The gorgeous hues of zoe bay and the infinity pools that overlook them. Hinchinbrook island ferries transfers trekkers to the northern end. Hiking the thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island the. The thorsborne trail is a 32 km hike which traverses hinchinbrook islands stunning eastern coast. Named after local naturalists, this trail is one of queenslands best coastal bushwalking experiences, covering 32km of ungraded track and taking.
A truly untouched environment, this is a trail for the serious adventurer that you can run in a day, or tackle as a multiday hike. This is something we have done each year since 2010 we have missed one year and will continue to do as we all live only about 2. A stunning 32km hike on one of australias largest island national parks on the world heritage listed hinchinbrook island. It is your responsibility to book and obtain camping permits for the. I thought doing the thorsborne trail on a remote island off queensland would be lifeaffirming. To protect the islands biodiversity and prevent damage to the environment just 40 people are permitted to stay at any one time. From ascending to the top of nina peak, to a descent to the warren of mangrovelined channels, hiking the thorsborne trail is the best way to really immerse yourself in the natural splendour of the parkland and truly explore hinchinbrook island.
So last weekend we finally packed our bags and went out to hinchinbrook island for four days to hike the thorsborne trail. Thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island kazbags adventures. The 32 kilometre thorsborne trail, along hinchinbrook islands east coast, is named after the late arthur thorsborne. With a limited number of number of people on hinchinbrook island island at any one time, youll be sure to get kilometre long beaches and pristine waterholes all to yourself. And, for four brief nights, our tents, as we hike through this island paradise. Thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island national park about.
The thorsborne trail is in hinchinbrook island national park, 8km off the queensland coast at cardwell. Here at absolute north charters we introduce you to wonders and beauty of hinchinbrook island and surrounds. Take your time, breath it in and feel a part of the world heritage listed islandwalk. We set off to hike the thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island near cardwell from south to north. The trail is very popular and often fully booked during peak periods and school holidays. Read walk with care for tips on walking safely and walking lightly. Although the biggest island on the great barrier reef, hinchinbrook island is completely uninhabited. Halfway through a ninetofive winter in melbourne and i had ants in my pants. In fact i was woefully underprepared for what lay ahead. Stretching along the eastern side of hinchinbrook island, the thorsborne trail is widely recognized as one of the worlds finest coastal walks. If you visit the island you do need good insect repellant and beware the march flies, blue. Hiking hinchinbrook island australias jurassic park. Four days through the thorsborne trail leaves you entirely reliant on your own resources and prior planning. Hinchinbrook island, situated just off the coast of caldwell in tropical north queensland, is the largest island national park in australia and home to the world renowned thorsborne trail.
Located on the eastern side of hinchinbrook island, you too could bear witness to this. Hinchinbrook island thorsborne trail complete hiking. We have just completed our 8th hike of the 32km thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island. The 32km thorsborne trail, along hinchinbrook island s east coast, is named after the late arthur thorsborne. Absolute north charters hinchinbrook island, thorsborne. Thorsborne trail complete round trip transfer package. The thorsborne trail is named in homage to the pioneering explorers and conversationalists margaret and arthur thorsborne. For the ultimate experience walk the trail from north to south and book your boat. Arthur and his wife, margaret, shared a lifelong interest in nature conservation that included monitoring pied torresian imperialpigeons ducula bicolor, which migrate to nest on local islands in summer. Backpacking the thornsborne trail on hinchinbrook island in queensland. About to board the boat at cardwell beach to hinchinbrook island note. The thorsborne trail is a 32 kilometre walking trail along the eastern side of hinchinbrook island national park, which takes four days to traverse.
Australias best coastal walking trail hinchinbrook island s rugged thorsborne trail is one of the worlds best multiday walking experiences. The 32km thorsborne trail, along hinchinbrook islands east coast, is named after the late. The trail traverses an incredible diversity of terrain, from rugged tropical peaks, stunning coastal beaches, rocky shorelines, melaleuca swamps and patches of eucalypts and rainforest. Thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island national park. This is our video diary when backpacking the thorsborne trail over 4 days and 3 nights on hinchinbrook island. This video is a summary of our trip rather than a detailed report. There is nothing on the island other than stunning nature and. Thorsborne trail transfers hinchinbrook island cruises.
The trail extends along hinchinbrook islands east coast. Information includes access, natural environment, habitats, camping and accommodation, walking and recreation opportunities, safety and alerts. Thorsborne trail transfer booking form hinchinbrook island cruises. The island is within thegreat barrier reef world heritage area and is separated from the mainland by the scenic hinchinbrook channel. Important thorsborne trail ferry booking considerations. Along the east coast of the island is the 32 km 20 mi long thorsborne trail. Hinchinbrook island east of cardwell, is nearly 40,000 ha of national park and forms part of the great barrier reef marine park. Hinchinbrook island can be accessed from lucinda, 140 kilometres north of townsville and 250 kilometres south of cairns. The best time to walk the thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island is from april to september, travelling from north to south, to make the most of the cooler weather and southeasterly winds. Hinchinbrook island cruises offers thorsborne trail transfers primarily from cardwell, where you can safely leave your car while youre on the island. The ultimate guide to hiking hinchinbrook island absolute north.
