Avoid Island is a remote 100-hectare continental island off the southern Great Barrier Reef, 102 km southeast of Mackay. Its striking rusty-red rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and rocky peaks frame a diverse mosaic of mangroves, samphire swamps, Melaleuca forests, and grasslands. The island is the second-largest flatback turtle rookery in eastern Australia, and its extensive shallow mudflats and tidal wetlands serve as nursery habitat for reef fish and marine species. With an 8-metre tidal range, snorkelling here reveals dynamic tidal ecosystems around fringing reefs and mangrove-lined channels, offering a wild, off-the-beaten-path experience for adventurous snorkelers.
Avoid Island
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Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 2.2 sWind Speed 9.1 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Extreme tidal range and strong currents
Avoid Island experiences an extreme 8-metre tidal range. Rapidly moving water through channels and around the fringing reef can create strong currents that may sweep swimmers away from shore.
Moderate risk: Remote location — no emergency services
The island is remote with no on-site facilities, medical services, or emergency response. Any injury or accident requires a long boat trip back to Mackay.
Moderate risk: Cyclone season rough seas
The southern Great Barrier Reef cyclone season brings dangerous sea conditions, large swells, and potential for sudden storms that make snorkelling hazardous.
Low risk: Nesting turtle disturbance
The island is a major nesting site for flatback turtles. Snorkelers must avoid disturbing nesting turtles or hatchlings, and maintain a respectful distance in the water.
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
Located 102 km southeast of Mackay, Queensland. Access is by private boat or chartered tour from Mackay. No regular public ferry service. The island is managed as a conservation reserve — visitor access is permitted but visitors should coordinate with the Reef Islands Initiative or Queensland Trust for Nature for guided citizen-science trips.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at Mackay Marina or Reef Fleet Terminal area (approx. $15/day). No parking on the island itself — it is a protected nature reserve with no vehicle access.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports