Cape Melville National Park, Nature reserve on Cape York Peninsula, Australia
Cape Melville National Park is a nature reserve on Cape York Peninsula featuring granite formations of the Melville Range, sandstone cliffs, rainforests, mangroves, and coastal waters. The landscape combines rocky peaks, forested valleys, and tidal areas in a remote northern setting.
The park gained official protection status in 2013, marking a significant moment for recognizing Aboriginal land rights and conservation in northeastern Queensland. This designation reflected growing support for preserving both ecosystems and Indigenous connections to the region.
The Othawa Aboriginal people have long ties to this land, visible through ancient rock art, burial sites, and midden deposits scattered throughout the park. These places show how people have lived here for generations and continue to hold meaning today.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are necessary to reach the park via rough unpaved roads from Cooktown, with the dry season from August to November offering the best travel conditions. Visitors should prepare for remote conditions and check weather and road status before heading out.
Scientists discovered three previously unknown animal species here in 2013: a leaf-tail gecko, a golden skink, and a frog. These findings highlight how remote areas like this still hold secrets waiting to be found by researchers.
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