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Cairns City Guide - $section
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Bowling Green Bay National Park
About a six hours drive south of Cairns lies Bowling
Green Bay National Park. Covering 55,300 hectares, this is the
largest National Park in the region, an area once home to the
Wulgurukaba Aboriginal people who have left their mark in beautiful
rock paintings. Bowling Green Bay National Park is sited between
Townsville and Bowen and includes the Mount Elliot area and
adjacent coastal wetlands, saltpans and mangrove swamps. Alligator
Creek meanders through the park, with beautiful waterfalls and
cascades crashing into deep pools, surrounded by tropical
rainforest.
Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island was named by Captain James Cook in
1770 when he believed that the landmass of the island affected the
magnetic compass on his ship, 'Endeavour'. More than half of the
island, which is about five miles (8km) from Townsville, is a
National Park known for its rugged landscape with granite boulders,
hoop pines and eucalyptus trees. The island has 23 beaches and
bays, some of which can only be reached on foot. There are more
than 12 miles (20km) of walking trails marked out on the island.
Part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park fringes the island,
which is also home to the most northerly colony of free-ranging
koala bears in Australia. The island offers a wide range of
accommodation. Local transport is available on the
island.
