About Finucane Island

Sand couch terraces.

Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Park features

Finucane Island National Park is part of the Australian mainland. It is an ‘island’ surrounded by rivers and estuarine watercourses. The national park protects 7610 hectares of the Gulf Plains. A mosaic of estuarine wetlands, salt flats with sand couch grasslands and mangroves fringing rivers and channels. Wetlands cover most of the protected area providing important fisheries and waterbird habitat. Seagrass in the surrounding waters provides vital habitat for dugongs.

Looking after the park

Parks and forests protect Queensland's wonderful natural diversity and scenery. Everything in the national park is protected including plants, animals, and cultural sites. Please appreciate, respect and help care for Finucane Islands’ outstanding natural and cultural values by leaving things as you find them, and encouraging others to do the same by following these guidelines.

• Stop the spread of weeds, insect pests and pathogens. New introductions can spread and displace resident species and alter the local ecology. Soil from your boat, gear and clothing can contain weed seeds, ants (and their eggs) and foreign plant pathogens. Before you arrive, clean all your equipment. If available, use a washdown facility provided in a local town. Follow the come clean, go clean guidelines. Learn more about pest plants and animals and pathogens.
• Leave everything as you find it. Avoid disturbing animals, plants and cultural artefacts.
• Keep food away from wildlife. Accidental or intentional feeding upsets the balance of nature and can make animals sick and/or aggressive.
• Manage your waste. Take your rubbish with you when you leave—bins are not provided. Never bury rubbish as animals will dig it up.
• Toilets are not provided. Bury toilet waste (and paper) at least 15cm deep and 100m away from watercourses.
• Domestic animals are not permitted in the national park. Please observe the before you visit guidelines for dogs and pets.
• Use a fuel stove to boil your billy—camp fires are not allowed in the national park.
• Protect sea turtles and dugongs. Both animals feed among the seagrass beds along the coastline and river mouths near the national park. When boating in the area, please watch out for these animals and go slowly to avoid a collision—propeller injuries can be fatal.
• Stay away from nesting seabirds. If disturbed, adult birds can abandon their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable to heat, cold and predation.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Park management

Finucane Island National Park is a remote park managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for its conservation significance.

Tourism information links

Normanton Visitor Information Centre
www.carpentaria.qld.gov.au
Cnr Landsborough & Caroline Street
Normanton  Qld  4890
Ph: (07) 4747 8444
Email: tourism@carpentaria.qld.gov.au

Burketown Visitor Centre – Old Burke Post Office
www.exploreburke.com.au
87 Musgrave Street, Burketown Qld 4830
Ph: (07) 4745 5111 or 4754 5100
Email: office@burke.qld.gov.au