Montebello Islands

The Montebello Islands are an archipelago off the northwestern coast of Western Australia in the Indian Ocean, consisting of dozens of small islands and islets. The group is noted for its coral reef systems and seabird colonies and is managed for conservation.

Shallow lagoons, fringing reefs and island shorelines attract marine wildlife and make the islands a destination for scientific study and limited visitor trips by sea. Access is regulated to protect ecological values and to manage visitor impact.

In 1952 the islands were the site of British nuclear weapons tests, an event that is part of the archipelago’s modern history and has influenced subsequent management and access decisions. The islands are now within protected marine and conservation areas.

The archipelago lies off the Pilbara coast of Western Australia, in the Indian Ocean, well offshore from the mainland and several hundred kilometres north of Perth.

• Historical tests and protection: Location of British nuclear tests in 1952; remains a protected marine area with restricted access for conservation and safety considerations.
• Marine wildlife: Remote archipelago with coral reefs, seabird colonies and marine habitats, visited primarily by organised tours and research trips.