Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Cumberland Islands
There are about 70 islands in the Cumberland group, sometimes referred to as the south-
ern Whitsundays. Almost all the islands are designated national parks. Apart from
Keswick
Island
- home to the sophisticated and secluded
Keswick Island Guest House
(
07-4965 8002;
)
- there's no formal accommodation in
www.keswickislandguesthouse.com.au
;
s/d from $360/550;
the Cumberlands.
Brampton Island
is well-known for its nature walks, and was until recently the home of a
posh resort.
Carlisle Island
is connected to Brampton by a narrow sandbar and, during low
tide, it may be possible to walk between the two.
Scawfell Island
is the largest in the group;
on its northern side, Refuge Bay has a safe anchorage and a camping ground.
Camp-site availability, bookings and permits for the Cumberland Islands and the nearby
Sir James Smith Island group can be found online at
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
or at the
Mackay visitor centre (
Click here
)
.
Facilities on all islands are limited and access can be difficult unless you have your own
boat or can afford to charter one (or a seaplane); ask for more info at the Mackay visitor
centre.
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Cape Hillsborough National Park
Despite being so easy to get to, this small coastal park, 50km north of Mackay, feels like
it's at the end of the earth. Ruggedly beautiful, it takes in the rocky, 300m-high Cape
Hillsborough and Andrews Point and Wedge Island, which are joined by a causeway at
low tide. The park features rough cliffs, a broad beach, rocky headlands, sand dunes, man-
groves, hoop pines and rainforest. Kangaroos, wallabies, sugar gliders and turtles are
common, and the roos are likely to be seen on the beach in the evening and early morning.
There are also the remains of Aboriginal middens and stone fish traps, accessible by good
walking tracks. On the approach to the foreshore area there's also an interesting board-
walk leading out through a tidal mangrove forest.
