Cockroach Islands

In their magnificent isolated setting at the base of Abbott’s Cliff, these tiny islets and rocks provide a safe nesting ground for Longtails and are also an excellent snorkelling site.

Tucked against the northern shore of Harrington Sound, Cockroach Islands are actually a group of ten huge chunks of limestone that were once part of Abbott’s Cliff. Below the water of this distinctive steep cliff-face lies an incredibly deep undercut, the result of thousands of marine organisms burrowing deeply into the limestone just below low tide level. This process weakened the cliff, with these large blocks giving way hundreds of years ago and landing picturesquely in the sandy shallows below.

Cockroach Island are by no means infested with roaches, in fact rarely can one be found amongst the craggy rocks and undergrowth and it remains a mystery how they got their name.