Townsville/Whitsundays site specific management

Waterskiing at Dunk Island — Hinchinbrook Planning Area

To protect the values and balance multiple uses at a localised level, site specific management is required. It is important to consider the rules for these sites when planning your visit.

The sites listed below have either a Site Plan, Site Management Arrangement or a Special Management Area.

Before accessing the site information below refer to the following information for the Management Area:

Zoning Maps:
A number of declared no-anchoring areas exist throughout the Townsville Whitsundays Management Area to protect coral from anchor damage— see Moorings and no-anchoring areas for more information.
See Mission Beach to Townsville and Whitsundays maps to find where moorings and no-anchoring areas are.
Commercial fishers should read Special Management Areas (in addition to Zoning) to ensure they are familiar with the:
- Species Conservation (Dugong Protection) Special Management Areas
- No Dories Detached Special Management Areas; and
- One Dory Detached Special Management Areas.

For commercial vessels greater than 50 metres refer to your permit, the Hinchinbrook Plan of Management, the Whitsundays Plan of Management and the Zoning Plan.

Hinchinbrook Planning Area

In the Hinchinbrook Planning Area, rules apply to vessel length and group size, sensitive locations, speed limits around significant bird sites and where motorised water sports areas can occur.

View the Hinchinbrook Maps and Hinchinbrook Plan of Management.

Bedarra and Pee Rahm Ah Islands and Reefs

Bedarra Island Location 1 and 2 are Intensive use setting Locations (no limit on group size)
Bedarra Island Location 3 (including Pee Rahm Ah Island) is a Low use setting Location (maximum 15 people including crew for tourism operations)
Vessels 35 metres or less can access and anchor
Vessels greater than 35 metres can anchor outside a Location or at the nearby Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
Private moorings installed
Motorised water sports allowed in the Intensive use setting Locations
Pee Rahm Ah Island Significant Bird Site, from 1 Oct to 31 March (inclusive):
- vessel speed limit of 6 knots within 200 metres
- aircraft must operate above 1500 feet within 1000m
Public Appreciation Special Management Area(CP-17-4045 )

Dunk (Coonanglebah) Island and Reef (including Woln-Garin Island and Reef)

Dunk (Coonanglebah) Island Spit Location is an Intensive use setting Location (no limit on group size)
Dunk (Coonanglebah) Island Location is a Moderate use setting Location (maximum 30 people including crew for tourism operations)
Woln-Garin Island is a Low use setting Location (maximum 15 people including crew for tourism operations)
Vessels 35 metres or less can access and anchor - use public moorings if available
Vessels greater than 35 metres can anchor outside a Location or at the nearby Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
Private moorings installed
Motorised water sports allowed in the Intensive use setting Location
Woln-Garin Island Significant Bird Site, from 1 Oct to 31 March (inclusive):
- maximum speed of 6 knots within 200 metres
- aircraft must operate above 1500 feet within 1000m
Family Islands National Park
Public Appreciation Special Management Area( CP-17-4045/MNP-17-1073)

Image of Whitehaven Beach, QLD. Image credit Rachli Photos — Whitehaven Beach — Whitsunday Planning Area

Whitsunday Planning Area

In the Whitsunday Planning Area rules apply for vessel length and group size, vessel speeds around significant bird sites and where motorised water sports can occur. Designated and Superyacht Anchorages are available with a booking.

View the Whitsundays Overview Map, Whitsundays Recreational Guide and the Whitsundays Plan of Management.

Spearfishing is not allowed in all of the Conservation Park Zones (yellow zones) in the Public Appreciation Special Management Area. These areas are not listed below. See the Spearfishing factsheet.

Bauer Bay, South Molle Island

Blue Pearl Bay - Hayman Island

Setting 3 (moderate use) area (maximum group size of 40 people )
Vessels 35 metres or less can access and anchor - use public moorings if available
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres may anchor at the Superyacht Anchorage with a booking or the nearby setting 1 (intensive) areas
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor outside setting areas, or at a Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
No-anchoring area marked by reef protection markers
Users guide to Blue Pearl Bay (2005) showing slow speed area and dinghy channel

Cow and Calf Islands

Setting 5 (protected) area (maximum group size of 15 people)
Vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor
Vessels 35 metres or less can anchor in the adjacent setting 4 (low use) area and use their tender to access
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres may anchor at the Superyacht Anchorage with a booking or the nearby setting 1 (intensive) areas
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor outside setting areas, or at a Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
Access for tourism operations limited to current permits
Site Plan (2007)

Deloraine Island

Setting 5 (protected) area (maximum group size of 15 people)
Vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor
Vessels 35 metres or less can anchor in the adjacent setting 4 (low use) area and use their tender to access
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres can anchor at a nearby Superyacht Anchorage with a booking or outside settings areas, and use their tender to access
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor outside setting areas, or at a Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
Access for tourism operations is limited to current permits
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Site Plan (2007)

