Queensland National Parks

Visit the Cape the right way.

Imagine standing at the edge of Cape York Peninsula, the wet season has passed, and Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land (CYPAL) national parks are ready to welcome visitors once again. But here’s the thing—this isn’t a trip you can take on a whim.

🌟 The secret: This is a journey that demands preparation, patience, and a true sense of adventure.

The journey to the Cape is no ordinary journey—it traverses a vast and remote wilderness on long stretches of dusty roads, with dips and bends, ruts and bull dust and challenging creek crossings. Along the way, you’ll witness expansive savannah plains, lush rainforests, wild rivers, sacred Aboriginal sites, remnants of WWII history, and the raw beauty of termite-mound-dotted landscapes.

Please do your research, decide which spots are on your bucket list, consider how much time you have, refer to our park website for maps and resources, and book your campsites online in advance. Coverage is patchy across Cape York Peninsula, so plan ahead to avoid surprises.

Are you ready and equipped to handle the adventure of a lifetime? 👉 https://tinyurl.com/cape-york-guide

📷 1. © Tourism and Events Qld
📷 2–4. Adam Creed © Queensland Government

🌊 Drifting through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a living blue world pulsing with intelligence, connection and life.

Whales travel together in family pods. Marine turtles can journey thousands of kilometres across oceans to return home to nesting beaches. Coral communities continue growing year after year, creating habitats that support life throughout Queensland waters.

These are not just species existing in the ocean. They are living communities, raising young, communicating, feeding, resting and playing their role within one of the most extraordinary marine environments on Earth.

The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is more than a natural wonder. It is a living system that continues to inspire awe, curiosity and connection in all of us.

Through conscious choices both above and below the water, we each have the opportunity to help protect and cherish these remarkable places for generations to come. 💙

Expand your knowledge http://ww2.gbrmpa.cov.au



📷 ©️ Queensland Government

We ❤️ Queensland!

Today we're celebrating everything that makes Queensland special, our incredible people, unique culture, remarkable achievements and the natural places that bring us together.

This , why not get outside and experience the best of Queensland for yourself?

Whether you enjoy hiking, cycling, paddling, swimming, camping or simply soaking up nature, there's a Queensland national park waiting to be explored.

From rainforest walks and mountain lookouts to island escapes and coastal adventures, your next great day out could be closer than you think.

Tell us: what's your favourite Queensland national park or outdoor adventure? 👇

📸 © TEQ

Did you know hybrid turtles are a thing? 👀

To shell-ebrate World Environment Day, we're diving into why these tiny turtles and their habitat are so important, given only around 1 in 1000 survive to adulthood.

Earlier this year, loggerhead x green turtle hybrids were discovered across two clutches at .

But what do these turtles have to do with World Environment Day, you might ask? 🤔

From climate change to pest predation and light pollution, turtles have it tough. By researching these threatened species, we've been able to better protect them from the threats they face. But we couldn't do it without the efforts of our volunteers and key partners.

Two of these hybrid hatchlings are temporarily being cared for and studied at Sea World, so more can be learned about this rare phenomenon.

'... we hope to learn more about their morphology as they develop, and whether these turtles will be able to reproduce, which is rarely the case for hybrids,' — Principal Conservation Officer Dr Kimberly Finlayson.

🌊 “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.” 🌊

This World Environment Day theme reflects the real work happening every day across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where Rangers continue protecting fragile marine environments above and below the surface.

After reports of suspicious floats drifting offshore near Arlington Reef, a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Ranger dive team deployed aboard vessel Jakarra to investigate what was waiting beneath the surface.

What they discovered was more than marine debris. A large ghost net and frame system lay tightly entangled across exposed coral reef habitat, creating serious threats to marine wildlife, fragile coral systems and vessel safety.

Operations like this are a reminder of what it means to work as a Ranger on the Reef. Not every day is seen from shore. Sometimes the job means entering challenging offshore conditions, carrying specialised equipment into unpredictable waters and working carefully by hand around living coral ecosystems to prevent further damage.

Piece by piece, divers and snorkellers worked carefully to cut the netting free, using teamwork, precision and quick response to safely secure the debris onboard for removal back to shore.

Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is more than a job. It is a responsibility to protect marine life, safeguard fragile ecosystems and help preserve the future of the Reef for generations to come.

🌏 Purpose-driven action. Real impact.
🪸 Protecting what lies beneath the surface.



📷 © Queensland Government

🔥🌿 For more than 55 years, fire has been carefully shaping one small part of Queensland’s landscape and helping researchers better understand how we care for Country into the future.

Inside Peachester State Forest, one of Queensland’s longest-running planned burn studies continues to reveal how the right fire, at the right time, can support healthier ecosystems, stronger biodiversity and more resilient forests.

Working alongside Griffith University, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers are undertaking planned burns in carefully selected sections of the forest. Researchers then collect environmental data from soil, leaf litter and insect communities, building on decades of samples taken as part of the ongoing research, to better understand how planned burns influence the landscape over time.

This is more than managing fire risk.

It’s about protecting ecosystems, supporting native species, improving soil health and helping landscapes recover and thrive for future generations.

🌱 Every planned burn is carefully assessed and tailored to the needs of the environment.
🤝 Science, Rangers, researchers and Traditional Knowledge all play an important role in caring for Country together.

As fire seasons continue to evolve, long-term research like this helps ensure decisions made today are guided by knowledge built over generations.

Visit the QPWS Fire Management webpage to learn more:
https://parks.qld.gov.au/management/programs/fire-management/why-we-burn

#

📷 © Queensland Government

🌍 World Bicycle Day is here and it is the perfect excuse to roll into nature. 🚲

Did you know there are only a few places you can ride a bike in Queensland's island national parks?

High above the coastline on Curtis Island, riders and walkers share stunning trails where every turn brings jaw-dropping views. Whether you are exploring on two feet or two wheels, this is your invitation to ride the trail less travelled and discover something new.

👏 Shout out to our Rangers who build and maintain these tracks so you can ride and explore safely.

So, on World Bicycle Day, why not get out there explore further and try something different? Just remember to plan ahead check signage, be prepared and stay on track literally for your safety and conversation efforts of these epic places. 🌿

https://parks.qld.gov.au/things-to-do/activities/mountain-biking

📸 © Queensland Government

⚠️ Let's see how good your knowledge of Queensland parks and their hazards is ... what do you think this symbol means?

Working together on Sea Country 🌊

QPWS Ranger Dan recently joined Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) staff Eddie and Andrew to carry out compliance activities across Quandamooka Sea Country in the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

This joint patrol was part of an ongoing crab pot cleanup operation, targeting lost and rubbish crab pots that can continue to trap marine life. The team also located and removed illegal crab pots from green zones—highly protected areas where fishing is not permitted to help safeguard marine biodiversity. Any animals found in the pots were carefully released back into the water.

The patrol also focused on go slow zones, helping to protect turtles and dugongs by reducing the risk of boat strikes. Dan, Eddie and Andrew spoke with vessel operators throughout the day, raising awareness of marine park rules and why they matter.

Long days on the water, heavy lifting and constant vigilance are all part of the job—but this work is essential to protecting the natural and cultural values of Quandamooka Sea Country. Strong partnerships like this one play a vital role in caring for the Moreton Bay Marine Park, now and into the future.

⚓ Planning a visit? Be in the know.
Know your zones, know the rules, and play your part.
👉 https://parks.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-bay/zoning/app-and-maps

🖤💛❤️

📷Images: © GBRMP Australian Government