Hinchinbrook Island

Hinchinbrook Island lies in the Coral Sea between Townsville and Cairns, separated from the mainland by the narrow Hinchinbrook Channel. At 399 square kilometres, it is the largest island national park in Australia and one of the least developed large islands on the east coast. The island is mountainous, rising to 1,121 metres at Mount Bowen, and is covered in dense tropical rainforest, mangroves, melaleuca wetlands and coastal heath.

The Thorsborne Trail (also known as the East Coast Trail) is the island's signature experience and one of the top wilderness walks in Australia. The 32 kilometre trail runs along the eastern coast from Ramsay Bay in the north to George Point in the south, passing through rainforest, over headlands and along deserted beaches. The walk takes three to four days and is limited to 40 walkers on the trail at any one time, preserving a genuine wilderness experience. Permits must be booked well in advance through Queensland Parks and Wildlife.

The island supports a rich variety of wildlife. Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the mangrove channels on the western side, and walkers on the Thorsborne Trail regularly encounter blue Ulysses butterflies, orange-footed scrubfowl, and the island's resident population of dugongs in the shallow bays. Sea turtles nest on the eastern beaches from November to February. The surrounding waters are within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and offer excellent reef snorkelling close to shore.

The Hinchinbrook Channel, the narrow waterway between the island and the mainland, is a nationally significant mangrove ecosystem and a popular kayaking route. Multi-day guided kayak trips run along the channel, camping on beaches and exploring the creek systems that feed into the mangroves. The channel is also one of the most productive recreational fishing areas in tropical Queensland.

Access to the island is by water taxi or charter boat from Cardwell or Lucinda on the mainland. There is no accommodation on the island apart from designated bush camping sites along the Thorsborne Trail. The best time to visit is the dry season from April to October, though the trail is open year-round. Summer brings heat, humidity, heavy rain and the peak of stinger season, so a stinger suit is essential for any water activities from October to May.