About Brook Islands
Park features
Lying within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the Brook Islands and the Family Islands to the north, form an arc enclosing the semi-sheltered waters of Rockingham Bay.
The islands are covered in lush, tropical vegetation. The eastern shores are rocky while the western shores have a few beaches of coarse, coral rubble. The islands support a breeding colony of more than 40,000 pied imperial-pigeons, and significant breeding colonies of terns. Vulnerable beach stone-curlews also breed on the islands.
These national park islands are one of only a few island groups between the Whitsundays and Cairns with minimal evidence of human disturbance.
Looking after the park
- To prevent disturbance to the colonies, bird viewing should occur only from boats. Access to the national park—North , Tween and Middle islands—is prohibited to protect nesting and roosting seabirds and shorebirds and their habitats.
- When boating, go slowly over seagrass beds—dugongs feed in the area between Cardwell and the Brook Islands.
- Anchor in sand or mud away from coral. A no-anchoring area extends along the west side of North, Tween and Middle islands.
- Feeding wildlife is not allowed as it can affect their health and alter the natural population balance.
- Domestic animals are not allowed as they can harm native wildlife.
- Please take your rubbish with you when you leave.
- Everything in the park, living or dead, is protected. Please leave everything as you found it.
Be pest-free!
Our precious Great Barrier Reef World Heritage islands are among the most pest-free islands in the world. They need your help to stay this way. Please Be pest-free! before your visit.
Before you visit, please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.
Be sure to:
- Unpack and clean out your backpack and hand, beach or camera bags and check them carefully before your visit, as pests love to hide in stored gear.
- Clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil.
- Check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.
While you are on the islands, remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.
Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.
See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.
Park management
The Brook Islands National Park, gazetted in 1936, is managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) for the enjoyment of visitors and the conservation of nature. The national park is managed in accordance with the Brook Islands National Park and Goold Island National Park Management Plan .
The Brook Islands are within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The surrounding waters are within the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Hinchinbrook Plan of Management also has provisions for the waters surrounding some of the Brook Islands.
South Island—a Commonwealth island—is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).
Tourism information links
Rainforest and Reef Information Centre
www.greatgreenwaytourism.com
142 Victoria Street, Cardwell
PO Box 74, Cardwell Qld 4849
Phone: (07) 4066 8601
Email: info@greatgreenwaytourism.com
A partnership between QPWS and the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, managed by Great Green Way Tourism Incorporated.
Mission Beach Visitor Information Centre
www.missionbeachtourism.com
Porters Promenade, Mission Beach Qld 4852
Phone: (07) 4068 7099
Email: info@missionbeachtourism.com
Tully Visitor and Heritage Centre
Bruce Highway, Tully Qld 4854
Phone: (07) 4068 2288
Email: tullytourism@ccrc.qld.gov.au
For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.
-
The natural, cultural and historical significance of Brook Islands
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.