| Bowling Green Bay National Park Queensland | |
|---|---|
 Alligator Creek Falls, 1997 | |
  Bowling Green Bay National Park | |
| Nearest town or city | Townsville |
| Coordinates | 19°12′48″S147°02′02″E / 19.21333°S 147.03389°E /-19.21333; 147.03389 |
| Established | 1977 |
| Area | 554 km2 (213.9 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Bowling Green Bay National Park |
| Footnotes | |
| Official name | Bowling Green Bay |
| Designated | 22 October 1993 |
| Reference no. | 632[1] |
| See also | Protected areas of Queensland |
Bowling Green Bay is a national park in theCity of Townsville andShire of Burdekin,Queensland, Australia,[2] 1,103 km northwest ofBrisbane, and 28 km south ofTownsville and 59 km north ofAyr. It is aRamsar Convention listed site. The park protects diverse range of habitats including the rugged, forested landscape surroundingMount Elliot and Saddle Mountain as well as coastal estuaries betweenCape Cleveland and Cape Bowling Green.[3]
Mount Elliot rises 1,342 m and has numerous creeks on its eastern slopes, of which, Alligator Creek is the most important.[3] The creek is a popular place to swim and to watch birds drinking the creek's water or feeding on riparian vegetation.[3]
The parks incorporates the floodplains of theHaughton River. This includes one of the largestwetlands on the east coast of Australia.[4] The wetland arose as the coastal streams deposited material into the calm waters of Bowling Green Bay. It is composed of mud and sand flats, swamps, isolated hills, mangrove forests and inter-tidal flats.[4] Behind the areas where mangroves grow are baresalt pan. These wide expanses are a unique characteristic ofNorth Queensland wetlands produced by comparatively low rainfall and a shortwet season that never washes the salt away.[4]
Thebrolga andmagpie goose find habitat in the sedge swamps of Bowling Green Bay. The park is one of the best places to see the rarely observedzitting cisticola.[4] Other bird species include thewhistling duck,black duck,spoonbill,ibis andjabiru. Crocodiles are found in the estuarine and swamp areas.
Camping in the park in permitted at the Alligator Creek campground.[5] Bush camping is permitted at Cape Bowling Green.[4] No open fires or domestic animals are permitted in the park.[4]
Access to the park is via theBruce Highway. Cape Bowling Green is accessible via the village of Alva Beach.
