Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
- Camping permits are required, and campsites must be reserved in advance. A tag with your booking number must be displayed on your pitch at all times.
- There are just 11 sites at Smalleys Beach, and they can fill up quickly—book at least three months in advance for busy periods such as the Queensland school holidays and bank holiday weekends.
When to Go
Beach-goers can enjoy Cape Hillsborough year-round—daytime temperatures often reach 25°C even in winter, and it’s possible to bushwalk, swim, and cruise the Great Barrier Reef islands at any time. Summer showers are frequent, and the warmest months (October through April) are also ‘stinger season’, so wear protective clothing when swimming. Whenever you visit, set your alarm early—the views are most magnificent at sunrise when wallabies and kangaroos come down to the beach to feed.
Know Before You Go
- Cape Hillsborough National Park is located 50km north of Mackay or about a 40-minute drive along the Bruce Highway.
- Facilities include picnic and barbecue areas, restrooms, and drinking water (available at the camping area). For fuel or to pick up groceries, the closest town is Seaforth, a 10-minute drive away.
- Phone coverage is patchy throughout the park.
- Fire bans are common in Queensland during dry periods—if local regulations allow it, campfires are permitted in off-ground fire containers (not provided) only.
- The Diversity Boardwalk and Cape Hillsborough day-use area are accessible for wheelchairs, but there are no accessible facilities.
Cape Hillsborough National Park
Rainforest, beach, and the Great Barrier Reef are all in reach in this coastal park.
Rainforest trails, mangrove forests, and golden beaches provide numerous wildlife-watching opportunities at Cape Hillsborough National Park. See kangaroos and wallabies hopping along the beach at sunrise, walk the causeway to Wedge Island to spot sea turtles from Turtle Point lookout, or escape inland to admire rare birds and butterflies in the rainforest. Follow the Discovery Trail to learn more about the Yuibera Aboriginal people, set sail for the Great Barrier Reef islands to swim and snorkel amid colorful coral reefs, then head back to shore for a beach barbecue. Smalleys Beach Camping Area is the park’s only camping spot and has grass and dirt pitches for caravans, camper trailers, and tents, all within a short stroll of the water.
Rainforest trails, mangrove forests, and golden beaches provide numerous wildlife-watching opportunities at Cape Hillsborough National Park. See kangaroos and wallabies hopping along the beach at sunrise, walk the causeway to Wedge Island to spot sea turtles from Turtle Point lookout, or escape inland to admire rare birds and butterflies in the rainforest. Follow the Discovery Trail to learn more about the Yuibera Aboriginal people, set sail for the Great Barrier Reef islands to swim and snorkel amid colorful coral reefs, then head back to shore for a beach barbecue. Smalleys Beach Camping Area is the park’s only camping spot and has grass and dirt pitches for caravans, camper trailers, and tents, all within a short stroll of the water.
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation
When to Go
Beach-goers can enjoy Cape Hillsborough year-round—daytime temperatures often reach 25°C even in winter, and it’s possible to bushwalk, swim, and cruise the Great Barrier Reef islands at any time. Summer showers are frequent, and the warmest months (October through April) are also ‘stinger season’, so wear protective clothing when swimming. Whenever you visit, set your alarm early—the views are most magnificent at sunrise when wallabies and kangaroos come down to the beach to feed.
Know Before You Go