National park · Australia
Capricornia Cays National Park
Go only if you are sleeping on a cay: day-trippers reach Lady Musgrave or Heron by boat or seaplane, campers need a booked site and their own boat transfer, and the reef is the point, not the walking. Skip it if you want trails — the two island tracks are 1.1–1.7 km (0.7–1.1 mi).Go only if you are sleeping on a cay: day-trippers reach Lady Musgrave or Heron by boat or seaplane, campers need a booked site and their own boat transfer, and the reef is the point, not the walking. Skip it if you want trails — the two island tracks are 0.7–1.1 mi (1.1–1.7 km).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1994
Best months
May–Aug
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 1 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (1 km²)
- Terrestrial area of the eight cays is small; the park also includes surrounding reef and waters, so total protected area figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1994
- Best months
- May–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Capricornia Cays National Park is eight coral cays in the southern Great Barrier Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area since 1981. Only four matter to a visitor: Heron Island, with the resort, research station and reef straight off the beach; North West Island, the largest cay and the biggest campground; Lady Musgrave Island, a small cay inside a wide lagoon and the usual day-trip target; and Mast Head Island, the quietest camp, open only in the cooler months. There is no entry fee and no walking to speak of — the two marked tracks are 1.1 km and 1.7 km. What you actually pay for is the transfer: a day boat from Bundaberg or 1770, the resort ferry from Gladstone, or your own boat with a booked camping permit. Everything else on the page follows from that: pick the cay you can reach, then pick the month.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1981Part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Size and age
1 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1994
Terrestrial area of the eight cays is small; the park also includes surrounding reef and waters, so total protected area figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- A coral cay is a different reef experience from a pontoon: you swim off the beach into shallow lagoon coral.
- Green and loggerhead turtles nest on the cays in summer and hatchlings run to the water from January.
- Camping on North West or Mast Head Island gives you an island with no resort, no shop and very few people.
- The cays sit in the southern Great Barrier Reef, reachable from Gladstone, Bundaberg or 1770 without flying to Cairns.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanHot, wet, stingers in the water; turtle hatchlings
- FebWettest month; stingers; boats often cancelled
- MarRain eases late in the month; stingers until May
- AprCamping season opens at Easter; water still warm
- MayDry, clear, calm; stingers gone
- JunCool nights, best visibility for snorkelling
- JulPeak season; book transfers and campsites early
- AugDry and breezy; humpback whales passing
- SepWarm, windy afternoons; whales still around
- OctMast Head camping closes 14 October
- NovBuild-up heat; stingers return
- DecTurtles nesting; stingers; afternoon storms
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green and loggerhead turtles nestingNov–Feb · Nesting on the beaches after dark; hatchlings from January. | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Humpback whalesJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Seabird nesting colonies (wedge-tailed shearwaters, terns)Oct–Mar · Loud at night; keep to tracks and never handle birds. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Box jellyfish and IrukandjiNov–May · Stinger season in these waters; swim only in stinger nets or with a stinger suit. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Gladstone
Heron Island ferry or seaplane transfer; the ferry runs most mornings except Tuesday and Thursday (check).
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Bundaberg
Day-trip boat to Lady Musgrave Island with a pontoon and lagoon snorkelling.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From 1770 (Seventeen Seventy)
Fast catamaran day trips and liveaboard departures to Fitzroy Reef and Lady Musgrave.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Brisbane
Fly or drive to Gladstone or Bundaberg, then join a transfer; driving is about 6 h to Gladstone.
6 h drive or 1 h flight
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Heron Island | The most developed cay: resort, research station, visitor centre and reef right off the beach. | Resort guests and day visitors on the ferry or seaplane. |
| North West Island | The largest cay in the group, with the 1.7 km (1.1 mi) track and a large campground behind the beach.The largest cay in the group, with the 1.1 mi (1.7 km) track and a large campground behind the beach. | Own boat or charter; camping permit required. |
| Lady Musgrave Island | A small cay inside a large lagoon, the usual day-trip target from Bundaberg and 1770. | Day boats and permitted campers. |
| Mast Head Island | Quietest campground, near-whole-island feel, seasonal opening. | Own boat or charter; camping permit required. |
| Tryon, Wilson and the smaller cays | Scientific and restricted cays with no public access. | Closed to visitors. |
Sketch map
- 1Heron Island · Sleep≈-23.442, 151.915Map ↗
- 2Heron Island Information Centre · Headquarters≈-23.441, 151.913Map ↗
- 3North West Island campground · Sleep≈-23.296, 151.707Map ↗
- 4Lady Musgrave Island campground · Sleep≈-23.907, 152.392Map ↗
- 5Mast Head Island campground · Sleep≈-23.538, 151.725Map ↗
- 6Gladstone · Town≈-23.842, 151.256Map ↗
- 7Bundaberg · Town≈-24.866, 152.348Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Cay positions are approximate, from the park's published island locations; use them for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (day use, all cays) | Free | person | No entry fee for the national park itself; you pay for the boat, seaplane or resort transfer that gets you there. |
| Camping permit, North West or Lady Musgrave Island | AUD 7 (≈ US$5) | person per night | 2026 estimate; Queensland parks camping fee band, book online before you travel (check). |
| Camping permit, Mast Head Island | AUD 7 (≈ US$5) | person per night | 2026 estimate; same fee band, separate island quota (check). |
| Day trip by boat to Lady Musgrave Island | AUD 250–350 (≈ US$170–250) | person | 2026 estimate; includes the reef transfer and usually lunch, from Bundaberg or 1770. |
| Heron Island ferry from Gladstone | AUD 200–300 (≈ US$140–200) | person return | 2026 estimate; resort-operated, guests and day visitors (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Camping permit permit or guide
Day use no permit
Private boat and fishing permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- A$7≈ US$5
- A$7≈ US$5
- A$250–350≈ US$170–250
- A$200–300≈ US$140–200
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — zoning and permits before you go.
