Backyard Tourist: Five hikes everyone should experience in Far North Queensland
Not liking the prospect of being stuck at home during the pandemic? Here’s five hikes everyone in the Far North should experience at least once.
Cairns
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- Why you should consider holidaying at home
- The do’s and don’ts of adventuring in FNQ
- Five places everyone should visit in the Far North
WITH air travel becoming increasingly restrictive, and festivals and events being cancelled by the bucketload, the COVID-19 pandemic could leave you scratching your head about what to do in your time off.
If you are not self-isolated at home, this is a great time to lace up your hiking boots and head out into the great outdoors.
Here is a list of five Far Northern hikes everyone should try, at least once in their lifetime.
MT BARTLE FRERE
You don’t need to travel far to scale the highest mountain in Queensland. Bartle Frere, just south of Babinda, is a mighty adventure to hike. The track to its peak is 12 hours return, making it an overnight trip for those not keen to rush through the dense rainforest that blankets the mountain. Once at the top – if there is no cloud – you are rewarded with the highest and best view in the state.
How to get there: drive to Josephine Falls
Don’t forget: leech repellent, particularly during the wet season
THORSBORNE TRAIL
Hinchinbrook Island’s 35km long trail is renowned as one of the best overnight treks in the world. For good reason: you traverse tropical beaches, crystal clear rainforest streams, waterfalls, mangrove swamps, grassland, and woodland. While not quite as arduous as some of the epic long distance walks across the globe, the fact you can see so much in such a short amount of time, on an island, makes it an unforgettable experience.
How to get there: charter boat or ferry from either Lucinda or Cardwell
Don’t forget: don’t wear shoes, wear hiking sandals. You’re guaranteed to get your feet wet.
EMERALD CREEK FALLS
This short and sweet hike on the Tablelands, near Mareeba, is great for two reasons: the waterfall, and it is one of the few hikes in the Far North where you are legally allowed to take your dog. The walk up to the falls is about 1.5km return. On your way back, take Fido for a dip in Emerald Creek, among the boulders. Take a picnic, and make sure you bring doggie treats.
How to get there: drive to the Emerald Creek Falls day-use area in Dinden West Forest Reserve is 15km south east of Mareeba.
Don’t forget: poo bags, to ensure your four-legged friend doesn’t leave any smelly pressies
FITZROY ISLAND
The island circuit is a wonder to experience, at all times of the year. Start off at the resort, and hike towards the lighthouse. From there, head to the island summit, and then down through the forest back to the resort, along the coastline and finish up at Australia’s Best Beach, Nudey Beach, for a snorkel among coral. What a way to spend a day!
How to get there: ferry from Cairns
Don’t forget: snorkelling gear
IVAN EVANS WALKING TRAIL
Sure, there’s the Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow Arrows crisscrossing Mt Whitfield, but if you want a better – and honestly, more serene – experience of what Cairns looked like pre-European settlement, then venture to Bayview Heights for this incredible walk through the rainforest fringing suburbia. The 2.4km long Ivan Evans trail, named after an early landowner who donated property to the city’s water supply, is more adventurous than you think. And best of all, it is easily accessible.
How to get there: drive to Ellen Close, Bayview Heights
Don’t forget: your camera to get pics of giant trees
Originally published as Backyard Tourist: Five hikes everyone should experience in Far North Queensland
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