Gloucester Island National Park
National park in Queensland, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gloucester Island National Park is a protected area in Queensland, Australia, 950 km northwest of Brisbane.[1][2][3] The national park includes Gloucester Island and all or parts of some neighbouring islands.[4] It is visible from the town of Bowen.
| Gloucester Island National Park | |
|---|---|
Gloucester Island | |
  Gloucester Island National Park Location within Queensland | |
| Location | Queensland |
| Nearest city | Bowen |
| Coordinates | 20°00′55″S 148°27′18″E |
| Area | 29.60 km2 (11.43 sq mi) |
| Established | 1994 |
| Governing body | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
Geography
The average altitude of the terrain is 34 metres.[5]
History
The island was seen and erroneously named "Cape Gloucester" by British explorer James Cook in 1770.[6] Subsequently, the Admiralty's hydrographer transferred the name to the cape on the mainland immediately south of the island, which is still known as Cape Gloucester.[7][8]
Attractions
Birdwatching is popular from October to April, when thousands of migrating birds can be seen, especially waders.[9]
