COASTAL WALK

Thorsborne Trail

QLD

Field AtlasPlacesQLDSouthern Highlands
Coastal Walk

Thorsborne Trail

Hinchinbrook Island

A 32-kilometre walk along the east coast of Hinchinbrook Island — known as Munamudanamy to the Bandjin and Girramay Traditional Owners — typically completed in four days, three nights. The island is Queensland's largest island national park (39,900 hectares, the entire island), inside the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, and accessible only by boat transfer from Cardwell at the northern Ramsay Bay end or Lucinda at the southern George Point end. The trail is named after Arthur and Margaret Thorsborne, conservationists who spent decades monitoring the Torresian imperial-pigeons that nest on the islands offshore each summer. Camping is at Ramsay Bay, Little Ramsay Bay, Banksia Bay, Zoe Bay and Mulligan Falls. The trail is closed January and February (wet season), permits are capped at 40 independent hikers per day plus 20 commercial tour spaces, and the booking model moved to a hiking-season release in 2025. The whole island is croc country: no waterway is ever considered crocodile-free. Joint-managed by QPWS and Girringun Rangers under the Munamudanamy Working Group with Bandjin and Girramay Traditional Owners.

Know before you go

Check tide times before starting. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, not thongs. Sun exposure is intense along the coast. This is a challenging experience requiring good fitness and preparation. Allow extra time and carry emergency supplies.

Difficulty
Hard
Best seasons
Winter, Spring
Best time
Morning
Entry
Parks pass required
Dog friendly
No
Family friendly
No
Swimming
Yes

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