Hinchinbrook Island (Queensland Australia)

Hinchinbrook Island is located in Coral Sea, and is separated from mainland Queensland (Australia's northern coast) by the Hinchinbrook Channel. The island is part of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and within the Hinchinbrook Island National Park (protected area), except for its abandoned resort area.

Covering a total area of 393 km2 (152 ml2), Hinchinbrook is the largest island in the Great Barrier Reef, and also Australia's biggest island national park. Its highest point (Mt Bowen) is 1121 m (3678 ft). Due to conservation efforts, the park offers a variety of ecotourism activities. Port Hinchinbrook Marina (south of Cardwell) provides year-round mooring and boating access to the whole region, as well as the Great Barrier Reef and all the offshore islands.

Hinchinbrook Island is famous worldwide for its Thorsborne Trail, with length 32 km (20 ml). The most popular marine-based nature activities on the island are sailing, sightseeing cruises, canoeing, snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming. Sea kayaking is practicable east of the island. In its western part there is a saltwater crocodile habitat. Day-trip hikers and campers must be aware that saltwater crocodiles are protected species.

Fishermen target this Australian vacation destination for mudcrabs, prawns, lobster, benthic, estuarine. Camping on Hinchinbrook Island is by permit only. Open fires are forbidden. Via the permits, tourist numbers are restricted in order to preserve the park's biodiversity. Environmental and conservation activists constantly monitor tourist and boat activities, as well as marina dredging operations, coastal canal and infrastructure developments.

Hinchinbrook Island cruise terminal