Off the coast 50 km north east of Mackay. Brampton is the main island in the Cumberland Group. These islands used to be mountain peaks in prehistoric times, and they have a steep wooded interior. The peak on Brampton rises to more than 200 m, even though the area of island is just 5 sq km. Inland there are walks through the woods, where you can see a wide range of wildlife – from kangaroos to exotic butterflies. The shoreline has some superb sandy beaches with coral reefs – ideal for swimming and diving. The north-east part of the island is occupied by the Brampton Island Resort (www.brampton-island-whitsundays.com.au/brampton-island-resort.html), a luxury Polynesian-style holiday centre and a nice place to stop for a day or two with the family if you’re travelling up the eastern coast.