Located on Queensland’s coast, Cape Hillsborough National Park is a retreat for wildlife. This national park is a great stop-off for the Brisbane to Cairns road trip along Australia’s east coast.
Cape Hillsborough is best known for its wallabies on Casuarina Beach. Two of the most common wallabies found in the park are Agile and Whip-Tail. The latter is also referred to as ‘pretty-faced’ although both types of wallabies are pretty cute.
What’s great about Cape Hillsborough National Park is that there’s just one main road that goes into the park. This makes it easy for navigating, as stops within the park are generally just a small drive off the main road.
This guide contains everything visitors need to know about visiting Cape Hillsborough National Park. Included is what to do and see in the park and camping. This means, seeing wallabies on the beach, walking tracks and more. It’s structured to understand the park and what to do before arriving. For important safety information, check out Queensland’s parks page.
Important: there are no fees required to enter Cape Hillsborough National Park, such as a parks pass.
Table of Contents
What To Do
Cape Hillsborough National Park is an easy to navigate, and fun to visit park. It’s known for seeing wallabies on the beach, but there’s lots more the park has to offer visitors. Listed here are the top things to do and see in the park.
Watch Wallabies on the Beach
As part of what to do in Cape Hillsborough National Park, seeing the wallabies on the beach is highest on this list. This can be done at Casuarina Beach during sunrise, but they may be on the beach at other times too.
It’s really important when close to wildlife to not disturb their natural habitat too much. It’s especially important to not feed them or any other wildlife in the national park. However taking photos is not a problem!
Walk in the Park
There’s four official walking tracks in Cape Hillsborough National Park and each is a unique way to see the park. All of these tracks can be done within one day. Check out the Diversity Boardwalk for a quick view of the park’s diverse ecosystem. This track goes through rainforest, wetlands, and a sandy shore, before returning to the rainforest.
Listed in the walking tracks section below is an in-depth view to these four walking tracks. Some are dependent on the ocean’s tide, whereas others can be done anytime.
Fishing and Picnicking
In certain areas of Cape Hillsborough National Park it’s possible to go fishing or boating. Consult the park’s marine zoning regulations before fishing though. After fishing, and (hopefully) catching something, barbecue it over on a barbecue, in the picnic area of the park. Or just have a picnic with your own food.
Although swimming isn’t possible at the park, there’s cold showers in the picnic area, picnic tables and barbecues. There’s also toilet facilities and water in the area.
Walking Tracks
Nearly all of these walking tracks in Cape Hillsborough National Park are perfect for a day trip in the park. They range from all different fitness levels and personal interests.
Some are more focused on views while others, the diverse natural beauty of the park. Tracks are listed from shortest to longest kilometres of the track, walking times are approximate.
The Diversity Boardwalk – 1.2 km, 40 mins return
This track is definitely named correctly. This is a great walking track for all fitness levels to see into Cape Hillsborough National Park’s natural diversity. The Diversity boardwalk is a 1.2 km boardwalk through a diverse amount of nature in the park.
Starting out in the dense and bright green rainforest near the parking lot, the trail changes to wetlands then a dry, sandy terrain. Eventually the boardwalk switches back to the dense rainforest before finishing the circuit portion of the trail and heading back towards the parking lot.
Yuibera Plant Trail – 1.2 km, 40 mins return
This plant trail is relaxing way to get to know Cape Hillsborough National Park’s Aboriginal history. Although the park recommends access for this trail to 4-wheel drive vehicles only, it can be done in a conventional vehicle, with the right weather conditions. As in, not after a heavy downpour.
It’s an easy walk that goes through the rainforest with guiding signs explaining the local plants and their connection to the local Aboriginal people. While doing the walk I even saw a snake slithering away from the track.
Beachcomber Cove Track – 2.2 km, 1.5 hours return
This walk begins in Cape Hillsborough day-use area and leads to a secluded cove along the beach. It’s possible to make it to the cove during low tide, but the actual track goes over the ridge from the beach. Aside from not being able to swim, this is the perfect walk to enjoy the beachside.
Andrews Point Track – 5.2 km, 2 hours return
This walking track, or rather hiking track climbs towards stunning views of the area. Beginning at the beach, the path meanders through the rainforest, then ridge lines.
It’s possible to watch sea life from the viewpoints at the top. During low tide, hikers can end the track on the beach to walk back, instead of following the same trail as a return.
Camping
Within Cape Hillsborough National Park, there’s just one campground. This is Smalleys Beach Campground and it’s the perfect spot to see wallabies on the beach in the morning.
At the campground is drop toilets, picnic tables and shaded areas from the trees. Nearly all types of campers are welcome here, such as tents, caravans and camper vans.
Interested in more information on Queensland? Check out this road trip from Sydney to Brisbane and how to choose a Whitsunday Islands tour.
