Holbourne Island is a remote, uninhabited continental island situated 37 km east of Bowen in the central Great Barrier Reef. This rugged national park is encircled by a fringing reef that drops into clear turquoise waters, offering excellent snorkelling directly off secluded beaches. The island is a major nesting site for green and loggerhead turtles (November–March) and hosts large seabird colonies. Snorkellers can explore shallow coral gardens teeming with reef fish, rays, and the occasional turtle among rocky headlands and sandy coves. Its isolation rewards those who make the journey with pristine, crowd-free conditions.
Holbourne Island
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.2 mSwell Period 2.9 sWind Speed 6.6 knPrecipitation 0.2 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
© JWarnesThe spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Moderate risk: Tidal currents
Strong tidal currents can flow around the island's headlands and through passages in the fringing reef, especially during spring tides.
Moderate risk: Marine stingers
Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are prevalent in these waters during the warmer months.
Moderate risk: Remote location
The island is remote with no facilities, ranger station, or emergency services; a medical emergency requires a long boat trip back to Bowen.
Low risk: Sharp reef and rocks
Exposed rocky shoreline and reef platforms can be sharp and slippery, especially at low tide.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
1 photo from the community
Getting in
Boat
Entry
Holbourne Island lies 37 km east of Bowen, Queensland. Access is by private boat or charter from Bowen. No public ferry service operates to the island.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at boat ramps in Bowen (e.g. Bowen Boat Harbour).
No fees for day visits to the national park, but a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park permit may be required for commercial operators.
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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