The Thorsborne Trail has moved to a ‘hiking season’ model to book camping permits. Under this new model, permits for several months are released all at once on pre-announced dates and times.

Remember, when camping permits are released you will be competing with other people to secure bookings. Only 40 permits are available across the entire trail for each day, and demand for permits (especially during the peak hiking months) will be greater than the availability. Your booking is not secured until you have completed the payment page and clicked ‘finalise’. Be prepared to have back-up date options if you are unsuccessful in securing your preferred dates.

1. Ensure you understand how to access your account in the new Qld National Parks Booking Service.

   The Queensland National Parks Booking Service has changed to a new booking platform for camping. Ensure you know how to make a camping booking in the new system. Book your camping permits at qld.gov.au/camping – choose ‘Great walks’ in the menu bar.

   • If you have made a QPWS camping booking since 1 July 2024, use your email address to reset your password to access your account. Sign in before permits are released at 9am AEST on the specified date.
   • If you are making your first QPWS camping booking since 1 July 2024, do not try to sign in before permits are released. Click ‘skip and continue’ when booking – a new customer account will be created automatically as part of your booking.

   Ensure your personal payment details are up to date and correct if you have an existing account or have your card details ready to type in the payment page.

2. Be prepared for the permit release of camping permits.

Know and plan for the date and time for the release of the camping permits for the camping block you are interested in booking. Have access to a computer to make your booking online when the camping permits are released at 9am AEST on the specified date. Pre-fill the number of people in your hiking party and then refresh the page at exactly 9am AEST to see the availability of permits and begin booking. Remember, your booking is not secured until you have completed the payment page and clicked ‘finalise’.

To improve the experience for people booking Thorsborne Trail camping permits, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is moving to a ‘booking seasons’ model, where camping permits for several months will be released all at once at a set date and time advised in advance similar to models used widely for popular hiking and camping locations in other states.

Camping permits for hiking seasons will be released to the public on set dates and during business hours advised in advance allowing ample time and equal opportunity for customers to obtain permits.

For camping permit releases and other information about changes to booking the Thorsborne Trail, check this web page (qld.gov.au/ThorsborneTrailHikingSeasons), which will be updated over time.

The maximum group size for the Thorsborne Trail is six (6).

Bookings will remain open from the release date till the end of the hiking season. QPWS actively encourages visitors to cancel camping permits they no longer need. Reminders are sent to people with Thorsborne Trail permits every few months to ask them to cancel permits if people are no longer going. Checking the booking system on a regular basis after camping permits are released will often show availabilities, once groups have cancelled bookings they do not need. There are penalties for ‘ghost bookings’, if people are found to not be camping but did not cancel their permit.

QPWS does not provide a waitlist service for any camping bookings. The camping booking service is live in real time, meaning if a camping permit is cancelled it immediately becomes available for another customer to book. QPWS encourages you to continue checking the website for available camping permits closer to your preferred hiking dates.

Permits for the Thorsborne Trail will be closed until each permit release date. Customers can visit this web page (qld.gov.au/ThorsborneTrailHikingSeasons), to see release dates and times for future seasons.

Details about the 2026 hiking season will be confirmed in the coming months. Camping permits will be released a few months before the start of each season. The standard annual seasonal closure period 1 January to 28 February will remain in place to manage the increased risk of unsafe conditions at this time of year.

All national park camping areas in Queensland, including the Thorsborne Trail, have a standard fee of $7.50 per adult per night.

No, the Management Plan for Hinchinbrook Island and associated Visitor Strategy identifies a maximum limit of 40 to 60 people on the trail at any one time to maintain the remote and wild nature experience. Changes to the booking model will maintain the same visitor capacity. High demand for Thorsborne Trail permits will likely continue, release dates of permits will be communicated through this web page (qld.gov.au/ThorsborneTrailHikingSeasons).