Double Island Point
Encyclopedia
Double Island Point is a coastal headland in Queensland
, Australia
. It's the next headland north of Noosa
and is within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park
, at the southern end of Wide Bay.
The point was named by Captain Cook
when he passed it on 18 May 1770, "on account of its figure" (i.e. shape). In the original of his journal he had written Fiddle Head, but crossed that out.
vehicles can go along the beach, either from the township of Rainbow Beach
in Wide Bay, or the longer way up from Noosa (after taking a ferry across the Noosa River
).
The northern side of the point is a surfing
location. On a good swell, a right-hander breaks over sand, and for perhaps as much as 300 metres in ideal conditions. This is the last (i.e. northernmost) recognised break on the east coast mainland (The remaining breaks being on Fraser Island). (Not including Agnes Water)
was built on the point. It is a timber with metal cladding construction, like many lighthouses in Queensland, made that way because it is cheaper than masonry, but also better suited for soft sandy soils. It was planned for only half way up the point, but then it was realized the light wouldn't be visible to the north and so the tower was built on top of the point. The lantern was initially burning oil, then in 1923 vaporized kerosene
was introduced. Later it was converted to electric power. In 1992 it was converted to solar power and demanned. The light characteristic is a single flash every 7.5 seconds, the focal plane is located 96 metres above sea level.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It's the next headland north of Noosa
Noosa, Queensland
The Shire of Noosa was a Local Government Area located about north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast region of South East Queensland, Australia...
and is within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park
Great Sandy National Park
Great Sandy is a coastal national park and suburb in Queensland, Australia. The park features untouched beaches, large sand dunes, heathlands, rainforests, swamps, creeks, freshwater lakes and mangrove forests....
, at the southern end of Wide Bay.
The point was named by Captain Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
when he passed it on 18 May 1770, "on account of its figure" (i.e. shape). In the original of his journal he had written Fiddle Head, but crossed that out.
Geography
There is no road access to the point, but four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
vehicles can go along the beach, either from the township of Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach, Queensland
Rainbow Beach is a coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, east of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 999...
in Wide Bay, or the longer way up from Noosa (after taking a ferry across the Noosa River
Noosa River
The Noosa River is a river situated in South East Queensland. The catchment starts in Wahpoonga Range near Mount Elliot in the coastal Great Sandy National Park and meanders south through a lakes district around Tewantin....
).
The northern side of the point is a surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
location. On a good swell, a right-hander breaks over sand, and for perhaps as much as 300 metres in ideal conditions. This is the last (i.e. northernmost) recognised break on the east coast mainland (The remaining breaks being on Fraser Island). (Not including Agnes Water)
Lighthouse
In 1884 a lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
was built on the point. It is a timber with metal cladding construction, like many lighthouses in Queensland, made that way because it is cheaper than masonry, but also better suited for soft sandy soils. It was planned for only half way up the point, but then it was realized the light wouldn't be visible to the north and so the tower was built on top of the point. The lantern was initially burning oil, then in 1923 vaporized kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
was introduced. Later it was converted to electric power. In 1992 it was converted to solar power and demanned. The light characteristic is a single flash every 7.5 seconds, the focal plane is located 96 metres above sea level.
See also
- Wolf Rock, just off the point
- Teewah Beach, stretches south from Double Island Point
- Rainbow BeachRainbow Beach, QueenslandRainbow Beach is a coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, east of Gympie. At the 2006 census, Rainbow Beach had a population of 999...
, stretches west from Double Island Point before turning north