Capricorn Bundaberg Group

Sitting on the Tropic of Capricorn, and to the south of the Great Barrier Reef, the Capricorn and Bunker Group are a series of islands and reefs situated together to make this beautiful land and seascape. They are set east of Gladstone along the coast of Queensland and a majority of them are a section of the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage Area, and the Capricornia Cays National Park. The islands have great value in terms of nature and aquatic life and play a key role in the breeding of wildlife and coral reefs.

The Capricorn Group Islands

Coral Cays are eco-systems that have been carved out by nature and are perfect for an unforgettable marine experience for many. The Capricorn Island Group consists of nine Coral Cays, which are:

• Erskine Island
• Heron Island
• Masthead Island
• North Reef Island
• North West Island
• One Tree Island
• Tryon Island
• Wilson Island
• Wreck Island

These are some of the most protected areas in the world, as the reefs are safe zones and breeding grounds for various species of fish and marine life. They are closed off to fishing, and though tourism is allowed, it is both limited and requires a permit to work in the clean and untouched areas of this island.

In addition to the Coral Cays, multiple reefs are protected in the Capricorn Group and these include:

• Broomfield
• Polmaise
• Sykes
• Wistari
• Fitzroy Lagoon
• Lamont
• Llewellyn

The Bunker Group Islands

The Bunker Group is located within a Protected Green Zone, which is a protected site in Australia, and like the Capricorn Islands, is protected diligently. These vast lagoons and islands are open for limited tourism and under heavy restrictions as conservation and protection are a priority. Though there is a brilliant and vibrant underwater paradise, it is not recommended for inexperienced divers for their safety and that of the reefs. The Bunker Group includes the following islands:

• Fairfax Islands
• Hoskyn Islands
• Lady Musgrave Island

This group also includes the Boult Reef, which has an enclosed lagoon of bright blue waters filled with a variety of fish species and marine life species, all of which are stunning and protected, just like the reefs.

Known for Shipwrecks

These areas have known to be a graveyard of ancient vessels and ships that sunk around or on the various islands in both Capricorn and Bunker Groups. Between 1827 to 1972, an estimated twenty-five shipwrecks took place in this region, most of them either because of a storm or by striking the various reefs, which broke the bottoms of the ships and caused them to sink. The last shipwreck occurred in 1972, when Cyclone Emily pushed the ship to the reef beside Lady Musgrave Island.

Conclusion

Though these islands and reefs are protected lands and tourism is limited, there are still many opportunities for those who truly wish to travel there. With bookings and the right permits, people have been allowed to camp on the islands. Therefore, you can go snorkeling and take advantage of the seclusion these islands offer.