About St Helena
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- Getting there and getting around
- Park features
- Camping and accommodation
- Things to do
- Things to know before you go
- Staying safe
- Looking after the park
- Park management
- Tourism information links
- Further information
Getting there and getting around
St Helena Island is 7km north-east of Manly, a suburb of Brisbane, and 45 minutes by boat. Regular ferry services depart from Manly and New Farm. See the tourism information links below for details. The Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre operates its own service to the island for school groups. Book through the centre—contact details are listed under tourism information links.
Private boats may be moored off the island. Consider the tides when anchoring in shallow water.
The southern corner of the island is open to the public without a tour guide. The rest of the island, including the prison ruins, is a restricted access area and entry is by guided tour only.
Wheelchair accessibility
There are wheelchair-accessible toilets on the island. The grassy paths and crushed coral roads around the island are not easily accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Contact the park office for further information about accessibility.
Park features
St Helena Island National Park contains the ruins of the State's first penal settlement, which operated here from 1867 until 1932. Remains of the prison stockade include the bakery, workshops and underground tanks. Beyond the stockade are the stone ruins of warder accommodation, a sugar mill, lime kiln, jetty and Queensland's first tramway. The vegetation today is an interesting mix of the original vine forest, remnants of beautifully landscaped gardens, and former crops such as olive trees.
Middens and shell scatters show that for thousands of years, Aboriginal people visited the island seasonally, harvesting flying-foxes, dugongs and shellfish.
Wetlands around the island are a haven for migratory wading birds. The surrounding waters are protected in Moreton Bay Marine Park.
- Read more about the culture, history and natural environment of St Helena Island National Park.
Camping and accommodation
Camping
There is no camping at St Helena Island National Park.
Other accommodation
There is a wide range of holiday accommodation in Brisbane. For more information see the tourism information links below.
Things to do
Guided tours and events
The Go Back in Time program provides exciting and innovative ways to visit and experience some of the premier heritage sites in Moreton Bay. A wide range of activities and events are available, including annual festivals, cannon firings and guided tours of colonial prisons, forts and quarantine stations.
The program has a strong educational focus, with many activities using theatre-in-education techniques designed to fully engage students' imagination. To ensure a high quality program, all activities and tours are accredited and developed in conjunction with Education Queensland.
- See the Go Back in Time - Events calendar.
- See the Go Back in Time - School program.
For contact details for all tour providers see the tourism information links below.
Walking
Short walking tracks to several historic sites at the southern end of the island are accessible without a tour guide.
Access to the restricted area, including the prison ruins, is by guided tour only.
Picnic and day-use areas
A picnic area with toilets, picnic tables and a shelter shed is provided on the southern end of the island. Information on guided tours, walking tracks and access restrictions is available at the shelter shed.
Things to know before you go
Essentials to bring
It is recommended that visitors bring a hat, sunscreen, walking shoes, insect repellent and drinking water.
Opening hours
The national park is open during daylight hours—camping is not permitted.
Permits and fees
According to tour operators.
Pets
Domestic animals are not permitted in St Helena Island National Park.
Climate and weather
The Brisbane region enjoys a mild, subtropical climate. The average daily temperature range is 22 to 30 degrees Celsius in summer and 12 to 22 degrees Celsius in winter. For more information see the tourism information links below.
Fuel and supplies
There are no supplies on the island. Fuel and supplies are available in Brisbane. For more information see the tourism information links below.
Staying safe
For your safety and to protect the ruins, please stay behind the rope barriers. Please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.
Looking after the park
Your help is needed to preserve the park and historic ruins for generations to come. Please follow these guidelines while visiting the park.
- In order to preserve the historic sites, access is restricted to some areas of the island. Fines apply for entering the restricted access area without a tour guide.
- Help to protect the fragile ruins. Do not touch any structures, as the rock crumbles easily.
- Everything in the national park is protected.
- No rubbish bins are provided. Take your rubbish home with you to help keep the island free from pollution.
See Caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.
Park management
St Helena Island National Park, established in October 1979, was Queensland's first historic national park. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service works toward preserving the ruins and artefacts from further degradation and accurately presenting the park and its history to visitors.
A Management Plan for St Helena Island National Park will be prepared in the future.
Tourism information links
For all educational enquiries, please contact:
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre
www.moretoneec.eq.edu.au
PO Box 373, Wynnum QLD 4178
ph (07) 3906 9111
fax (07) 3906 9100
email info@moretoneec.eq.edu.au
For more information on St Helena Island, please contact:
St Helena Island
www.sthelenaisland.com.au
Brisbane’s Living Heritage Network
www.brisbanelivingheritage.org
For more information about activities, tours and accommodation in the Brisbane region, please contact:
Brisbane Visitor Information Centre
www.visitbrisbane.com.au
Queen Street Mall, Brisbane QLD 4002
ph (07) 3006 6290
fax (07) 3006 6250
email visit@brisbanemarketing.com.au
For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.
Further information
St Helena Island National Park
PO Box 293, Wynnum QLD 4178
ph (07) 3393 4647