Molle Islands National Park, Island nature reserve in Whitsunday Regional, Australia

Molle Islands National Park comprises several continental islands with open eucalypt forests, sheltered rainforest gullies, and grasslands that slope toward white sandy beaches and clear waters. The landscape features both dry forest zones and moist protected valleys.

The Ngaro, the only seafaring Aboriginal group in Australia, lived across these islands for about 9,000 years before dying out as a people during British colonisation. European settlers then used the land for cattle grazing. The archipelago was declared a national park in 1937 and named after Colonel George James Molle, a lieutenant governor of New South Wales in the colonial era.

The Ngaro, the only seafaring Aboriginal group in Australia, lived in these islands for about 9,000 years and were classified as seafarers rather than typical coastal people. They burned the grasslands regularly, which kept the slopes from turning to scrub. The Ngaro died out as a tribe during British colonisation.

The park is accessible by boat from Airlie Beach, with several camping areas offering basic facilities such as picnic tables and restrooms. Advance booking is recommended, and visitors should be prepared for changing water conditions.

The Ngaro, the only seafaring Aboriginal group in Australia, lived in these islands for about 9,000 years and used frequent burning of the grassland to keep it from turning to scrub. The Ngaro died out as a people during British colonisation.