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Parks and forests > Find a park or forest

Edmund Kennedy National Park

  • History

    • Park alerts and park summary

    Getting there and getting around

    Turn off the Bruce Highway 4km north of Cardwell and drive 1km along Clift Road to the park entrance. From here on the road is unsealed and often narrow and winding. Caravans should be left outside the park. The road continues another 3km to the beach. Drive carefully — walkers are sometimes on the road. The road can be slippery or flooded in the wet season. Driving on the beach is prohibited.

    Wheelchair accessibility

    The unsealed track from the car park to the picnic area and toilets is wheelchair-accessible.

    Park features

    This section of coastline has changed little since explorer Edmund Kennedy passed this way during his ill-fated expedition to Cape York in 1848.

    Edmund Kennedy National Park has a wonderful variety of vegetation including lowland rainforest, open eucalypt forest, paperbark woodland, sedge swamps and extensive mangrove forests which include most of the mangrove species found in Australia. This diverse wetland park is in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

    The park provides valuable habitat for the vulnerable estuarine crocodile as well as the endangered mahogany glider and the rare arenga palm.

    Camping and accommodation

    Camping

    Camping is not permitted in the park or on the beach.

    Other accommodation

    There is a range of holiday accommodation in and around Cardwell. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Things to do

    Walking

    Forest walk — 5km loop (1.5–2hours ) Grade: Easy

    This track traverses lowland rainforest, open woodland and coastal vegetation with a range of habitats from melaleuca woodland and bulkuru swamps to mangrove creeks with boardwalks. Access to the forest walk is from either the picnic area, or a point along the access road. An additional, 1.5km return, spur-track accesses Wreck Creek via the beach. It is possible to return from Wreck Creek via the beach, but only at low tide.

    Picnic and day use areas

    Have a picnic on the foreshore at Rockingham Bay. Picnic tables and toilets are provided. Take drinking water and remove your rubbish. Enjoy the superb view over 13 offshore islands from the beach. Wear insect repellent and protective clothing, especially in summer.

    Boating and fishing

    Waters adjacent to Edmund Kennedy National Park are protected as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Most activities are allowed but visitors should check zoning restrictions. The waters adjacent to the southern end of the park are Conservation Zone while the waters adjacent to the northern end are General Use Zone. Fishing is permitted from boats but cast-netting and line-fishing from the beach is not recommended due to the presence of estuarine crocodiles.

    For more detailed zoning maps and information for State waters see Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and for Commonwealth waters see Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

    For details of bag and size limits for popular fish species, see Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

    Information is also available from the Rainforest and Reef Information Centre in Cardwell.

    Viewing wildlife

    Many of the mangrove species known to occur in Australia are found in the park. The red beech, with its distinctive red, flaking bark and large yellow flowers, is also common, along with pandanus and melaleucas. The rare arenga palm, known only from a few locations in Queensland, also grows here.

    Much of the wildlife is nocturnal but birds and reptiles may be seen during the day. The park is home to the endangered mahogany glider. Orioles, sunbirds, black butcherbirds and honeyeaters are common. The nesting mounds of orange-footed scrubfowls can be seen along the edge of the walking tracks. Small and colourful mangrove crabs emerge from their holes below the boardwalks.

    Things to know before you go

    Essentials to bring


    Opening hours

    Edmund Kennedy National Park is open 24 hours a day. There is no office at the park.

    Pets

    Domestic animals are not permitted in Edmund Kennedy National Park.

    Climate and weather

    Cardwell has a tropical climate. Summer can be very hot and humid with maximum temperatures reaching over 35 degrees Celsius. During the "wet season", from December to April, there are heavy, frequent downpours. During the cooler, drier months, from May to September, the weather is pleasantly warm, with reduced humidity. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Fuel and supplies

    Fuel and supplies are available at Cardwell. For more information see the tourism information links below.

    Staying safe

    To enjoy a safe visit in this area, please:

    For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

    Looking after the park

    Whenever you explore, minimise your impact. Terrestrial and marine plants and animals depend on us to keep land, ocean and estuarine areas clean.

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

    Park management

    Edmund Kennedy National Park was gazetted in 1977. The area is managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

    Tourism information links

    The Gateway Discovery Centre

    For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see www.queenslandholidays.com.au.

    Further information

    Rainforest and Reef Centre
    • 142 Victoria Street
    • PO Box 74, Cardwell QLD 4849
    • ph (07) 4066 8601
    • fax (07) 4066 8116
    • email hinchinbrook.camp@epa.qld.gov.au
    • A partnership between QPWS and the Cardwell Shire Council, managed by Great Green Way Tourism Incorporated.
    EPA Customer Service Centre
    • 160 Ann Street, Brisbane
    • PO Box 15155, City East QLD 4002
    • ph (07) 3227 8185
    • fax (07) 3227 8749
    • email csc@epa.qld.gov.au

    << Return to park summary

    Last updated: 29 May 2007