Fitzroy Island National Park, National park on Fitzroy Island, Queensland, Australia
Fitzroy Island National Park is a protected area on an island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, about 19 miles (30 km) from Cairns. The island is built around a granite core covered by tropical rainforest, open forest, mangroves, and coral reefs along the shore.
James Cook gave the island its current name in 1770 during his voyage along the Australian coast. It was declared a national park in 1939 and has been managed as a protected area since then.
The Gungandji people called this island Gabar and used its land and sea for food and shelter across many generations. Some walking trails pass through areas where this long connection to the land is still quietly present.
The island is accessible only by ferry from Cairns, with a crossing of about 45 minutes. Once on the island, signed walking trails of different lengths and picnic areas make it easy to move around without a guide.
Fitzroy Island lies directly between the mainland and the Great Barrier Reef, making it one of the few places where land and ocean ecosystems sit side by side. Snorkelers can reach living coral just a short swim from the beach, without needing a boat.
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