The Where and When to Turtle Hatching Season in Queensland

Post

Subscribe

Plan a turtle-y magical island escape



We are truly blessed to call Queensland home, a region where we can be surfing in the ocean one minute and climbing spectacular mountains the next, a region that can take pride in its impressive population of turtle-y awesome marine animals. The Sunshine State provides a haven to some of the most important marine turtles’ nesting sites in the world.



Six species of threatened marine turtles nest along our idyllic beaches. These include the Leatherback, the largest species; the Loggerhead, the most common; the Green; the Flatback; the Hawksbill and the Olive Ridley, less common than the Green and the Hawksbill turtles.

Turtles are one of the oldest reptile groups, with the earliest known turtles dating back 220 million years. They are amniotes, which means they breathe air and don't lay eggs underwater.



Every year beaches in Queensland are overrun by baby turtles, kicking their flippers down to stimulate the rest of their sibling group, as they leave their sandy beach rookeries to make their way to the ocean. If you have ever experienced the sight of baby turtles underfoot, it truly is a magical experience. If not, it’s certainly one activity to be added to your list of ‘must-do’ lifetime adventures.



So, when do turtles actually hatch in Queensland?

Turtles absolutely love the heat of summer as the sand is warm enough to incubate their eggs, which are usually laid between November and March, with hatching starting six to eight weeks later. If you’re planning your annual holidays to coincide with turtle hatching season, then the period between January and April may be the time to book, as optimistically this would be the time to ‘catch’ a glimpse of the cute shelled ocean toddlers heading to the water.



Where are the best places to see turtles hatching?

It's thanks to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, in particular the northern and southern tip of the reef, that a group of naturally secluded sandy beaches provide the perfect shore locations for mama turtles to lay their eggs.

SOUTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF

The advantage to the Southern Great Barrier Reef is that your tropical getaway is so much easier to access from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, which makes these next turtle-hatching locations very appealing destinations to visit.



Great Keppel Island

The stunning Great Keppel Island is the largest island within the Keppel Group. With soft sands and aquamarine waters, this Island provides many secluded spots for our shelled friends to lay their eggs. Great Keppel is a particular favourite for the Flatback turtle, providing an important breeding rookery for this species.

Heron Island

Located off Gladstone in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island, with its pristine beaches and crystal-clear water is one of the rare gems where visitors can enjoy the best of the underwater world without actually getting wet. The minute you set foot on this tiny coral cay, giant shovel-nosed and cow-tail rays, blacktip reef sharks and turtles are often part of the welcoming party in the waters under the jetty.



Take a walk around the perimeter of this small island and the chances are that you will spot a turtle wallowing in the shallows. The best time to visit Heron Island may well be the turtle season between November and April to witness one of nature’s most amazing shows as turtles nest and hatchlings are born on the Island’s edge.

The biggest contradiction to the Heron Island turtle story is that in the 1920’s this Island used to be a turtle soup cannery. Today this southern point on the Great Barrier Reef is a highly protected green zone where turtles thrive and future generations are able to take their first tiny steps to the ocean.



Lady Elliot Island

One of my favourite Islands to visit, Lady Elliot Island attracts three different species of sea turtles - the Hawksbill, the Green as well as the Loggerhead turtles. Besides leading hatching viewing expeditions, Lady Elliot showcases a Reef Education Centre, specifically for marine turtle research and conservation education.

Lady Elliot Island first appeared above sea level approximately 3,500 years ago. Sea birds landed on the bare coral cay, bringing with them the vital guano and seeds necessary to establish vegetation on the island. Guano miners first appeared on Lady Elliot Island in 1863 and remained on the island for a decade. The destructive practice of extracting the guano from the soil resulted in the removal of all the vegetation present except for the eight Pisonia trees, which still remain today, surrounding the bistro.



Approximately three feet of surface soil was removed from Lady Elliot during this period. In an effort to help stranded sailors, the Queensland Government arranged for goats to be placed on each of the islands on the Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, this prevented any new growth to properly establish, which resulted in Lady Elliot being a barren island until the late 1960’s. In 1969, an aviator, Don Adams, arrived at Lady Elliot and began a revegetation program, using shrubs and seedlings of native plants from the other nearby Great Barrier Reef Islands, as well as from the mainland.

Fast-forward to today and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, led by passionate environmentalist Peter Gash OAM, has successfully achieved 100% sustainability. 



Lady Musgrave Island

Looks can be deceiving - at first glance, the coral cay that is Lady Musgrave Island looks quite unassuming, whereas in reality this Island is a home, nursery and playground for more than 1,200 species of animals. Located off the coasts of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Town of 1770, Lady Musgrave Island sits tucked away in its lagoon, providing shelter and a significant nesting site for sea turtles.

The protected lagoon of Lady Musgrave is a favourite for snorkelers, but during nesting season it’s a prime location to glimpse Green, Loggerhead and even the endangered Hawksbill turtles.



Mon Repos Conservation Park

In close proximity to Bundaberg, sea turtle lovers will discover Mon Repos Conservation Park , a hatching hot spot supporting the largest population of nesting marine loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific. Home to nesting and hatching turtles for six months of the year, this six-kilometre stretch of beach is a secluded cove of stunning coastline. Closed off to the public at night during turtle season - November to April - turtle lovers can get up close and personal with these ancient mariners on a Mon Repos Turtle Encounter, a must-do for any visitor. Plan well in advance as the multi-million dollar Mon Repos Turtle Centre’s nighttime guided tours can book out for the season very quickly.



TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Fitzroy Island

Fitzroy Island’s popularity for day trips is due to its close positioning to Cairns. Fitzroy Island is a national park island with a small portion occupied by the actual Fitzroy Island Resort. The volunteer-operated, non-profit Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre expanded its base to Fitzroy Island in 2013, due to growing demand. This is a sanctuary for sick and injured sea turtles.



Green Island

Of the three hundred sand cays on the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island is the only one with a rainforest and showcases a prolific variety of flora and fauna. Green Island is another coral cay national park very close to Cairns, providing an easy destination for day trippers and overnighters with one resort for accommodation. As its name suggests, Green Island attracts its namesake turtle, the Green, in their droves.



If you’re planning an island escape and want to make it turtle-y awesome, make sure to coincide your holidays away with turtle-hatching season, the magical memories you create are guaranteed to last a lifetime!

#educational
#family_friendly
#queensland
#environment
#southern_great_barrier_reef
%wnqueensland
%wngladstone
%wnbundaberg
%wnsunshinecoast
%wnbrisbane
%wncairns