Hinchinbrook Island
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Hinchinbrook Island is the largest island National Park in Australia, on the coast, near Cardwell, Queensland. It is nearly totally covered by the Hinchinbrook Island National Park.
It is at 18º21'S, 146º14'E, just north of the town of Ingham, approximately 150km south of the city of Cairns.
Nature
Hinchinbrook Island came into being when after the last ice age the sea level rose and flooded nowaday's Hinchinbrook Channel which had up to then been a valley. Thus, Hinchinbrook Island was originally a coastal mountain.
Today, the shores of Hinchinbrook Channel or Hinchinbrook Passage and the northwest of the isle situated Missionary Bay are covered with extensive mangroves, and the seagrass meadows in the adjoining relatively shallow waters are grazed by dugongs, members of a threatened species of seacows. Hinchinbrook Island's eastern seaboard is mainly rocky and sandy, only around the estuaries of the larger creeks grow mangroves. It borders the Great Barrier Reef.
The island itself is wild, mountainous and covered with thick bush, heath and forests. The island's highest point is Mount Bowen, whose summit is at 1121m or 3747ft above sea level.
The climate is tropical, partly rather wet, partly rather dry (see diagrams).
History
Prior to European settlement Hinchinbrook Island was inhabited by the Bandjin people, who also settled on the coastal strip on the other side of the Hinchinbrook Channel. They left shell middens, which still testify the former inhabitation of the island by aboriginals.
In 1770 A.D. James Cook and his crew on the HMS Endeavour sailed past in some distance east of Hinchinbrook Island. Its current name received Hinchinbrook Island on the 19th May 1819 A.D. from Lieutenant Phillip Parker King RN (1791-1856) - naval officer, hydrographer and company manager - who then explored the north-eastern coast of Australia on the HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid, "possibly because Hinchinbrook was one of the titles held by the Montagu family, formerly Earls of Halifax, so King related the Island to Halifax Bay (named by Cook)" [link].
In the following decades a few European settlers came to the island who fished, farmed or mined there. However, never has a large part of the island been affected by these economic efforts.
In the 20th century most of the island was declared national park, which it is still today -- Australia's largest island national park.
Tourism
Destinations & Regulations
Apart from being an important nature reserve, Hinchinbrook Island is also an important (eco-)tourism destination. It is concentrated mainly on two parts of the isle:(1) There is a small resort on the northern tip of Hinchinbrook Island, Cape Richards, which lies outside the national park area. In it are the only remaining inhabitable buildings on the isle.
(2) Along the eastern coast of the island leads the 32 Km or 20 miles Thorsborne Trail, which has been named so in honour of the scientists and environmental activists Arthur and Margaret Thorsborne. It is a favourite destination for multiple-day walks. As part of its mangement of the park, authorities have limited the number of people that are allowed to visit and camp overnight as well as the number of nights they are allowed to stay in succession. Therefore it is necessary to successfully apply for a camping permit prior to walking the trail. This can be done online under https://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks/iaparks/gds/IAGDS020.do?parkId=211 (see also http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=244). These steps are meant to protect the unique and delicate habitats with the aim of preserving biodiversity.
Day visitor pressure on Hinchinbrook Island is increasing due to adjacent coastal canal estate developments. Also, some feel that wilderness values across the island are being threatened because of development into Hinchinbrook Channel from Port Hinchinbrook.
Travelling to & fro
There are two ferries to Hinchinbrook Island:(1) Hinchinbrook Wilderness Safaris provides ferry services between Lucinda on the mainland and George Point on the south-eastern corner of Hinchinbrook Island. They also offer a minibus shuttle service between Lucinda and Ingham when required. (2) Hinchinbrook Island Ferries provide ferry services between the north-eastern parts of Hinchinbrook Island (Ramsay Bay, Macushla, Cape Richards) and Port Hinchinbrook on the mainland with bus connection to Cardwell.
Further Information
Aerial photos & maps
- [www.hinchinbrook.info] - A community site documenting development pressures on Hinchinbrook Island and Channel
- [Wikitravel: Hinchinbrook Island]
- [Hinchinbrook Island National Park] - Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
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