From November to April, you may see turtles crossing the beach to lay their eggs or hatchlings making their way from nest to ocean for the first time. Motorists and visitors to Cooloola Recreation Area and Inskip Peninsula are asked to minimise disturbance and human impacts to nesting marine turtles.

When driving on the beach:

• Plan to travel at 2 hours either side of low tide. Keep to the hard sand well below the high tide line to avoid making wheel ruts that create barriers to hatchling movement down the beach.
• Avoid driving on the beach at night. This is when turtles will lay their eggs, and hatchlings are most likely to be emerging. Exercise caution and look out for turtles and turtle hatchlings when traversing on the beach.
• If turtles are making their way across the beach - slow down, stop and wait for the turtles to reach the ocean or the dunes. On-the-spot fines apply to visitors disturbing turtle hatchlings or turtle nests.
• Driving over vegetated dunes is dangerous and prohibited. It is damaging to the environment and can impact turtle nests, on-the-spot fines apply.

‘Cut the Glow to help turtles go’. Artificial lights can affect a turtle’s ability to see the natural horizon over the ocean. Hatchlings can become disoriented, veer from their natural path and head towards the artificial light. When camping during the nesting season you can help cut the glow of lights affecting beaches by switching off unnecessary lights on the beach after 7.30pm.

To report marine animal strandings (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphin, dugongs or whales) call 1300 130 372.

 

 

Please monitor park alerts on the department's website for updated information.

Please observe all signage, barriers and directions from rangers and do not enter closed areas.