Commonwealth Islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park stretch from the tip of Cape York at Albany Rock to the southern most island on the Great Barrier Reef at Lady Elliot Island.

There are 70 Commonwealth Islands that together form the Commonwealth Islands zone that is the only land component of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. 

These islands are tenured to the Commonwealth of Australia with 21 islands tenured to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority which holds property on behalf of the Australian Government.

The islands reflect the diverse use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. A number of islands are important tourism, recreation, heritage and research sites with at least 21 islands housing navigational light houses and a large number being accessed for defence activities.

Many Commonwealth Islands have significant heritage value with historic light stations, associated shipping and navigation history, Indigenous significance and natural value. This includes considerable interconnected reef and island localities that support some of the richest biodiversity on the planet, including turtle and sea bird nesting sites, pisonia forests, and hard and soft corals.

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