The Ngaro track is a 32-kilometre premium hiking experience in the Whitsundays, now nearing completion with the project expected to finish by mid-2025. Offering dramatic scenery and rich landscape diversity, the multi-day walk has been designed to balance challenge and reward. The track remains closed to the public until it officially opens.
Whitsunday Islands National Park is the traditional land and sea Country of the Ngaro People. The development of this low-impact track acknowledges their enduring connection to Land, Sea and Sky Country, and Ngaro representatives are assisting Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) with construction and interpretation to ensure Country is shown respectfully.
Located at the southern end of Whitsunday Island within the Whitsunday Islands National Park, the track sits at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, approximately 11km off Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Island is the largest in the archipelago and will host this important new addition to the region’s walking network.
The vision for the Ngaro track is ambitious: 32km of Grade 4/5 walking, two signature hiker camps, and sweeping views of Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and the Whitsunday Craig summit at 353 metres elevation. The route will traverse seasonal waterfalls, mangrove boardwalks and areas of outstanding plant diversity, built mostly with natural materials to retain the island’s rugged integrity. At refined camp areas, hikers will find tent platforms, communal shelters and “loos-with-views.” The new trail will also connect into the Whitsundays’ existing 116km track network, adding a rare multi-day hiking opportunity within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The Ngaro track is designed to be walked in one direction, beginning at Whitehaven Beach and finishing at Hill Inlet. Along the way, new hikers camps are being built at Silica Bay and Torres Herald Bay to provide comfortable overnight stops, while existing campsites around the island will remain available. To protect the environment and ensure safety, walker numbers will be managed and camping will operate on a booking system.
Planning for the track began in 2018 with extensive site investigations and cultural consultation, and construction is now well underway under the supervision of QPWS in partnership with the Ngaro People. World Expeditions has been appointed as the official operator and will manage bookings, offering both guided and independent walking options once the track opens in 2026.
Bookings for the Ngaro track will open later in 2025 ahead of the 2026 walking season, which runs from April to October. All reservations, including those for independent walkers, will be managed by World Expeditions.
More information: parks.desi.qld.gov.au