Double Bay East

Double Bay East is a setting 5 (protected) area (maximum group size of 15 people)
Vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor
Vessels 35 metres or less can anchor in the adjacent setting 4 (low use) area and use their tender to access
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres can anchor at a nearby Superyacht Anchorage with a booking or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor outside setting areas, or at a Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
Site Plan (2007)

Eshelby Islands

Hasslewood and Lupton Islands (south eastern side)

Setting 5 (protected) area (maximum group size of 15 people)
Vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor
Vessels 35 metres or less can anchor in the adjacent setting 4 (low use) area and use their tender to access
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres can anchor at the Whitehaven Beach Superyacht Anchorage with a booking or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor outside setting areas, or at a Designated Anchorage with a booking and use their tender to access
No-anchoring area marked by reef protection markers
Access for tourism operations is limited to current permits
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Site Plan (2007)

Whitsunday Island - Hill Inlet, Tongue Bay and Whitehaven Beach

Whitsunday Island – Tongue Bay, Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach Map
Settings (vessel length and group size limits) vary
Recreational vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor all settings - use public mooring if available
Vessels 35 metres or less may access and anchor at setting 4 (low use) areas to setting 1 (intensive) areas - use public mooring if available
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres can anchor at the Superyacht Anchorages with a booking, setting 1 (intensive) areas, or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor at Designated Anchorages with a booking or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Whitsunday Islands National Park

Tongue Bay

Setting 3 (moderate use) area (maximum group size of 40 people)
Vessels 35 metres or less may access and anchor - use public mooring if available
Access the beach via the marked tender access channel showing the safest route. The reflective tape on the channel markers indicate 0.5m of water over the reef (a 0.7m tide at Shute Harbour)
Tenders should exercise caution when attempting access on a lower tide
Tourism operators must hold a Commercial Activity Permit (QPWS) to access Tongue Point Lookout
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Superyacht Anchorage - 1 superyacht may anchor with a booking

Hill Inlet

Setting 5 (protected) area (maximum group size of 15 people)
Recreational vessels 20 metres or less can access and anchor
Access for tourism operations is limited permits with a specific endorsement and Commercial Activity Permit (QPWS).
QPWS improved access to Tongue Point in response to tourism industry concerns. As a consequence, and to minimise amenity and environmental impacts associated with vessel wash, vessel access to Betty’s Beach intertidal area is no longer allowed for tourism operations unless endorsed. Tourism operations may also only access Betty’s Beach via foot using the Tongue Point walking track with a Commercial Activity Permit (QPWS).
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Historic Site Plan (2007)

Whitehaven Beach

Multiple settings (various vessel length and group size limits) occur along Whitehaven Beach see map
Regular aircraft landing area (vessels should remain clear of the regular aircraft landing area) see map
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Superyacht Anchorage - 2 superyachts may anchor with a booking

Woodwark Bay

Setting 3 (moderate use) area (maximum group size of 40 people)
Vessels 35 metres or less may access and anchor
Vessels greater than 35 metres to less than 70 metres can anchor at the nearby Superyacht Anchorage with a booking, or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Vessels at least 70 metres can anchor at Designated Anchorages with a booking or outside setting areas, and use their tender to access
Private moorings installed
Site Plan (2018)

Site Plan, including site map (2021)
Management strategies include:

Managing installation of future structures by:
- defining a structure free area (at a northern access point to the lagoon);
- spatially defining a small structure area in the vicinity of the underwater art. This area will allow for the installation of snorkel trail and rest stations and small underwater art to accompany the existing MOUA site.
- placing a limit of 5 private moorings across the entire reef (first come, first served).
Establishing a trigger limit on tourism numbers of 15,000 visits per year equivalent to ~288/week. If this level is reached in two consecutive years a review of the site plan will occur.
Asking all users to be aware and considerate of other users and activities being conducted at the site and are reminding them, the Marine Park is multiple use area.

Museum of Underwater Art installed in north east of the reef — accessible to all Marine Park users.
Use public moorings — if available (see Map 1 of the Site Plan).
Two private moorings adjacent to the underwater art. If you wish to use a private mooring, you must seek permission from the permit holder.
The deeper water along the northern edge of the reef is known to be the site of historic munitions dumping after World War II – refer Unexploded Ordinance.

Townsville/Whitsundays site specific management

Hinchinbrook Planning Area

Bedarra and Pee Rahm Ah Islands and Reefs

Dunk (Coonanglebah) Island and Reef (including Woln-Garin Island and Reef)

Whitsunday Planning Area

Bauer Bay, South Molle Island

Blue Pearl Bay - Hayman Island

Cow and Calf Islands

Deloraine Island

Double Bay East

Eshelby Islands

Hasslewood and Lupton Islands (south eastern side)

Whitsunday Island - Hill Inlet, Tongue Bay and Whitehaven Beach

Woodwark Bay

Outside of Planning Areas

Bowen Offshore

Cape Upstart

Davies Reef

John Brewer Reef

Magnetic Island

Orpheus (Goolboddi) Island and Reef

Townsville/Whitsundays site specific management

Hinchinbrook Planning Area

Whitsunday Planning Area

Outside of Planning Areas

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