach
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Hill inlet, north of Whitehaven Beach
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Panoramic view of Whitehaven Beach
[edit] See also
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Whitsunday Island |
[edit] References
- ^ "Qld beach wins world eco-friendly award". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 20 July 2010. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/qld-beach-wins-world-ecofriendly-award-20100720-10j9m.html. Retrieved 28July 2010.
- ^ "Economics - Whitsunday Island". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/economics/costs-returns/qld/basin-whitsunday-island.html. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Whitsunday Islands National Park - Camping information". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 21 June 2010. http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/whitsunday-islands/camping.html. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Parks of the Whitsundays - Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 21 June 2010. http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/parks-whitsundays/culture.html. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
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