30 km from the coast of Cairns is a small area of 4 square kilometers - Fitzroy island, accessible only by ferry. The trip takes 45 minutes. The island is surrounded by coral reefs that are part of the marine Park Great barrier reef". This is one of the favorite places of recreation for residents of Cairns and visitors: here you can dive or snorkel to admire the fragile beauty of the underwater world. White sandy beaches and safe waters – ideal for swimming, practicing water sports and sailing.
The gentle hilly countryside is perfect for exploring one of the many trails that cross the island, leading to the two main beaches, the observation deck or to the lighthouse on the Western tip of the island.
About 10 thousand years ago the island was still connected to the mainland. But when did the last ice age, water from melted glaciers flooded the valley between the Fitzroy and other mountain peaks. It formed an isolated island.
For thousands of years the aboriginal people of the tribe of Honganji (Gunganji) used the area for hunting and fishing. In 1778 there was the first European to captain James cook, who gave the island the name. In 1876 Fitzroy became a quarantine station for Chinese traveling to the Goldfields of the Palmer river, in the early 20th century it was grown fruits and vegetables, then extracted the pearls, and during the Second World war, it housed a military base.
Today 97% of the island is national Park with a variety of ecosystems: rain forest, mangrove swamps, savannas, coral beaches. It is home to a huge diversity of terrestrial and marine species of animals and plants. Just a few metres from the beach you can see colorful hard and soft corals and amazing marine animals. On land, many species of birds – emerald dove, crested cockatoo, a jungle hen, osprey, yellow-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, pied Imperial pigeon. The main predators on the island is reptiles, mostly pythons (brown and green), monitor lizards and large Skinks. Yellow lizard (1, 2 m in length, can often be found near the Marina. Poisonous snakes are not found here.