Green Island National Park Discovery Guide (English)

The Gunggandji people PBC, 2016 PBC, people Gunggandji The

Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (below); Govt Qld © Coquard Maxime

Reef Cruises (right/far right); (right/far Cruises Reef

children. Old people, young people, our country. our people, young people, Old children.

Island Green Cat Big © Photos:

our knowledge, customs and traditions on to our our to on traditions and customs knowledge, our ﬁsh while snorkelling around Green Island. Island. Green around snorkelling while ﬁsh

tropical and turtles with face-to-face Come

Ranger Wayne Ranger ceremonies ‘bring alive’ Green Island, as we pass pass we as Island, Green alive’ ‘bring ceremonies

It doesn’t get much better than this. this. than better much get doesn’t It to country. Once again, our dance, stories and and stories dance, our again, Once country. to

beach. the from swim leisurely short a reefs coral travelled a long road so that we can come back back come can we that so road long a travelled

white sandy beaches, warm turquoise water and and water turquoise warm beaches, sandy white

Title Body Corporate (PNTBC). Our leaders have have leaders Our (PNTBC). Corporate Body Title

variety of ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Reef. Barrier Great the explore to ways of variety

Reef at its best—dense tropical rainforest, beautiful beautiful rainforest, tropical best—dense its at Reef

(PBC) Aboriginal Corporation Registered Native Native Registered Corporation Aboriginal (PBC)

living in captivity. in living boat and semi-submarine journeys, Green Island has a a has Island Green journeys, semi-submarine and boat

Welcome to Green Island. This is the Great Barrier Barrier Great the is This Island. Green to Welcome

and the Gunggandji Prescribed Body Corporate Corporate Body Prescribed Gunggandji the and

more than 100 years old he is the world’s largest crocodile crocodile largest world’s the is he old years 100 than more From snorkelling, diving, sea ﬂoor walking, glass-bottom glass-bottom walking, ﬂoor sea diving, snorkelling, From

the Elders (some of whom have passed away) away) passed have whom of (some Elders the

a helicopter ride. Meet Cassius at Marineland Melanesia— Marineland at Cassius Meet ride. helicopter a

and yellow ﬂags. yellow and you like. you future. We recognise the people of the struggle, struggle, the of people the recognise We future.

For a bird’s-eye view get adventurous and try parasailing or or parasailing try and adventurous get view bird’s-eye a For

Remember, the safest place to snorkel is between the red red the between is snorkel to place safest the Remember, a beach lounge? You can do as much or as little as as little as or much as do can You lounge? beach a The Gunggandji people today are looking to the the to looking are today people Gunggandji The

birds live on Green Island, so there is plenty to see. see. to plenty is there so Island, Green on live birds coral bommies while turtles live and feed in the seagrass. seagrass. the in feed and live turtles while bommies coral in the rainforest, or make yourself comfortable on on comfortable yourself make or rainforest, the in

More than 130 species of plants and around 50 species of of species 50 around and plants of species 130 than More surround the island. Brightly coloured tropical ﬁsh surround surround ﬁsh tropical coloured Brightly island. the surround glass-bottom boat tour. Why not stop for a picnic picnic a for stop not Why tour. boat glass-bottom

the forest floor while butterflies dance in the tropical air. air. tropical the in dance butterflies while floor forest the younger generations through art, music, dance and stories. stories. and dance music, art, through generations younger differences between the coral reef and seagrass beds which which beds seagrass and reef coral the between differences a join or kayak sea a on shoreline the beyond go

its cool rainforest where buff-banded rails scamper around around scamper rails buff-banded where rainforest cool its the creation of all things. This knowledge is passed on to to on passed is knowledge This things. all of creation the Snorkel right off the pristine shore and explore the unique unique the explore and shore pristine the off right Snorkel Dip into the sea for a refreshing swim or snorkel, snorkel, or swim refreshing a for sea the into Dip

Above the water Green Island is just as incredible. Explore Explore incredible. as just is Island Green water the Above an understanding of their land and sea country including including country sea and land their of understanding an water wonderland below Green Island’s tropical surface. surface. tropical Island’s Green below wonderland water

recharge on ‘island time’. time’. ‘island on recharge

Explore above Explore base for the First Nations people of Yarrabah. They share share They Yarrabah. of people Nations First the for base Get face-to-face with nature. Immerse yourself in the the in yourself Immerse nature. with face-to-face Get

below the sea. Or simply take a day to completely completely to day a take simply Or sea. the below Explore below Explore generations. The reef was, and still is, a signiﬁcant resource resource signiﬁcant a is, still and was, reef The generations.