Park rules
- No collecting
- Coral, shells, sand and plants are protected; take nothing off the cay.
- Camping
- Only on North West, Lady Musgrave and Mast Head Island with a booked permit; no camping elsewhere in the park.
- Fires
- No open fires or barbecues on the cays; bring a gas stove if you are camping.
- Wildlife distance
- Stay back from nesting turtles and seabirds; no torches, flash or drones near them.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a permit from Queensland Parks (check).check
- Rubbish
- There is no waste collection on the camping cays; carry everything back to the mainland.
Where to stay
In the park
Heron Island Resort
The only resort in the park; rooms, dive shop and the Shearwater restaurant.
In the park
North West Island campground
Large sandy sites behind the beach; composting toilet, no water, no power.
In the park
Lady Musgrave Island campground
A handful of sites in the trees; no water and no facilities beyond a toilet.
In the park
Mast Head Island campground
Small, quiet sites; open Easter to 14 October only.
Near the park
Gladstone and Bundaberg
Mainland bases with hotels, supermarkets and the transfer departures.
Safety
Stingers (box jellyfish, Irukandji) high
Strong currents and open-water crossings medium
Sun and heat medium
No mobile signal and no fresh water on camping cays medium
Cyclones medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Heron Island has a jetty, paths and resort facilities that suit some limited-mobility visitors; ask the resort before booking.
- The camping cays have soft sand, no paths and no facilities; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Boat transfers require stepping across from the jetty or beach into a tender.
Visiting lightly
- Do not stand on coral or touch it; fins and hands break it.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and take all rubbish back to the mainland.
- Keep 5 m from turtles and never block a hatchling's path to the water.
- Book with operators that hold a marine park permit and follow the no-anchoring reef rules.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Capricornia Cays National Park?
There is no entry fee for the national park. You pay for the transfer that gets you there: a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island is roughly A$250–350 per person (2026 estimate), and the Heron Island ferry from Gladstone is roughly A$200–300 return. Camping on North West, Lady Musgrave or Mast Head Island needs a booked permit, about A$7 per person per night (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Capricornia Cays National Park?
There are only two marked tracks. The Lady Musgrave Island track is about 1.1 km one way and takes 20 minutes; the North West Island track is about 1.7 km one way, also about 20 minutes. Both are easy, sandy and shaded in parts. The real activity on these cays is snorkelling the lagoon, not walking.
When is the best time to visit Capricornia Cays National Park?
May to August: dry, calm, clear water for snorkelling and humpback whales offshore from June. Camping on Mast Head Island runs from Easter to 14 October, and North West and Lady Musgrave camping runs from Easter to Australia Day. November to May is stinger season, so swim in a stinger suit or net.
Which cay should I choose?
Lady Musgrave for a day trip with a big lagoon and easy snorkelling. Heron Island if you want a resort bed, a research station and reef off the beach. North West for the largest campground and the longest track. Mast Head for the quietest camp, open only in the cooler months.
Can I get there without a boat?
No. The cays are reached by charter boat, ferry or seaplane from Gladstone, Bundaberg or 1770. There is no bridge, no road and no regular public transport to the islands.
Do I need a permit to camp?
Yes. Book a camping permit through Queensland Parks before you travel; sites are limited and school holidays fill early. You also need your own boat or a booked charter to reach the camping cays.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialQueensland Parks and Wildlife Service — Capricornia Cays National Park
- officialQueensland Parks — Capricornia Cays camping and bookings
- officialGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — zoning and permits
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Great Barrier Reef
- secondaryWikivoyage: Capricornia Cays National Park, revision 4954642 (CC BY-SA 4.0)