Cape Hillsborough National Park

• Introduction
• Fact file


Cape Hillsborough National Park, Peter Lik / Courtesy of Tourism Queensland

Introduction

Cape Hillsborough National Park is renowned for its beautiful sandy beaches nestled between rocky headlands. Rhyolite boulders are scattered over the headlands and beaches, the result of volcanic activity millions of years ago. Home to the Juipera people for thousands of years, the cape got its European name in 1770 when Captain James Cook named it after the Earl of Hillsborough.Vegetation within the park is diverse, with open eucalypt forests and stands of hoop pines on the hills and headlands, subtropical rainforest in the valleys and along the waterways, and mangrove-fringed wetlands to the west of the picnic area. Wildlife includes wallabies, brush-turkeys, sugar gliders and turtles, and it is common to see eastern grey kangaroos hopping along the beach in the late afternoon. There are four main walking trails: Juipera Plants Trail (1.5-km circuit, 45 minutes) explains the medicinal use of plants by the Juipera people; Mangrove Boardwalk (2.4 km return, 1 hour) is wheelchair-accessible for the first 300 metres; Beachcomber Cove Track (3.2 km return, 1½ hours) and Andrew Point Track (5.2 km return, 2 hours) offer great views over the coast. Wedge Island can be reached on a falling tide, with the return journey to the picnic area along the beach at low tide (route is inaccessible at high tide).The picnic grounds on the foreshore provide barbecues, tables, toilets, cold showers and water. Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort offers caravan and camping sites, beachfront cabins and motel units. Swimming is not recommended, as estuarine crocodiles live in these waters and box jellyfish are present in the sea from October to May.

Fact file

Camping

Bush camping at Smalleys Beach; permit and fees apply

Location and access

54 km north of Mackay via Bruce Hwy then Seaforth Rd to Cape Hillsborough turn-off

Park Information

• NQIS (07) 3227 8185
• QPWS Mackay (07) 4944 7800

Size

818 ha

Where to Stay

Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort
(07) 4959 0152
Mackay/Seaforth (07) 4944 5888


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• Campsites

Campsites

Smalleys Beach camping area

The gravel road to Smalleys Beach is signposted about 6 km along Cape Hillsborough Rd, 50 km north-west of Mackay. The campground offers plenty of shade under eucalypt trees and there are 11 numbered sites. The nearby... Find out more

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