Orpheus Island National Park

Orpheus Island National Park
Reinward chicken
Coordinates: 18 ° 37 ′ 6 ″  S , 146 ° 29 ′ 37 ″  E
Location:	Queensland , Australia
Specialty:	rocky capes, sandy beaches, eucalyptus and rainforests
Next city:	Ingham
Surface:	13 km²
Founding:	1960

The Orpheus Island National Park (English: Orpheus Island National Park ) is a national park in the northeast of the Australian state of Queensland . It is 1,189 kilometers northwest of Brisbane and 45 kilometers east of Ingham .

Pelorus Island is located 800 meters north of Orpheus Island. The Albino Rock also belongs to the national park, 2.6 kilometers west of Great Palm Island . The islands belonging to the national park are part of the Local Government Area Hinchinbrook Shire .

The national parks of Hinchinbrook Island , Halifax Bay Wetlands and Paluma Range are in the vicinity .

Origin of name

The local Aborigines call the island Goolboddi Island . The island was named 'Orpheus Island' in 1887 by Lieutenant GE Richards to commemorate HMS Orpheus, which sank off Auckland in 1863 .

National nature

Orpheus Island was formed 280 million years ago by magma that penetrated the crevices of the granite rock base . This created typical, ring-shaped dykes that spread out in the shape of a spider web. The island on the continental shelf is about 12 km long. Their width varies between 1 and 2.5 kilometers. It offers rocky capes and fine sandy beaches and is surrounded by coral reefs .

Flora and fauna

The island is mainly covered with light eucalyptus and acacia forest. Tropical rainforests grow in sheltered valleys and bays. There you can find fig trees and the typical macaranga trees with their heart-shaped leaves. Occasionally one also comes across small strips of grassland.

A number of mammals and reptiles live on Orpheus Island, as do water and land birds. Examples of water birds are the osprey and the heron , and of land birds the Reinward grouse .

Facilities and access

Camping is permitted at Yanks Jetty, South Beach and Pioneer Bay . There are toilets at Yanks Jetty and Pioneer Bay, and gas grills at Yanks Jetty. A James Cook University research station and an exclusive vacation resort are located on the island . There are no roads or hiking trails.

The island can be reached by private or charter boats.

Web links

• Official site of the park (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Australian Government - CAPAD 2010 ( MS Excel ; 170 kB), DSEWPaC , accessed on January 7, 2013 (English)
2. ↑ Australian Government - CAPAD 1997 ( MS Excel ; 93 kB), DSEWPaC , accessed on January 7, 2013 (English)
3. ^ Steve Parish: Australian Touring Atlas . Steve Parish Publishing. Archerfield QLD 2007. ISBN 978-1-74193-232-4 . P. 13
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Orpheus Island National Park . Department of Environment and Resource Management. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 30, 2012.