Repulse Islands National Park Whitsundays

About Repulse Islands

Park features

Just off Cape Conway, Repulse Islands National Park protects a small group of islands overlooking the Lindeman group and the rugged Conway Range. These three islands were first noted by Captain James Cook in 1770, who named the bay Repulse Bay. He first sailed into the bay thinking it was the passage north but soon realised it was not. Thus he was repulsed and the bay was named.

Nesting seabirds are found on all three islands. The islands and surrounding waters are protected by the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Learn more about the nature, culture and history of the Whitsundays.

Looking after the park

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! (PDF, 573.6KB) 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 your camping gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in stored camping 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.

Please also read Looking after national parks of the Whitsundays.