• Cairns Area Plan of Management - Low Isles
• Anchoring and Reef Protection Markers
• Low Island Bookings
• Low Island Booking Database

Low Isles is located offshore from Port Douglas and is a popular destination for tourists and locals. To manage the pressures at this fragile site, management arrangements are in place through the Cairns Area Plan of Management. The area around Low Island and the lagoon area is referred to as the Low Island Locality and is managed as a Sensitive Location.

Sensitive Locations in the Cairns Area are identified as having special values (nature conservation, cultural and heritage, scientific or use values). A high level of protection is also afforded to Low Isles through the Zoning Plan with surrounding waters designated Marine National Park (Green) Zone. This zone is a 'no take' zone, which means that extractive activities such as fishing or collecting are not allowed. Please refer to the Zoning Maps for detailed information and the Activity Guide for a simplified explanation of activities you can do in each zone.

The Low Island Locality has restrictions on group sizes, vessel sizes, activities and number of visiting vessels. Some vessels have exemptions regarding group sizes and access. The restrictions set out below apply to both recreational and commercial visitors to Low Island. However, recreational visitors are not required to make a booking.

Cairns Area Plan of Management - Low Island Locality

• Maximum group size of 15 persons per vessel or aircraft *
• No anchoring of vessels or aircraft more than 35 metres in overall length
• Anchoring is not restricted within 50 metres of moorings
• Anchoring is not restricted within 200 metres of pontoons
• No motorised water sports or hovercraft
• No island access between sunset and sunrise
• No waste discharge
• Vessel or aircraft speed limit of six knots
• Limits on vessel bookings to two per day

* Note: These limits do not apply to:

• A vessel or aircraft if it is in transit through the location by the most direct route;
• A permitted tourism operator who has a relevant permission or special endorsement or authorisation from the GBRMPA;
• A traditional inhabitant conducting non-commercial traditional activities.

For more information on management of locations in the Cairns Area please refer to the Cairns Area Plan of Management.

Anchoring restrictions and reef protection markers

To assist in the management of Low Isles and protection of fragile corals, public moorings and reef protection markers are in use. Some fragile reef areas are marked by white pyramid shaped buoys (joined by an imaginary line) with blue Marine Parks labels, these are reef protection markers. Reef protection markers must not be used to moor vessels. It is an offence to damage coral in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and anchoring is not allowed inshore of the line of reef protection markers. Care should be taken when anchoring near or around coral.

A new reef protection marker, closer to the beach and access channel, was installed in December 2004. Two locations were trialled and public comment supported the current location of the marker. For any queries regarding Low Isles please send an email to info@gbrmpa.gov.au and mark attention to the Senior Planner or phone 07 4750 0700.

More specific information is available in the following publication:

• Public moorings and anchoring - protecting coral in the northern Great Barrier Reef [ Acrobat Format 1092.97KB ].
• Public moorings and anchoring - protecting coral in the Whitsundays [ Acrobat Format 1119.17KB ].

Low Island Bookings

Snorkellors in clear blue waters off Low Isles, tourists can be seen on the beach in background

Generally, tourism operators without specific endorsement to access Sensitive Locations in the Cairns Area must book to visit these locations and may only access the locations 50 days per year. Bookings to the Low Island Locality are limited to two vessel bookings per day. 

To assist permitted tourism operators who do not have specific endorsements plan their bookings to the Low Island Locality; information about existing bookings for the locality is available through the Low Island Bookings Database below.

Operators are required to book prior to visiting the location. Should it be necessary to cancel a booking operators must cancel at least the day before. If the cancellation is not done, before the previous day, the booking will stand and operators records of visitation will reflect this. Bookings will be taken up to two months in advance.

Low Island Bookings Database

To make a booking or inquiry please contact the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Cairns office. Business Days 9.00am to 5.00pm call on (07) 4046 6660 After Hours 7.00am to 9.00am and 5.00pm to 9.00pm call on 0417 004 815.

The Low Island Locality Bookings data is updated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service on a periodical basis and is current at 3pm each business day. However, data will not be updated during the two week Xmas period ( 24-Dec-05 to 9-Jan-2006).

You can search for bookings at the Low Isles Locality by using the Low Isles Bookings Form.