After leaving the beauty of Queensland’s Discovery and Capricorn Coasts, we followed the coast north on our way to Cairns, but we still had a few more stops to make before we got there, including the world-renowned Whitsundays.
Cape Hillsborough and Finch Hatton Gorge
Cape Hillsborough National Park, just north of Mackay, is one of the best places to get that quintessential “kangaroo on the beach at sunrise” photo. Unfortunately it is a bit orchestrated as the kangaroos are somewhat trained to be on the beach at sunrise, with a ranger present to oversee everything, but it is still a great experience nonetheless. Throughout the day, you’ll often see kangaroos lazying about the caravan park. Note that the caravan park does not allow dogs, so pup will need to stay home for this one.
At low tide, you can walk out to Wedge Island, but you may need to wade through shin-deep mud at times to get to it. There are some pretty tidal rockpools that you can confidently take a dip in (remember you’re in croc territory now).
Also worth the effort is Andrew’s Point Walk, which takes you to a fantastic lookout over the beach.
Finch Hatton Gorge, about 80km inland from Cape Hillsborough, would have to be one of our favourite waterfall walks in Queensland. It is a part of Eungella National Park, which offers a few other walks and bush camping. The walk to Finch Hatton Gorge is 4.2km return and requires a good level of fitness as it involves climbing over boulders and creek crossings that can be flowing fast depending on recent rain.
If you make it all the way to the end, you’ll be rewarded with inviting swimming holes framed by granite rocks and lush vegetation. It’ll be hard to tear yourself away!
Airlie Beach and Whitsundays Coast
Normally we try to avoid overly touristy spots, but Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays are a bit of a must-do when in this area. Airlie Beach is your typical tourist town, with overflowing caravan parks, various bars and eateries, and plenty of tour options available via the local information centre. However, there are still some hidden beaches where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of town if you know where to look. Otherwise, if you don’t mind sharing with others, the town beach has some nice sandy or grassy options to lounge. For croc-safe swimming, the lagoon is your best bet.
Hands down the best way to see the beauty of the area is by boat. If you’re unfortunate like us to not have your own boat in tow, there are a multitude of tours of varying degrees of price and luxury to choose from. We decided on the Atlantic Clipper with Whitsunday Sailing Adventures, one of the more reasonably priced tours, for their day tour to the Whitsunday Islands including Whitehaven Beach.
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best on our day, but even on a cloudy day, Whitehaven Beach does not disappoint. The visit includes a hike up to the lookout, then down to beach to see the stunning white sand up close. It is a short and strenuous hike, but you are given plenty of time to tackle it.
From there, the tour takes you to a nice snorkel spot then a leisurely cruise back to Airlie. The sailboat also includes a heated spa and a super fun 6 metre inflatable slide for those wanting to add a bit of adrenaline to their day!
If you’re looking for a nice freshwater swimming hole to wash off the salt, a 30-minute drive out of town you’ll find Cedar Creek Falls. The falls flow well after recent rain, but even in the middle of the dry season there’s still usually an opportunity to swim in the lower pool. The carpark is small so try to get there early, then it’s just a short walk to the falls. For the adventurous, there is an option to climb to the top of the falls; follow the path to the right.
Bowen
Continuing north along the Whitsunday Coast , you reach the town of Bowen, also know as the Mango Capital of Australia. Just in case there was any doubt, you’ll likely spot the Big Mango sitting alongside Highway 1 just out of town. This up-and-coming coastal town has some of the most stunning tropical beaches with usually less crowds. The most well-known is Horseshoe Bay, which offers safe swimming and snorkelling.
If you want to explore some of the other beaches in the area, the Cape Edgecumbe Walking trail is your best option. Connecting Horseshoe Bay to Rose Bay, this 2.5km one-way walking trail gives you stunning views over the Bowen coastline.
For more great views, Flagstaff Hill offers a stunning lookout over the ocean, and if you’re a sunset aficionado, set up an evening picnic at Grays Beach or Lions Park to enjoy a sunset over the ocean, which is a rare occurrence for this side of the country.
From here we had one last stretch of coastline on our journey to Cairns. Known as the Cassowary Coast, this section of Queensland offers more stunning scenery and interesting wildlife, including one of dinosaurs’ living relatives and one of the most dangerous animals of its kind (and no, it’s not a crocodile!).
