Whitsunday Bush Walks

Whitsunday Bush Walks in National Parks

Conway National Park on the Whitsunday Coast near Airlie Beach is a peaceful coastal park with rainforest-clad hills, secluded beaches and panoramic outlooks over the scenic Whitsunday area. Walk or boat into secluded Swamp Bay, which is a pebbly beach overlooking Daydream Island. Enjoy a wide range of bushwalking opportunities that start from the Conway National Park day-use area, and Mount Rooper and Coral Beach car parks. The Conway Circuit for walkers and mountain bike riders also winds through the park. From Mount Rooper lookout, take in superb views over the islands; Hamilton, Dent, Long and Henning. The view from the ridge above secluded Coral Beach is worth the effort of reaching there.

Walking:

Conway National Park has a variety of walking tracks for you to enjoy. If you plan to go bushwalking, be prepared and tell a friend or family member of your plans. All distances given are one way. All walks and facilities are shown on the map shown. Note: The numbers that appear in brackets before the track name are map references.

Key to Trail Standards:

The classification system is based on Australian Standards. Please note, that while each trail is classified according to its most difficult section, other sections may be of an easier level.

Australian Walking Track Grading System:

Grade 2: No bushwalking experience required. The track is a compacted surface.

Grade 3: Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections and a rough surface.

Access from Conway National Park Day-use Area:
(Please refer to map below.)

(1) Coastal Fringe Circuit (Grade 2)

Distance: 1.2 km

Details: Starting at the day-use area, this track passes through lowland rainforest and crosses a small tidal creek.

(2) Hayward Gully (Grade 2)

Distance: 1.6km from the day-use area.

Details: This track branches off the Coastal Fringe Circuit to Hayward Gully, with its lowland rainforest and rocky gullies.

Access from Mt Rooper Car Park:

(3) Swamp Bay (Grade 3)

Distance: 2.1km

Details: Starting from the car park, this track passes the foot of Mt Rooper to arrive at Swamp Bay, where a coral-strewn beach offers views of the Molle islands. Return on the same track. Signs along this track and Mt Rooper track describe Indigenous use of local plants.

(4) Mt Rooper

Mt Rooper offers views via four walking options. The turn-off to Mt Rooper is 200m along the Swamp Bay track. All distances given below are one-way from the car park.

The track passes through low woodland growing in shallow, stony, clay soils where brushbox, grasstrees and wattles are prominent. Although grasstrees here are small, they can grow to 4m tall elsewhere. Their pale yellow flowers on spear-like stalks provide food for many insects.

Conway Outlook (Grade 3)

Distance: 800m

Details: This first section of the Mt Rooper Circuit climbs up through mixed forests for a view over Shute Harbour to the Conway Range. Either return from this outlook or walk on to a natural lookout at Mt Rooper.

Mt Rooper (Grade 3)

Distance: 2.3km

Details: Continue on from Conway Outlook. The shallow, stony clay soils support brush box, grasstrees, wattles and other woodland vegetation. Soak up the panoramic vista of the Whitsunday Passage and islands at the summit.

Mt Rooper Circuit (Grade 3)

Distance: 5.4km

Details: Continue from the lookout passing views to Daydream and North Molle islands, descend through mixed forest to meet the Swamp Bay track. Turn left and return to the car park to complete the circuit.

Mt Rooper Circuit and Swamp Bay (Grade 3)

Distance: 7.2km

Details: Take in both the circuit and Swamp Bay tracks for a comfortable one-day walk. Enjoy a picnic at Swamp Bay.

Access from Coral Beach Car Park:

(5) Coral Beach (Grade 3)

Distance: 1.1km

Details: This track starts and finishes at Coral Beach car park. A brochure describing Indigenous use of the coastal environment is available from the leaflet box at the start (Please return the brochure when finished.). Enjoy views across Whitsunday Passage from Coral Beach.

(6) The Beak (Grade 3)

Distance: 620m from Coral Beach

Details: After reaching Coral Beach continue on to The Beak. Walk east along Coral Beach and watch for the lookout symbol. The walk returns the same way.

Access from Forestry Road Car Park:

(7) Kingfisher Circuit (Grade 3)

Distance: 2km

Details: From the car park, wind down into a moist rainforest valley then ascend to meet up with the Conway Circuit. Turn right to return to the car park or left to find the Wompoo way turn-off, a further 1.5km along the Conway Circuit.

(8) Wompoo Way (Shared-use trail: walkers and mountain-bike riders allowed)

Trail grade: Grade 3

Distance: 7km return to Forestry Road car park

Details: Follow the Conway Circuit (an old logging road) 2.3km from the Forestry Road car park and then turn left onto the Wompoo way turn-off to reach a calm creek lined with Alexandra palms. Listen for wompoo fruit-doves calling from the canopy.

Kingfisher circuit and Wompoo way are part of the Conway Circuit.

Conway Circuit (Forestry Road from Airlie Beach) (Please refer to second map below.)

Travel west along Shute Harbour Road for about 10km and turn left onto Brandy Creek Road. Follow this road onto Forestry Road through to the car park. This is the start of the Conway Circuit.

What’s Special:

Enjoy a different Whitsunday experience and escape to the tropical refuge of the Whitsunday Trails at Conway Range. Ride, run or walk the Conway circuit on a 27km journey through Conway National Park, starting at Forestry Road and finishing at Airlie Beach.

Whitsunday Bush Walks