Whitsunday Islands National Park Whitsundays

Take a walk along the soft white sands of the Lookout Beach track. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Ngaro track under construction

The Ngaro track will provide a new and exciting opportunity to hike in the Whitsundays. For safety reasons, the Ngaro track is closed to the public while the track and campsites are being constructed. Photo credit: Nah Turnbull © Queensland Government

The iconic Hill Inlet is not to be missed on a visit to Whitsunday Islands National Park. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Beach track

Take a stroll through gorgeous coastal vegetation to arrive at a white sandy beach, overlooking crystal-clear water.

Journey type
Walk
Distance
500m return Start and finish points are the same and the traveller must return via the same path
Time suggested
Allow 20min walking time.
Grade
Easy (walk)

Accessible by

  • Boat
  • Canoe or kayak

Journey facilities

  • Walking

Queensland National Parks Booking System Update

The new Queensland National Parks Booking Service is live for bookings.

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If you are making your first booking since 1 July 2024, a new customer account will be created automatically as part of your next booking. Please note your previous login credentials will no longer be valid.

Customers who have made a booking after 1 July 2024, please use your email address to reset your password to access your account.

More information about the new booking system

Branching off the Hill Inlet lookout track, head downhill through coastal forest to the ivory-white sands at the mouth of Hill Inlet.

Walk along a boardwalk lined with lush, green cycads on this part of the Whitsunday Ngaro sea trail and learn how the Whitsundays' landscape has shifted and changed over time.

Continue on to Betty's Beach and be spoilt by spectacular scenery as you stroll along the pristine sand.

Whitsunday Islands National Park is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, famed for its superlative natural beauty, outstanding examples of reef ecosystem development, evolutionary history and amazing diversity.

Getting there and getting around

The Beach track is on Whitsunday Island in Whitsunday Islands National Park, located offshore from the Queensland central coast, 25km east of Airlie Beach.

  • The Beach track branches off the Hill Inlet lookout track at Tongue Point on Whitsunday Island.
  • Tongue Point is about 26.5nm (49km) from Shute Harbour (travelling in an anti-clockwise direction).
  • Public moorings are available in Tongue Bay.
  • Anchoring is permitted at Tongue Bay and Hill Inlet.
  • Access is possible from mid to high tide.
  • Read boat and fish with care for tips on boating and fishing safety and caring for parks.
  • For tourism information for all regions in Queensland, see Queensland.com, and for friendly advice on how to get there, where to stay and what to do, find your closest accredited visitor information centre.

Getting to the Whitsundays

  • Travel on the Bruce Highway to Proserpine, 125km north of Mackay.
  • From Proserpine, drive 25km east along Shute Harbour Road to Airlie Beach, and continue a further 10km to Shute Harbour. Book your tour or charter boat or launch your vessel from here.
  • All roads to the boat launch sites are suitable for conventional 2WDs.

The islands' national park is easily accessible by commercial tours and transfers, charter boat and private vessel from the coastal towns of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Hamilton Island (20km south-east of Shute Harbour) is also accessible by aircraft.

Commercial tours

  • Commercial operators offer day trips, camping tours and boat, camper and kayak transfers departing from Abell Point Marina at Airlie Beach and from Shute Harbour.

Charter boat

  • Bare boats or private charters are available from Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour and Hamilton Island.

Private vessel

  • There are public boat ramps at Port of Airlie and Abell Point Marina in Airlie Beach, Shute Harbour, Cannonvale (4km east of Airlie Beach), Dingo Beach (50km north-west of Airlie Beach), Conway Beach (38km south of Airlie Beach) and Midge Point (60km south of Airlie Beach).
  • Always take the weather and tidal influences into account when boating in the Whitsundays.

Aircraft

  • Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach have airstrips and commercial operators offer sightseeing tours.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Beach track is open 24 hours a day.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Whitsunday Islands safely and Walk with care.