Houghton Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the easternmost island in the Cole Islands group and National Park. It is located approximately 100 km south-east of Cape Melville, Queensland and measures approximately 73 hectares, or 0.73 square km, in size.
Houghton Island is a vegetated sand cay located 25 km from the coast, well established with coconut palms and sisal that provide a habitat for a number of roosting birds and green turtles and hawksbill turtles.