Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Cape Hillsborough National Park adventure.
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 colourful 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.
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.