Guide to Brampton Island Queensland Australia

Brampton Island lies at the southern entrance to the Whitsunday Passage, about 32 kilometres north-east of Mackay. For most of the last century it was one of Queensland’s favourite island resorts. The resort closed in 2011 and has not reopened, so Brampton today is a peaceful national park island visited by private boats, with forested hills, coral bays and a fine circuit walk.

Known For

• Quiet beaches and fringing coral in Brampton Islands National Park
• The circuit walk and the climb to Brampton Peak
• A sand bar crossing to Carlisle Island at low tide

The island covers about nine square kilometres and belongs to the Cumberland group, the chain of continental islands that runs from Mackay north to the Whitsundays. Open eucalypt forest, hoop pines and grass trees cover the hills, with vine thicket in the gullies. Kangaroos graze near the old airstrip, and scrub fowl, sea eagles and sunbirds are common.

A narrow channel separates Brampton from Carlisle Island, its larger and wilder neighbour, and at low tide the two are joined by a bar of sand and coral rubble. Almost all of Brampton apart from the old resort lease is national park, and its tracks and beaches remain open to visitors who can get there.

Things To Do on Brampton Island

The island circuit

A walking track of about seven kilometres loops around the island through forest and along the tops of the headlands, with side tracks down to Dinghy Bay, Oak Bay and Western Bay. Allow three hours and carry water. The views take in the Cumberland islands to the north and the mainland ranges behind Mackay.

Brampton Peak

A branch track climbs to Brampton Peak, 214 metres above the sea, about two hours return. Two lookouts near the summit give views over Carlisle Island and down the coast.

Beaches and snorkelling

Sandy Point, facing Carlisle Island, was the resort’s main beach and is the best for swimming. The channel between the two islands has coral gardens with giant clams, best seen at high tide and when the current is slack. Dinghy Bay and Oak Bay, on the far side of the island, are usually empty.

The crossing to Carlisle Island

At low tide it is possible to wade across the bar to Carlisle Island and walk along its southern beach. Check the tide times carefully and come back well before the water rises, as the current in the channel is strong.

Where To Stay

There is no accommodation on Brampton Island. The 106-room resort closed in January 2011 and its buildings have been left to decay; the lease is private property and is not open to visitors. Plans for a small luxury resort were approved some years ago but have not gone ahead.

National park camping is available across the channel on Carlisle Island, with permits booked through Queensland Parks. Otherwise the nearest places to stay are in Mackay, or at Seaforth and Cape Hillsborough on the mainland coast.

Eat & Drink

There is nothing to buy on the island and no drinking water. Visitors need to bring all supplies and take their rubbish home.

History

The Cumberland islands were visited by Aboriginal people from the Mackay and Whitsunday coast for thousands of years. Brampton was named in 1879 by the surveyor Staff Commander Bedwell, who gave the group names from the English county of Cumberland. In the 1880s the Queensland government planted coconut palms here as food for shipwrecked sailors.

The Busuttin family settled on the island in the early 1900s, bred horses for the army in India and in 1933 opened a guest house, which grew into a resort known for its relaxed style. Later owners included the airline TAA, Qantas and Voyages. The resort closed at the start of 2011.

Getting to Brampton Island

There are no scheduled boats or flights. Access is by private boat or a chartered vessel from Mackay Marina, a trip of one to two hours depending on the boat, or from the boat ramp at Seaforth. The national park has no public moorings near the old jetty, so skippers should check charts and park notes before going. Mackay has the nearest airport, with flights from Brisbane and other cities.