Whitsunday Island facts for kids
Hill Inlet, 2003
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Coral Sea |
| Archipelago | Whitsunday Islands |
| Total islands | 74 |
| Area | 275.08 km2 (106.21 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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Australia
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| State | Queensland |
| Local government area | Whitsunday Regional Council |
Whitsunday Island is the biggest island in the Whitsunday group of islands. You can find it off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia. It's a popular spot for tourists and nature lovers.
Island History
Whitsunday Island was once home to the Ngaro people. They were a sea-faring group who lived there for about 8,000 years.
In June 1770, Captain Cook sailed through the area. He gave the island its name during his journey.
Later, in 1861, logging camps were set up on the island. Workers cut down large hoop pine trees. This wood was used to build structures in Bowen, a new town on the mainland. The local Ngaro people resisted these activities.
By the mid-1860s, people from Bowen started taking trips to Whitsunday Island for fun. It became a place for colonists to enjoy leisure time.
Island Geography
You can reach Whitsunday Island by boat. Boats leave from the mainland towns of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. The island has many famous spots for visitors.
One of the most amazing places is Whitehaven Beach. It has pure-white sand that is truly stunning. Another beautiful spot is Hill Inlet. Cid Harbour offers a safe place for boats to anchor. Gulnare Inlet is a calm waterway. The island also has six places where you can camp.
The island covers a large area, about 27,508 hectares (106 square miles). In the northern bays, you'll find seagrass beds. These are like underwater meadows. They are home to many different kinds of sea creatures. You might also spot unadorned rock-wallabies on the island.
The ocean around Whitsunday Island is warm and clear. The water moves quickly due to strong tides. This helps coral reefs grow along the island's edges. Whitehaven Beach was even named the top Eco Friendly Beach in the world in 2010.
It's important not to confuse this island with Pinaki. That island is in the Tuamotu group and was also called "Whitsunday Island" by Samuel Wallis in 1767.
Images for kids
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Whitehaven Beach
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Hill Inlet, north of Whitehaven Beach
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Panoramic view of Whitehaven Beach
