Nature, culture and history

Natural environment

On the dune ridges behind the fore dunes there is a strip of coastal she-oaks backed by a low open woodland of corymbias, eucalyptus and acacias. The area behind this is covered in mangrove shrublands and saltpans.

The park contains a variety of habitats extending from intertidal estuarine mangrove to beach strand communities resulting in a considerable variety of native animals. The adjacent creek and marine resources support significant fish and marine resources.

Turtle watching

From November to March, adult loggerhead, green and flatback turtles come ashore to lay eggs on the beach. About eight weeks later young sea turtles emerge from the eggs and race to the sea. This is a fascinating sight, but you must watch quietly and never handle the hatchlings. These endangered marine species are struggling to survive and handling the hatchlings may cause them to die. Avoid standing on the nest as you may push onto turtles below the surface and suffocate them.

Domestic animals also pose a threat to the survival of turtles. Dogs are not permitted within the conservation park. Leave all pets at home.

Turtles are easily disturbed when nesting. Visitors are urged to follow turtle watching guidelines:

• Do not approach turtles leaving the sea or moving up the beach.
• Keep artificial light (such as torches, gas lamps) to a minimum and do not shine lights directly at turtles leaving or moving up the beach.
• Avoid sudden movement.

For more information read watching turtles in Queensland.

Culture and history

The coast and hinterland are rich in cultural history and are part of the Gooreng Gooreng Aboriginal people’s traditional country.

Mouth of Baffle Creek Conservation Park is split into two parts. Mouth of Baffle Creek Conservation Park 1 (125ha) is on the creek mouth’s southern shore and was first gazetted in 1995. Mouth of Baffle Creek Conservation Park 2 protects the creek mouth’s northern shore and was first gazetted in 1997, with further land protected in 2010 bringing the total protected area to 312ha.