Hinchinbrook Island National Park

Hinchinbrook is Australia's largest island national park and is located offshore from Cardwell, 2.5 hours drive south of Cairns. It is a lush, tropical island with waterfalls, mangroves, forests and golden sandy beaches. Surrounded by pristine fringing reef, the area is rich in marine wildlife including dugong and green turtles. The island is also a refuge for a number of endangered species, including the Giant Tree Frog.

Activities on the island include fishing, swimming and snorkelling; birdwatching, boating and walking. The Thorsborne walking trail offers hikers a 32km trek along the eastern side of the island.  Limited numbers of are allowed on the trail at any one time, so this walk can offer a sense of splendid isolation. There are two camping areas, Macushla and The Haven. Both have toilets, picnic areas and barbecues.

To reach the island, you can take a commercial water taxi from Cardwell, 8km away.