Cape Palmerston National Park

Cape Palmerston National Park Queensland
IUCN category II (national park)
Cape Palmerston National Park
Nearest town or city	Koumala
Coordinates	21°35′25″S 149°25′39″E
Established	1976
Area	71.9 km^2 (27.76 sq mi)[1]
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Cape Palmerston National Park
See also	Protected areas of Queensland

Cape Palmerston is a national park in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2]

Geography

The park is 748 km northwest of Brisbane. It is located within the boundaries of Koumala, part of the Mackay Region local government area. It lies within the water catchment area of Plane Creek and the Central Mackay Coast bioregion.^[1]

It contains a land area of 7,160 ha and has 28 km of coastline on each side of the Cape Palmerston—named by Captain James Cook in 1770 after Viscount Palmerston, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty.^[3] Within the park is the 344 m Mount Funnel.^[4]

External videos
Aerial view of Cape Creek Camping Ground

The park contains mangrove trees, dunes, woodlands, grass, and wetlands. It is home to the threatened water mouse species, and hosts numerous birds. Three other rare or threatened species have been identified in the park.^[1] Birdwatching enthusiasts can enjoy the view of ospreys and sea eagles hovering over their heads, and white-breasted woodswallows in flowering grasstrees.^[5]

Access is by four-wheel drive vehicle.^[6] There are three camping areas. Permits are required and can be collected at a self-registration station.

See also

• Protected areas of Queensland

References

1. "Cape Palmerston National Park". WetlandInfo. Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
2. "Cape Palmerston National Park – Mackay Region (entry 6129)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
3. Beaglehole, J.C., ed. (1968). The Journals of Captain James Cook on His Voyages of Discovery, vol. I:The Voyage of the Endeavour 1768–1771. Cambridge University Press. pp. 334–335. OCLC 223185477.
4. Short, Andrew (2000), Beaches of the Queensland Coast: Cooktown to Coolangatta, Sydney University Press, p. 202, ISBN 0958650411.
5. "Cape Palmerston National Park - Attractions".
6. Cape Palmerston National Park, Queensland Government: Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing, 15 February 2012, retrieved 14 February 2013.