Cape York Peninsula National Parks

Australian National Parks

Cape York Peninsula is a peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia. Cape York 1041′S 14232′E is at the tip of the peninsula and is the northernmost point on the Australian continent. It was named by Lt. James Cook in 1770 after His Royal Highness the Duke of York. From the tip, it is about 140 km to New Guinea across the island-studded Torres Strait. The west coast borders the Gulf of Carpentaria and the east coast borders the Coral Sea. Cape York Peninsula is approximately 137,000 km in area and it has a population of about 18,000.

Geographically, it is an extremely eroded, almost level plain, with some very low hills on the eastern side. The highest of these form the Iron Range, noted for its unusual tropical rainforests. These support species, including the Eclectus Parrot and Southern Common Cuscus, also found in New Guinea.

Click here to see a list of parks in Cape York Peninsula region

The climate on Cape York Peninsula is tropical and monsoonal, with a wet season extending from November to April and a dry season from May to October. The temperature across it is warm to hot, with a cooler climate in higher areas. The mean annual temperatures range from 18 C at higher elevations to 27 C on the lowlands in the far south-west. Temperature over 40 C and below 5 C are rare.

There are many rivers, amongst them the Endeavour, Annan, Bloomfield, Pascoe, Jardine, Wenlock, Archer, Holdroyd, Mitchell, and Staaten. In fact, Cape York Peninsula contributes as much as a quarter of Australia's surface runoff. Indeed, with only about 2.7 percent of Australia's land area it produces more runoff than all of Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

A completely sealed inland road links Cairns and the Atherton Tableland to Lakeland Downs and Cooktown. The road north of Lakeland Downs to the tip of the Peninsula is sometimes cut after heavy rains during the wet season (roughly December to May). Cape York is a popular destination from May to October for 4WD enthusiasts who come to test their driving skills and their vehicles on the remaining sections of the Overland Telegraph Track.

Some of the world's most extensive and ancient rock painting galleries surround the tiny town of Laura, some of which are available for public viewing. There is also an impressive new Interpretive Centre from which information on the rock art and local Aboriginal culture is available and tours can be arranged.

Cape Melville National Park - Remote, rugged and diverse park with wild coastal scenery and impressive geological formations. Unusual wildlife, flora and fauna includes the foxtail palm. Crocodile habitat.

Flinders Group National Park - The Flinders Group of islands is located adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay, 25km west of Cape Melville and 11km north of Bathurst Heads, 340km north of Cairns on eastern Cape York.

Iron Range National Park - Long sweeping beaches, rocky outcrops, the largest area of lowland tropical rainforest in Australia and rugged, heath-covered ranges are significant features of this remote park on Cape York Peninsula.

Jardine River National Park - The park and reserves are located in the remote north of Cape York Peninsula. Most of the roads on the peninsula are accessible by 4WD only.

Lake field National Park - Lakefield is Queenslands second largest national park, covering an area of approximately 537 000ha.

Lizard Island National Park - These six islands are surrounded by luxuriant coral reefs and warm, sparkling blue waters, fringed by mangroves and sandy beaches and cloaked in grasslands, woodlands and wind-sheared heaths.

Mungkan National Park - Mungkan Kandju National Park is a remote park suited to visitors seeking a wilderness experience.

Three Islands National Park - Two wooded islands south-west of Cape Flattery are protected in Three Islands Group National Park.

Turtle National Park - Bush camp on all three Turtle Islands or camp on the northern side of Nymph Island.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service