Capricornia Cays (Erskine Island, Masthead Island, etc.)

The Capricornia Cays National Park protects a cluster of remote, vegetated coral cays at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, including Erskine Island and Masthead Island. These uninhabited islands are ringed by extensive reef flats that gently slope into sandy gutters, offering uncrowded snorkeling over acropora gardens and bommies. The isolation results in exceptional water clarity, abundant fish life, and a wilderness feel rare on the GBR. Seabird colonies, pisonia forests, and she-oak groves frame the dazzling white beaches above the waterline, while below the reef teems with coral trout, parrotfish, and the occasional turtle. Due to restricted access zones protecting nesting seabirds and turtles, visitors must check current park notices before exploring.