Hoskyn Islands Reef is a pristine closed-ring reef system in the Capricornia Cays National Park, 107 km east of Gladstone in the southern Great Barrier Reef. This pair of small coral cays — one shingle, one sand — rise from a ring-shaped reef platform near the Tropic of Capricorn. The surrounding reef flats offer exceptional snorkeling over healthy coral gardens, with gin-clear waters that reveal vibrant hard and soft coral formations, giant clams, and frequent turtle encounters. Far less visited than nearby Lady Musgrave Island, Hoskyn delivers a wild, untouched reef experience where the only sounds are lapping waves and seabird calls from the pisonia forest.
Hoskyn Islands Reef
IntermediateMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.7 mSwell Period 6.3 sWind Speed 11 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Hoskyn Islands Reef has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Marine stingers danger
Box jellyfish and Irukandji may be present during the warmer months (November to May). Wear a stinger suit.
- Cyclones danger
The southern Great Barrier Reef is subject to tropical cyclones, typically November to April, which can suddenly make conditions dangerous.
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Marine stingers
Box jellyfish and Irukandji may be present during the warmer months (November to May). Wear a stinger suit.
High risk: Cyclones
The southern Great Barrier Reef is subject to tropical cyclones, typically November to April, which can suddenly make conditions dangerous.
Moderate risk: Strong tidal currents
Tidal flows through the ring reef and Curtis Channel can create strong, unpredictable currents. Snorkel only on slack tide.
Moderate risk: Remote location
Over 100 km offshore with no on-site medical facilities or ranger station. Emergency evacuation is extremely difficult.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Hoskyn Islands are 107 km due east of Gladstone, Queensland. Most visitors access the reef via chartered boat tours from Gladstone or the town of 1770. The cays are also reachable by private vessel. There is no commercial ferry service directly to Hoskyn — trips are typically operated by experienced charter operators who also visit Lady Musgrave Island.
Parking & facilities
Parking available at marina facilities in Gladstone and at 1770. No parking exists on the cays.
No entry fee for the national park, but charter tour fees apply. Camping permits required from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
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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