Fitzroy Island National Park

Fitzroy Island is a continental island located 22 kilometres east of Cairns, Queensland (Australia). The Aboriginal name for this island is Goon-Gan-Jee Island and Gabar Island. Fitzroy Island is a national park, with much of the island off-limits to visitors. Many visitors will remain on the sheltered western side of the island, where the jetty, resort and best snorkelling can be found.

Fitzroy Island National Park
Fitzroy Island National Park
Coordinates	16°55′48″S 145°59′32″E
Established	1939
Area	2.89 km²

The Island

Fitzroy Island is a continental island, not a coral cay. It became an island when sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age, flooding a plain between a hill that is now Fitzroy Island, and what is now Cape Grafton. Over the 10,000 years since that time, coral reefs have formed in the bay on the protected western side of the island, and lush rainforest on its shore.

Fitzroy Island has been put to many uses by humankind. It is part of the traditional lands of the Gurabana Gungandji people, who recorded its formation in myth, and was used as a hunting and fishing ground. In 1778, Lieutenant James Cook named the island after the family name of the Duke of Grafton, who was the English Prime Minister when his ship, the Endeavour, had set sail. Through the 1800s, a pearling and beche-de-mer industry operated from the island. A giant clam research station remains in operation on Welcome Bay. The Island has also served as part an aboriginal mission in the early 1900s, an artillery gun emplacement in World War II, and, more recently, a tourist resort.

The Island has also been home to lighthouses warning ships in the Grafton Passage of the reefs around the island, and a small automatic light on Little Fitzroy Island, just off the north-east point, still serves this purpose. An inactive lighthouse sits on the point above, and is part of the circuit trail that is open to tourists.

The isolation of Fitzroy has resulted in a unique habitat, with few large mammals. The dominant predators on the island are reptiles; particularly pythons, tree snakes (brown and green), monitor lizards and the Major's skink. The latter of these is particularly common and will be seen frequently as a tourist wanders around the trails. There are no venomous snakes on the island, but care should be taken if you encounter a snake anyway as pythons can deliver a nasty bite that can become infected.

Walking trails

Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island

There is an excellent walking track that takes in the northern end of the island, the lighthouse on the north-west point which overlooks Little Fitzroy Island, and the island's peak, which offers stunning 360 degree views over the surrounding reefs and Cape Grafton. On a clear day it is possible to make out the Frankland Islands to the south. The trail then drops back down to the resort. Pay attention to the changing habitat as you descend from the wind-blown summit to the protected rainforests around the resort.

The Secret Garden walk starts near the southern end of the resort, and heads inland up a small creek. It's an easy walk for almost anyone, and takes you into some pleasant rainforest areas.

Nudey Beach can be accessed by heading along the trail at the southern end of the resort, just past the Secret Garden walk. It's not a difficult walk, but does involve a few minor climbs. The trail takes you along the edge of the island through rainforest, with occasional glimpses out to Cape Grafton, and then descends to Nudey Beach. It was once a nude bathing beach, but you rarely see this any more. It's a good swimming beach, with some coral available for snorkellers.

Snorkelling

Clownfish at Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island

The fringing reef is a fair distance from the shore at the northern end of Welcome Bay, where it starts at the quite prominent 'Bird Rock'. It runs almost all the way down to the jetty before there is a small gap where the boats come in. The reef starts again near the rocks at the southern end of the beach, and runs around the corner to Nudey Beach. Along this stretch it is extremely close to shore - literally just a few steps from the shore. The snorkelling at Fitzroy is greatly underrated. Visibility can be a bit low, especially after rough weather, but the coral is excellent and the variety of fish superb. The clownfish (Amphiprion percula) can be found, as well as other anemonefish. Parrotfish and wrasses are common, and green sea turtles regularly frequent the bay.

It is unlikely that box jellyfish would be encountered at Fitzroy Island due to the 4km passage between the island and the mainland, but they have been found there on occasionally. Swimmers should be mindful of the threat during the November to May stinger season. Other stinging jellyfish may also be encountered.

The Resort

Sunset over Welcome Bay, Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island Resort can be found on Welcome Bay, on the eastern side of the island. It is currently (February 2007) undergoing substantial renovations, with the addition of apartment style accommodation and an overhaul of the beach-shacks and backpacker accommodation. Day facilities are open during the renovations, with food and drinks available.

Getting there

Fitzroy Island is serviced by the | Fitzroy Flyer, a power catamaran operating out of the Marlin Marina in Cairns.

See also

• Protected areas of Queensland (Australia)
• Great Barrier Reef