30 km off the coast of Cairns is a small - area of 4 square kilometers - Fitzroy Island, which can be reached only by ferry. The journey takes 45 minutes. The island is surrounded by coral reefs, which are part of the Marine Park "Great Barrier Reef". This is one of the favorite places of recreation for residents and visitors Cairns: You can go diving or snorkeling, to admire the fragile beauty of the underwater world. The white sandy beaches and safe water - ideal for swimming, water sports and sailing.
Shallow hilly terrain if created for walks along one of the many hiking trails that cross the entire island, and leading to the two main beaches, the observation deck or to the lighthouse on the western tip of the island.
About 10 thousand years ago, the island was still connected to the mainland. But when the last ice age ended, the glaciers melted water from the flooded valley between Fitzroy and other mountain peaks. Thus was formed isolated island.
For thousands of years, the natives of the tribe gungandzhi (Gunganji) used the area for hunting and fishing. In 1778 there appeared the first European - Captain James Cook, who gave the name of the island. In 1876 Fitzroy became a quarantine station for the Chinese people traveling to the gold mines Palmer River in the early 20th century it was grown fruits and vegetables, and then extracted pearls, and during the Second World War it housed a military base.
Today, 97% of the island is the National Park with a variety of ecosystems: rain forest, mangroves, savannas, coral beaches. It is home to a huge variety of terrestrial and marine species of animals and plants. Just a few meters from the beach you can see the colorful hard and soft corals and amazing marine animals. On land inhabited by many species of birds - the emerald dove, crested cockatoo dzhunglevaya chicken, osprey, zheltogrudy paradise kingfisher, pied imperial pigeon. The main predators on the island - it is a reptile, mostly pythons (brown and green), monitor lizards and large skinks. Yellow lizard, reaching 1 to 2 m in length, can often be found near the pier. Poisonous snakes are not found.