Alwal National Park

Alwal National Park is a 42.5 km² protected area on the remote Cape York Peninsula, about 800 km north of Cairns. It was officially declared in 2010 and is jointly managed by Queensland Parks and the Olkola Aboriginal people, as the park lies on Olkola traditional land:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}. The name “Alwal” honors the golden-shouldered parrot (Alwal in the Kunjen language), an endangered bird species for which this park provides critical habitat:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}:contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

Landscape: The park spans parts of the Morehead River, with sandstone escarpments, low hills, seasonal wetlands, and vine-thicket patches making up a diverse landscape:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}. Alwal protects about 30 distinct wetland ecosystems within the Cape York bioregion:contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}. The mix of rocky slopes and alluvial flats sustains species like the golden-shouldered parrot, Cape York rock-wallaby, red goshawk, and black-necked stork:contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}. In higher areas, sandstone bluffs give way to savannah woodlands and pockets of rainforest.

Access and management: Public access to Alwal NP is extremely limited – there are no public roads or facilities, and no camping or visitor amenities are provided:contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}. The park was established primarily for conservation, and it remains undeveloped. The nearest community is Laura, but reaching the park requires special permission and off-track travel. The absence of infrastructure helps protect sensitive habitats. The Olkola people and park rangers focus on conservation programs like fire management and feral animal control to safeguard the park’s rare wildlife:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.

Alwal NP is significant as a refuge for rare species. It hosts one of the last known populations of the golden-shouldered parrot, a small colorful bird that nests in termite mounds:contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}. Sightings of the parrot in the park have been crucial to its conservation. The park also shelters the vulnerable Cape York rock-wallaby and other threatened fauna:contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}. With its mix of wetlands and uplands, Alwal contributes to preserving the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Cape York’s interior.