The Discovery Coast is blessed with four national parks which represent the green lungs of small villages separated by these parks. People here enjoy the privilege of being so close to nature and have established a symbiosis with flora and fauna which they often re-introduce into their own back yards.

The 4090 hectare park includes a 9 km frontage to the beach and protects a significant sample of coastal vegetation and landscape. One of the few undisturbed coastal fresh water systems remaining in Queensland is Deepwater Creek and its tributaries.

Tall forests of swamp mahogany, paperbark and cabbage palms fringe massive water holes, some large enough for canoeing. In places, the water only flows during the wet season so the creek is broken by shallow sections of reed bed and paperbark forest.

The long sandy beaches adjacent to the national park are broken by large rocky outcrops ideal for fishing and water sports. For quiet recreation there are coves to relax in or soak up the sun.

These areas are the second most important breeding grounds for the endangered loggerhead turtles in mainland Australia. Flatback, green and leatherback turtles nest here, too.

The Deepwater National Park also features a camping ground at Wreck Rock where the beach and the forest meet.