Orpheus Island National Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Orpheus Island National Park Queensland
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Sunset at Orpheus Island National Park
Orpheus Island National Park Location in Queensland
Nearest town or city	Ingham
Established	1960
Area	13 km² (5.0 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
Website	Orpheus Island National Park
See also	Protected areas of Queensland

Orpheus Island National Park is a national park on Orpheus Island, in North Queensland, Australia. The Aboriginal (possibly Nyawaygi) name for this island is Goolboddi Island. It is one of the Palm Islands group, 1,189 km (739 mi) northwest of Brisbane, as is Pelorus Island 800 metres (2,600 ft) to the north; both are in the Shire of Hinchinbrook. Besides Orpheus Island, the national park also includes Albino Rock, which is located 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) east of Great Palm Island (usually known as Palm Island). Orpheus Island is a continental island.

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Orpheus Island was inhabited by an Aboriginal people, probably the Nyawigi people. The name "Orpheus" was given to the island in 1887 by Lieutenant G. E. Richards, referring to HMS Orpheus, a Royal Navy ship which was wrecked off the coast of New Zealand in 1863.

In 1960 it was declared a national park. In 2002 the island was bought by Jim Wilson who had developed the Freycinet Lodge in Tasmania, and bought off him in 2011 by Chris Morris, the Computershare mogul.

A research station, operated by James Cook University, is located on the island. Since 2000, St Michael's Grammar School (of St Kilda, Victoria) has run a marine biology project each June.

There is also a luxury resort on the island, the Orpheus Island Great Barrier Reef Luxury Resort.

Great Palm Island is the closest location with government facilities.

Orpheus Island National Park facts for kids

See also