These seven islands feature outstanding rock formations and diverse landforms including shallow reefs, sand spits, beaches and dense rainforest-clad slopes, and host important seabird rookeries.
Getting there and getting around
The Barnard Island Group comprises seven continental islands � Bresnahan, Hutchinson, Jessie, Kent and Lindquist (North Barnard group) and Sisters and Stephens (South Barnard group). They lie 5�10km offshore from Kurrimine Beach, which is approximately 10� 17km south-east of Mourilyan. Access is by private boat or sea kayak from Mourilyan Harbour and Kurrimine Beach.
Mourilyan is about 100km south of Cairns via the Bruce Highway, and Kurrimine Beach is a further 30km via the Bruce Highway and Murdering Point Road.
Park features
Known as high continental islands, the forested slopes of the Barnard Island Group rises steeply from the sea. Heights of the islands vary from 19m to 95m. The Barnard islands have a fascinating geological history dating back 420 million years. The older North Barnard islands are metamorphic rock outcrops while the younger South Barnard islands are layers of well-preserved volcanic tuff with steeply dipping basalt dykes cut through these layers.
The rocky slopes of the Barnard islands are densely cloaked with rainforest, diversity increasing with the size of the island. Mangrove species fringe parts of the islands and there are a number of coastal plants next to the shores. The south Barnard islands (Sister and Stephens islands) are an important breeding site for seabirds with six species of terns recorded nesting there, mainly in the dense vegetation nex
