A delight for birdwatchers and fishers, these tropical islands provide a haven for nature lovers. Share a secluded campsite with birds or head out on the water to enjoy the marine life.

Hope Islands National Park (CYPAL) is made up of four islands, East and West Hope islands, Struck Island and Snapper Island. East and West Hope islands are low-lying cays, formed in two different ways. West Hope Island is a shingle cay formed from piles of loose shingle (coral debris). Only hardy plants, such as mangroves, sea purslane and native Chinese lantern, grow on such cays. Conversely, East Hope is a typical sand cay, developed by currents and waves depositing fine reef sediments. Beach almond and red coondoo grow in the centre of East Hope Island, while sea trumpet, silverbush and nickernut grow around the edges.

Several species of sea and woodland birds breed on the islands. A colony of pied imperial-pigeons (Ducula bicolor), numbering in the thousands, has been recorded on the Hope Islands, and West Hope Island is a significant seabird-nesting site. These islands are considered among the most important bird-nesting sites in the northern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The islands are part of the traditional sea country of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, who continue to hunt, fish and collect in the area. Lieutenant James Cook named the islands in 1770 when he struck a nearby reef. The reefs around the islands have also claimed a number of other ships in the past.