Download Maps
Hinchinbrook Settings Map 1 Settings, significant bird site, transit lanes and cruise ship anchorages - 319.9 kb
Hinchinbrook Settings Map 2 (Family and Brook Islands) Settings, significant bird sites and no anchorage areas - 543.6 kb
Related Links
Hinchinbrook Plan of Management(Format: pdf; 1,742 KB)
To help maintain a range of opportunities for visitors to the area, every Location within the Hinchinbrook Planning Area has been assigned a setting of low, moderate or intensive use. This reflects the appropriate intensity of use for that Location. The main factor is the size of the group you are carrying, but there are also some requirements about vessel length.
Your permit may also include an additional high use setting that refers only to the State Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park.
What is the group size limit?
Before accessing a Location in the Hinchinbrook Planning Area check the setting maps (see Download Map) to ensure that the number of people in your group is within the nominated group size for that destination.
Group size limits refer to the total number of people on board your vessel or aircraft, including crew.
| Group Size | Can I access a Low Use Location? | Can I access a Moderate Use Location? | Can I access a Intensive Use Location? |
| 15 people or less | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 16-60 people | No | Yes | Yes |
| Above 60 people | No | No | Yes |
Can I visit with a larger groups?
You may access a Location with a larger group if:
- you hold an individual exemption from any limits through your permit (check for any endorsements or letters of authorisation)
- your vessel or aircraft is in transit through the Location by the most direct route
- you are a long range roving operation and you wish to visit a Low Use Location, but you must not have more than 30 passengers on board
- you are providing passenger transport in the Cape Richards Location.
What is the vessel size limit?
To help protect a range of opportunities for tourism and recreation, you may generally only use vessels of up to 35 metres in length to access Locations in the Hinchinbrook Planning Area.
If your vessel is between 20 and 35 metres, you may only access Missionary Bay when using the transit lanes. This additional measure is to protect important dugong populations in the bay.
What if I operate a large vessel?
If you have a large vessel that is 35 metres or more in length, you must remain outside specific Locations unless:
- you are visiting the Dunk (Coonanglebah) Island Spit Location
- you are transiting to or from a cruise ship anchorage (booking required)
- you hold an individual exemption from any limits through your permit (check your permit for any endorsements or letters of authorisation).
A large vessel can never access the Missionary Bay Location.
