Visiting Fitzroy Island safely
Know your limitations and always snorkel with a buddy.
Photo credit: Queensland Government
Stingers occur more frequently in the warmer months.
Photo credit: Jamie Seymour © James Cook Univeristy
There are several A-class public moorings around Fitzroy Island.
Photo credit: Tamara Vallance © Queensland Government
Getting there and getting around
Map
Access to Fitzroy Island is by private boat or ferry services from Cairns. Ferries can be affected by weather conditions so it is best to confirm transfers 24hr prior to departure. The trip takes about 45min.
There is no vehicle access on or around Fitzroy Island.
Wheelchair accessibility
There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities or tracks in the national park.
Staying safe
- Stay on the tracks. You may get lost if you leave the roads or walking tracks. Take a map if possible and follow markers and signs carefully. Let someone responsible know your route and when you plan to return.
- Wear sturdy footwear to protect your feet.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt, even on cloudy days.
- Always carry water and try to walk in the cooler part of the day. The high temperatures and humidity on the island can lead to heat exhaustion, even for fit walkers.
- Take care around cliffs, steep slopes and rock faces along tracks and at lookouts.
- Take care on slippery surfaces, especially when wet.
- Know your own health limitations for safe swimming and snorkelling—do not put yourself and others at risk and always snorkel with a buddy so that help is at hand.
- Be aware of wind, current direction and tides when snorkelling or boating.
- Take care near boating traffic.
- Dangerous stinging jellyfish (‘stingers’) may be present in the coastal waters at any time, but occur more frequently in the warmer months. A full-body lycra suit, or equivalent, may provide a good measure of protection against stinging jellyfish and sunburn. Visit marine stingers for the latest safety and first aid information.
- Be aware that estuarine crocodiles can occur in waters around the islands and cays of North Queensland. Remember, your safety is our concern but your responsibility—always be croc wise in croc country.
For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.
Before you visit
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.
Essentials to bring
- sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing
- drinking water.
Opening hours
Fitzroy Island National Park is open 24hrs a day.
Permits and fees
Permits are required for commercial or organised group activities.
Pets
Domestic animals are not permitted on Fitzroy Island National Park or on tidal lands adjacent to Fitzroy Island National Park within the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park. Tidal areas include beaches, rocks and mangroves.
Climate and weather
Two seasons occur in North Queensland, the wet and the dry. The wet season, December to April, brings high humidity and heavy rainfall. March is the wettest month, when Fitzroy Island receives an average rainfall of 502mm. During the drier months of May to October the temperatures are lower but the humidity is still relatively high. Winter rain is not uncommon. Throughout the year, average daily temperatures on Fitzroy Island range from 19°C to just over 30°C.
For more information see, the tourism information links.
Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Fuel and supplies
Supplies are available from Cairns. For more information see the tourism information link.
- There are currently no park alerts for this park.