Pelican Banks (Buallum Nyia) is a stunning white silica sand cay rising from the turquoise waters of the Great Sandy Strait, just 10 km north-east of Hervey Bay. Surrounded by crystal-clear, shallow, calm waters over sandy flats, this remote-looking paradise feels like a tropical escape despite being close to the mainland. The sand island is a nesting and roosting site for pelicans and cormorants, and the surrounding flats offer excellent calm-water snorkeling in the southern Great Barrier Reef marine park, with sightings of turtles, rays, and dazzling fish species.
Pelican Banks
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Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 3.4 sWind Speed 1.6 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Shifting sandbanks and shallow passages
Navigating the Great Sandy Strait requires local knowledge; sandbanks shift with tides and passages become very narrow and shallow at low tide.
Moderate risk: Outgoing tide current
Fast-flowing deep water channels surround the cay; outgoing tides create strong currents that can sweep swimmers and paddlecraft away from the island.
Low risk: Marine stingers
Box jellyfish and other marine stingers may be present in the warm waters during the summer wet season (October to May).
Low risk: No shade or facilities
The island has no amenities, fresh water, or natural shade. Bring everything you need including sun protection, food, and plenty of drinking water.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
Pelican Banks lies roughly 10 km north-east of the Great Sandy Straits Marina in Urangan, Hervey Bay. By private boat, head past Big Woody Island and Round Island toward K'gari (Fraser Island). Several tour operators (e.g. Hervey Bay Eco Marine Tours, Fraser Coast Jetski Tours, Fraser Island Boat Charters) offer day trips from Urangan Marina. The island sits in the Great Sandy Strait marine park at approximately -25.2339, 152.9655.
Parking & facilities
Park at the Great Sandy Straits Marina (Urangan), Hervey Bay. The marina has public parking areas for boat trailers and vehicles.
parking
No fees to visit the island itself. Tour prices vary — check with operators. No fees for private boat 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