How to hike the thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island. Absolute north charters offers transfers to either end of the thorsborne trail. The thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island, cardwell. Thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island dans wanderings. The thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island is the worlds best coastal.
Only 40 people are permitted on the track at one time, so book well ahead, especially from may to october the. The trail is on the east coast of hinchinbrook island national park in far north queensland. I had never done a multiday hiking before and was a little nervous, as well as excited. Hinchinbrook island cruises vessels crewed by an experienced skipper with a wealth of local knowledge to make your time on the water truly memorable. Thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island, queensland, australia. We decided to go for 5 days to maximise our time for siteseeing. Book well ahead, particularly for the australian winter months or you may not be able to acquire a permit. Id first heard about a great walk on hinchinbrook island in the tropics of qld in early 20 but put it on the some day list. Thorsborne trail 4 days3 nights hinchinbrook island. Thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island national park camping. Most information on the web is from hikers who have walked the thorsborne trail once only, our information is from 6 consecutive years of hiking the island.
This year john, the owner of absolute north charters, asked if we could write a guide to help other hikers better prepare themselves for what lay ahead of them walking the trail. The trail crosses a number of crystal clear mountain streams. This is a popular trail, which was named after the late arthur thorsborne who was a passionate conservationist in this area. Thorsborne trail booking form thorsborne trail complete round trip transfer package. Thorsborne trail department of national parks, sport and. Its high cloudcovered mountains support fragile heath vegetation. The trail features campsites at a number of locations.
How to hike the thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island, queensland. Thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island national park. Thorsborne trail, cardwell local business 515 photos. The thorsborne trail is 32km along the islands east coast. If you have a desire for adventure, hinchinbrook island is your ultimate playground. It is your responsibility to book and obtain camping permits for the thorsborne trail for information, including maps and track notes about the thorsborne trail go to the department of environment and science. Your hike starts unlike most, gliding across the water at sunrise via boat before landing on the beach and starting the trail with roughly 6km of sand. Either take a short boat ride from lucinda for a day trip or include it as part of you thorsborne trail experience. Part of queenslands great barrier reef marine park, over the course of 32 km 19. The hike follows a rough trail and beaches and can be completed in 3 7 days depending on the sidetrips you want to do.
The thorsborne trail aussie specialist program tourism. Backpacking the thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island. Guide to hiking the thorsborne trail the hinchinbrook way. If you want to experience the real deal, the thorsborne trail is the perfect option. The year of cyclone yasi in 2011 the thorsborne trail was closed for much of.
Once you see it you will be hooked, and will want to return again and again. The 32 klm thorsborne trail explores the east coast of one of australias largest island national parks. Hinchinbrook island national park is located 8km from the queensland coast at cardwell. We offer logistically sound thorsborne trail transfer options for those seeking to explore the jurrasic hinchinbrook island. We discovered this wilderness trek by chance, while looking for backpacking adventures in australia on this website which outlines the top 15 hiking trails in australia. Thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island drone 4k youtube. We travelled with john at au his operation is superbly placed on the front beach, close to all accommodation houses in cardwell which is why we chose his service, 70 dollars for the transfer about an hour ours was a little longer as we stopped to watch large numbers of dugong grazing on seagrass. The 32 kilometre 20 mile long thorsborne trail follows the east coast of the spectacular hinchinbrook island, off the north queensland coast.
Thorsborne trail hinchinbrook island north queensland. Over four days youll traverse cloudcloaked mountains, junglelike rainforest, melaleuca swamps and pristine white beaches. This hinchinbrook island walk, which takes about four days in total, is popular with experienced hikers and campers. Thorsborne trail, hinchinbrook island aussie bushwalking. Information includes access, natural environment, habitats, camping and accommodation, walking and. A runners guide to exploring queenslands national parks. There are only 42 people to be on the walk at any given time so book ahead with npws to secure your time days for the month you wish to walk. Australias best coastal walking trail hinchinbrook islands rugged thorsborne trail is one of the worlds best multiday walking experiences. The thorsborne trail is a 32km trail that runs the length of hinchinbrook island in north queensland. This is the only app for hikers either walking or thinking of walking the iconic thorsborne trail on world heritage listed hinchinbrook island in far north queensland, australia.
Hinchinbrook island is a rugged, outstanding feature of the north queensland coast. The trail snakes its way through the tropical wilderness of hinchinbrook island and. Thorsborne trail hints for hiking thorsborne trail. The famous thorsborne trail on hinchinbrook island is a fourday foray into some of queenslands most. Hinchinbrook island destination information queensland. The thorsborne trail this trip was a long time in the making but boy was it worth it. There are seven camping areas located along the trail.