Hook Island is one of the
Whitsunday Islands off the coast of the
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n state of
Queensland. The island is almost uninhabited, quite rugged and almost completely contained within a section of the
Whitsunday Islands National Park. The island has two prominent geographical features on the southern side of Hook Island; the Nara and Macona inlets, two
fjord-like recesses that are used as anchorages for the Whitsunday
tourist fleet. The island's northern coast is noted for its colourful underwater
coral growths, to which
snorkelling and
diving enthusiasts are attracted.
In 1964, photos were taken at the islands which circulated globally after what was believed to be some kind of
sea monster was visible. The best known of the Hook Island Sea Monster photos is familiar to many
(the two or three others are less familiar). It features a gigantic, tadpole-like monster, supposedly encountered in Stonehaven Bay, Hook Island, Queensland, by Robert Le Serrec and his family and a friend during December 1964.
On 12 February 2008 a yacht ran aground at Cape Cove.
The yacht became wedged on dangerous rocks requiring the rescue of 37 people by helicopter. The incident was Australia's largest helicopter rescue operation from a vessel.
At least two people have died from
irukandji jellyfish stings while
snorkeling off Hook Island.
Some of the oldest
archaeological sites ever found in
Eastern Australia are the caves and midden of the
Ngaro People on Hook Island. A site at Nara Inlet is the oldest indication of Aboriginal occupation in the
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Hook Island Wilderness Resort
The only habitation on Hook Island is the Hook Island Wilderness Resort which formerly offered the most affordable on-land accommodation in the Whitsunday group before its closure. The modest and now dilapidated buildings are only occupied by permanent caretaking and security staff and visitors are only permitted on the beach as far as the high water mark.
Hook Island Underwater Observatory
Constructed in 1966, the Hook Island Underwater Observatory provided an additional tourist attraction to the island. It was closed 2010(?) following an assessment that found the submarine viewing chamber had insufficient ventilation. Since its closure it fell into disrepair and has since been completely removed and recycled (when?).
See also
*
List of islands of Australia
References
{{reflist
Whitsunday Islands