full of adventure—in the air, on the island or or island the on air, the adventure—in of full have an active role in looking after these values for future future for values these after looking in role active an have

Enjoy a true tropical island experience in a day day a in experience island tropical true a Enjoy

surrounding Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Marine Reef Barrier Great surrounding who people, Gunggandji the for signiﬁcance cultural

Heritage environments of Green Island National Park and the the and Park National Island Green of environments Heritage contemporary and traditional hold reef and island The place.

Great Barrier Reef Barrier Great

sandy white beaches, Green Island combines the World World the combines Island Green beaches, white sandy special their of care take you that ask Island—Wunyami—and

Reef Cruises Reef

A rainforest cay built entirely by coral, and fringed by by fringed and coral, by entirely built cay rainforest A Green to you welcome people Aboriginal Gunggandji The Island Green Cat Big © Photo: the and Island Green

for marine lovers. marine for

Explore Green Island Green Explore country sea and Land is a unique experience experience unique a is

Welcome to to Welcome

Marineland Melanesia Marineland

Queensland National Parks

Getting there Everything you need • Protect the coral by using rest stations, or only resting on the sand. Never stand on coral or coral rock. Just 27km offshore from Cairns, Green Island is easily Green Island is completely equipped with a range • Wear a stinger suit if you plan to swim or snorkel—to reached by tourist transport and there is a great range of of facilities. help protect you from sun exposure and marine stingers Green Island adventurous travel options available including boat or • Toilets, showers, lockers, meals and refreshments (jellyfish) which may be present at any time, but occur helicopter. Make your journey part of the experience! are available at Green Island Resort, with snorkelling more frequently in the warmer months. National Park Find out more at queensland.com equipment for hire at the resort Dive Shop. • Plan your day to snorkel or swim at high tide when it is and surrounds • Towels, beach umbrellas, sun lounges and non-motorised easier to enter and leave the water. Further information water sports (such as kayaking) are available at Beach • Be sun safe—wear a hat and sunscreen and drink plenty qld.gov.au/NationalParks Hire, located left of the jetty behind the patrolled of water. swimming beach. • Pay close attention to all safety instructions given by qld.gov.au/ParkAlerts (access, closures and conditions) tour guides, life guards, Park Rangers and on Boating and fishing information signs. qldnationalparks Safe anchorage is provided for vessels up to 20m by 3 public • Green Island and the surrounding ocean is a ‘no-take’ @QldParks; #QldParks Scan to check moorings near the island. If unavailable, anchor only on sand park alerts zone. Never touch, pick-up or take plants or animals as anchoring on coral is prohibited. Boats are not permitted This brochure is also available online from the land or sea. You will be fined by a Park Ranger in the exclusion zone (refer to map). Fishing and motorised at qld.gov.au/ParkBrochures if you do. water sports, such as jet skiing, are not allowed in the • Never feed wildlife including birds or fish. waters surrounding Green Island. Refer to gbrmpa.gov.au • Be pest free! Make sure your clothes, footwear and gear for more information. are free from soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, insects, Explore safely spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice. Make your visit to Green Island memorable for all the • Place all rubbish, litter, and any plant or grass seeds right reasons. attached to your clothes, into bins. • Smoking is not allowed on most of the island. Smoke only • Get advice and instructions from lifeguards, snorkel in the designated smoking area. Place all cigarette butts guides or dive instructors—especially if it is your first in the special butt bins provided. time swimming or snorkelling. The safest place to swim • No flying drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) on the island or snorkel is between the red and yellow flags. or over Green Island Reef. • Always swim and snorkel in pairs and wear a personal • Remain on the boardwalks and marked tracks—don’t take flotation device or buoyancy device. short cuts or form new tracks through the rainforest.

©State of Queensland 2021. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment and Science. Bp0843 March 2021. Printed on eco-friendly paper to save energy and resources. Photos: © Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises (front and back cover); Maxime Coquard © Qld Govt (right).