YACHT CHARTERS TO
Situated just 15km off the coast of Port Douglas, Low Isles is the ideal spot for an inner reef adventure. They are made up of two small coral cay islands surrounded by 55 acres of reef. You can visit the historical lighthouse and lagoon reef. Low Isles’ sandy coral cay islands on a snorkel and explore an island paradise only a select few can enjoy.
Found just 15km off the coast of Port Douglas, Low Isles is the perfect spot for an inner reef adventure. The two small coral cay islands, Low Isles and Woody Island, are separate but share a common reef and are ideal for a
full-day or half-day tour. The islands and the surrounding 55-acre reef are considered important indigenous cultural sites for the local KuKu Yalanji and Yirraganydji tribes. In June 2008, Low Isles and its historic old lighthouse were formally registered on the Commonwealth Heritage List to recognise their place in Australia’s cultural and Indigenous heritage.
The Low Isles is known locally for its historic, heritage-listed lighthouse, which has guided ships through the main shipping channel between Port Douglas and Cairns since its completion in 1878.
The lighthouse’s 18-metre tower, constructed on a timber frame, was the first in Queensland to have porthole windows. A timber staircase leads to the lantern room. Originally oil burners were used by the lighthouse to light the path of ships. However, with new technology, the lighthouse continued to be upgraded over the years, and in 1993 solar conversion made it into a self-contained beacon.
If you approach it for a closer look by land, see if you can spot a pile of sticks at the top. This pile of sticks are an Eagle’s nest, where two Eagles have taken up residence to raise their chicks.
Submerge yourself in over 150 different species of hard corals and 15 species of soft coral in the waters surrounding the Low Isles. Here amongst the reef, lives a large variety of fish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and other animals. Colourful blue, green and purple parrotfish are a common sight, as well as angelfish, damselfish, clownfish, trevally, sweetlips and moon wrasse, just to name a few! Have an encounter with the island’s prolific turtle population, who often delight snorkelers with underwater sightings. Their home on Low Isles is as intricate as it is beautiful. In 1928 it was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world, examining the structure and ecology of the surrounding reef. Many current theories of coral reef ecology are based on the findings of this early expedition.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ann | |
Mean Max (°C) | 32.2 | 31.8 | 30.9 | 29.4 | 27.5 | 25.9 | 25.5 | 26.7 | 28.6 | 30.4 | 31.7 | 32.4 | 29.4 |
Mean Min (°C) | 25.6 | 25.5 | 25.1 | 24.2 | 22.9 | 21.3 | 20.5 | 20.8 | 21.9 | 23.3 | 24.5 | 25.4 | 23.4 |
Mean Rain (mm) | 403.8 | 419.5 | 435.9 | 228.3 | 98.9 | 63.0 | 36.4 | 36.5 | 36.6 | 44.4 | 90.1 | 211.0 | 2094.2 |
Median Rain (mm) | 345.2 | 404.3 | 366.2 | 200.6 | 81.8 | 51.2 | 28.7 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 30.4 | 52.8 | 138.8 | 2023.8 |
Mean Rain Days | 18.2 | 18.2 | 19.8 | 18.0 | 14.3 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 9.7 | 13.8 | 155.1 |
Found just 15km off the coast of Port Douglas, Low Isles is the perfect spot for an inner reef adventure. The two small coral cay islands, Low Isles and Woody Island, are separate but share a common reef and are ideal for a
full-day or half-day tour. The islands and the surrounding 55-acre reef are considered important indigenous cultural sites for the local KuKu Yalanji and Yirraganydji tribes. In June 2008, Low Isles and its historic old lighthouse were formally registered on the Commonwealth Heritage List to recognise their place in Australia’s cultural and Indigenous heritage.
The Low Isles is known locally for its historic, heritage-listed lighthouse, which has guided ships through the main shipping channel between Port Douglas and Cairns since its completion in 1878.
The lighthouse’s 18-metre tower, constructed on a timber frame, was the first in Queensland to have porthole windows. A timber staircase leads to the lantern room. Originally oil burners were used by the lighthouse to light the path of ships. However, with new technology, the lighthouse continued to be upgraded over the years, and in 1993 solar conversion made it into a self-contained beacon.
If you approach it for a closer look by land, see if you can spot a pile of sticks at the top. This pile of sticks are an Eagle’s nest, where two Eagles have taken up residence to raise their chicks.
Submerge yourself in over 150 different species of hard corals and 15 species of soft coral in the waters surrounding the Low Isles. Here amongst the reef, lives a large variety of fish, molluscs, sea cucumbers and other animals. Colourful blue, green and purple parrotfish are a common sight, as well as angelfish, damselfish, clownfish, trevally, sweetlips and moon wrasse, just to name a few! Have an encounter with the island’s prolific turtle population, who often delight snorkelers with underwater sightings. Their home on Low Isles is as intricate as it is beautiful. In 1928 it was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world, examining the structure and ecology of the surrounding reef. Many current theories of coral reef ecology are based on the findings of this early expedition.
Jan Max C° 32.2 Min C° 25.6 Min
Rain mm 403.8 Max Rain 345.2 mm
Min Rain Days 18.2
Feb Max C° 31.8 Min C° 25.5 Min
Rain mm 419.5 Max Rain 404.3 mm
Min Rain Days 18.2
Mar Max C° 30.9 Min C° 25.1 Min
Rain mm 435.9 Max Rain 366.2 mm
Min Rain Days 19.8
Apr Max C° 29.4 Min C° 24.2 Min
Rain mm 228.3 Max Rain 200.6 mm
Min Rain Days 18.0
May Max C° 27.5 Min C° 22.9 Min
Rain mm 98.8 Max Rain 81.8 mm
Min Rain Days 14.3
Jun Max C° 25.9 Min C° 21.3 Min
Rain mm 63.0 Max Rain 51.2 mm
Min Rain Days 10.6
Jul Max C° 25.5 Min C° 20.5 Min
Rain mm 36.4 Max Rain 28.7 mm
Min Rain Days 8.9
Aug Max C° 26.7 Min C° 20.8 Min
Rain mm 36.5 Max Rain 27.5 mm
Min Rain Days 8.6
Sep Max C° 28.6 Min C° 21.9 Min
Rain mm 36.6 Max Rain 25.5 mm
Min Rain Days 8.1
Oct Max C° 30.4 Min C° 23.3 Min
Rain mm 44.4 Max Rain 30.4 mm
Min Rain Days 9.7
Nov Max C° 31.7 Min C° 24.5 Min
Rain mm 90.1 Max Rain 52.8 mm
Min Rain Days 9.7
Dec Max C° 32.4 Min C° 25.4 Min
Rain mm 211.0 Max Rain 138.8 mm
Min Rain Days 13.8
Ann Max C° 29.4 Min C° 23.4 Min
Rain mm 2094.2 Max Rain 2023.8 mm
Min Rain Days 155.1
