Coral Sea Islands Travel Guide

The Coral Sea Islands are located on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, and comprises many small islands spanning over 780,000 sq km. Major islands include the Heralds Beacon Island, the Osprey Reef, and Willis Island. Only Willis Island is inhabited by meteorological bureau staff; the rest of the islands host unmanned weather stations and lighthouses and scores of sea birds. What do these birds mean? Lots and lots of guano! Not surprisingly, these islands were exploited for exactly that, though the lack of fresh water on the islands dissuaded any permanent settlements. Tropical cyclones often sweep the islands, meaning that there is little or no permanent vegetation. Constantly shifting sand cays and numerous reefs underwater make it a challenge for ships to navigate the region. The Coral Sea Islands are administered by the Australian government.