Whitsunday Flora

The Whitsunday region has an array of interesting flora both above and below the water.

You will come across many different types of flora while on your bareboat holiday but with a little bit of knowledge, you’ll be spotting out the different types below like a pro:

Coastal She-Oak

Coastal she-oak can be found growing in sandy soils on headlands and rocky shores.

These dominant foredune trees are distinguishable by their needle like leaves that hang in clusters from weeping branches.

The tree’s tough, grey bark tolerates coastal conditions of strong winds and salty sea water and air.

Hoop Pines

Hoop pines are popular along the headlands and hillsides of the Whitsundays.

They are commonly found in sheltered gullies and rocky outcrops due to their sensitivity to fire.

This species gets its name from the horizontal ‘hoops’ in its bark and dates back over 200 years.

Mangroves

Mangroves although not always aesthetically pleasing, are detrimental to the health of our ecosystem.

They are a vital nursery for marine life and also filter and trap sediment from the land before it reaches and harms our coral reef.

Mangroves are common along the mainland coast of the Whitsundays and along the shorelines of the islands.

Seagrass

Seagrass beds can be found around the northern bays of the Whitsunday Islands.

They are an important food source for Dugongs and green turtles as well as provide shelter and a nursery for prawns and susceptible juvenile Barramundi, whiting, bream and flathead.