Rangeland describes land that is expansive and that hasn’t experienced a large amount of change from European settlement.

Australia’s outback is mainly rangeland country – that’s 80 per cent of our landscape – while more than 90 per cent of the area within NQ Dry Tropics is rangeland that’s privately owned or leased for cattle grazing.

Driving on beaches is a popular activity in north Queensland for boaties, swimmers, and explorers.

Beaches in the Burdekin and Townsville regions are under increasing pressure from vehicle use.

Public safety concerns are also rising.

NQ Dry Tropics as a member of The Coastal Vehicle Management Steering Committee is working to reduce the impacts of vehicles on our beaches.

Animals

Coastal Birds of the Burdekin Dry Tropics

Freshwater Fishes of the Burdekin Dry Tropics

What am I, Native Frog or Cane Toad?

Woodland Birds of the Burdekin Dry Tropics

Close to 4,000 plant species have been recorded in the dry tropics. This is a snapshot of some indigenous plants you can expect to see.

When it comes to trees, eucalypts, acacias and melaleucas dominate the landscape.

Some of the common eucalypt species from Greenvale to Alpha are; Moreton Bay ash, narrow-leafed ironbark, poplar gum, long-fruited bloodwood, Reid River box and silver-leafed ironbark.

Many of the beaches in our region are nesting sites for sea turtles.

The Strand, Magnetic Island, AIMS beach, Wunjunga and Queens Beach in Bowen are just a few of the beaches visited by turtles between October and March each year.

NQ Dry Tropics has been working with the Sea Turtle Foundation, Gudjuda Traditional Owners, Queens Beach Action Group and Digital Dimensions to help protect sea turtles.

Volunteer groups in our region do fantastic work looking after our beaches and marine environment, monitoring our flora and fauna and educating the community on best management practice.

Volunteers are made up of a cross section of community, from experts in particular fields to children, retirees, students, local residents ...basically, anybody with a keen interest in preserving our coastal and marine environment.

If you’re interested in getting involved in any work to protect our coast, check out the groups currently operating in our area.