Capricornia Cays National Park

Capricornia Cays National Park comprises a group of coral sand cays and their surrounding marine environments on the southern Great Barrier Reef. The park protects vegetated sand cays, fringing coral reef, seabird colonies and marine turtle nesting beaches.

Vegetation on the cays includes coastal shrub and grass communities adapted to sandy, saline conditions; seabird colonies and green turtle nest sites are key ecological values. Many cays are small, uninhabited and are accessible only by boat or authorised tours.

The cays have been recognized for conservation and are managed under Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service with coordination alongside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park for marine zoning and species protection. Management focuses on preventing disturbance to nesting birds and turtles and controlling introduced species.

The cays lie off the central Queensland coast on the southern margin of the Great Barrier Reef, northeast of the mainland coastal towns in the Rockhampton region.

• Wildlife and access restrictions: Several cays are important breeding sites for seabirds and nesting green turtles; access to many cays is restricted during nesting seasons to protect wildlife.
• Marine protection: The park forms part of the southern Great Barrier Reef marine region and is managed with adjacent marine park rules for fishing and anchoring; check marine zoning before visiting by boat.