Family Islands National Park

Family Islands National Park
Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)
Family Islands National Park
Nearest town or city Tully
Coordinates 17°55′33″S 146°08′07″E / 17.92583°S 146.13528°E / -17.92583; 146.13528Coordinates: 17°55′33″S 146°08′07″E / 17.92583°S 146.13528°E / -17.92583; 146.13528
Established 1994
Area 8.69 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Managing authorities Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website Family Islands National Park
See also Protected areas of Queensland

The Family Islands are a group of continental islands lying a short distance off the coast, about mid-way between Cairns and Townsville, in Far North Queensland, Australia. Most of the area has been designated as a national park. The islands were given their collective name and also English names by Captain Cook when he sailed through the area in 1770.

The island group are continental islands. They were part of the mainland until roughly 8,000 years ago when the sea level rose.[1]

The Islands

The largest of the Family Islands, their Aboriginal names, and their position in the "family" are:

There are also a number of smaller islands:

Facilities

Camp grounds are available on Dunk, Coombe and Wheeler Islands, with permits available from Queensland Parks and Wildlife.[2] Resorts operate on Dunk and Bedarra Islands.

See also

References

  1. "Family Islands National Park: Nature, culture and history". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. "Family Islands National Park: Camping information". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
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