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Queensland’s most spectacular new island hike links beach to rainforest

By Emily Murphy
The 32-kilometre, three-day island walk will connect Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet and rainforest trails on Whitsunday Island.

Queensland’s most famous island group is about to unveil a major new walking experience. Opening in mid-to-late 2025, the three-day, 32-kilometre trail on Whitsunday Island will wind from rainforest to reef, linking Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet.

Just a 90-minute flight from Brisbane, the Ngaro Track will link iconic natural landmarks including Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, as well as ancient rainforest and rugged headlands overlooking the Coral Sea. Purpose-built infrastructure is being installed to support walkers, from upgraded campsites and facilities to lookouts designed to maximise the island’s sweeping vistas.

Thorsborne Trail, Hinchinbrook Island

On the walk, learn about the Ngaro People’s enduring custodianship of the seascape. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The trail is named for the Ngaro People, the Traditional Owners of the Whitsundays, whose deep cultural connection to the islands spans thousands of years. Their stories will be woven into the walking experience, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the Ngaro People’s enduring custodianship of this seascape.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says bookings are expected to open in mid-to-late 2025, coinciding with the official launch of the track. Once open, it is anticipated to attract both domestic and international travellers seeking a new way to experience the Whitsundays beyond its famed turquoise waters.

With its blend of natural wonder, cultural significance and world-class coastal scenery, the Ngaro Track is set to become one of Australia’s most sought-after walking experiences.

Thorsborne Trail, Hinchinbrook Island

World Expeditions offers guided walks on both the Ngaro Track and the Thorsborne Trail. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

World Expeditions is the official partner for guided walks on both the Ngaro Track and the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, developed in collaboration with Traditional Owners. Bookings for the guided walks are expected to open in mid-to-late 2025.

Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Lennox Hastie’s one-night only dining experience on Great Barrier Reef

    By Carla Grossetti
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    InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef marks its 75th anniversary in style.

    InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef is marking its 75th anniversary year with an exclusive dining experience led by hatted chef Lennox Hastie on 17 July. Guests will dine under the stars on the sugar-white sands of Hayman Island for the bespoke five-course feast, which will be paired with The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

    Hastie says the pop-up kitchen will emulate the fire-cooking techniques on show at his hatted restaurant Firedoor, which opened in Sydney a decade ago.

    Chef Lennox Hastie

    Chef Lennox Hastie melds together traditional cooking techniques and natural ingredients.

    The chef also has Gildas, a wine bar inspired by his stint at Asador Etxebarri in San Sebastian, which is ranked as No. 2 on the World’s 50 Best. Hastie learned how to master the barbecue in the Basque region of Spain and says he’s looking forward to sharing this “primal and immersive experience”.

    Hastie says cooking is always about context, “the environment and the climate shaping not just what we cook, but how we cook”.

    “While we have been patiently ageing some beef in The Balvenie whisky for the last 300 days, some of the dishes will celebrate fish from the reef, and tropical fruits like pineapple and finger lime as well as native succulents,” says Hastie.

    Hayman Island dining experience

    The pop-up kitchen is set in the picturesque Hayman Island.

    In addition to its series of culinary collaborations, InterContinental Hayman Great Barrier Reef is offering a series of dedicated events and experiences throughout 2025, including: a History Room showcasing Hayman’s origins as a fishing club in the 1930s; and a 75th anniversary Travel Offer starting from $525 per night. There’s also a Fashion Partnership where guests can book their wedding at the resort and receive a Vera Wang gown worth $10,000.

    Hastie says the natural setting of Hayman Island is the perfect backdrop for his fire-driven philosophy. The resort’s recent renaming highlights the island’s proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, which Hastie says he feels a personal connection to.

    “The Great Barrier Reef is a place where nature’s raw power and fragility coexist. It’s where I learnt to scuba dive, which I find an incredible escape, and I often find myself cooking on its beaches. My father is originally from Queensland, and one of his relatives, Ernest Bauer, once owned nearby South Molle Island, where one of the bays is still named after the family.”

    InterContinental Hayman exterior

    InterContinental Hayman’s allure is timeless.

    Hastie says he has sourced “beautiful reef fish” from the waters off Hayman from local fishermen. Hastie says “storytelling and connection” will be at the heart of the 17 July event, where he will push the boundaries of cooking over fire, which he showcases in the Netflix series Chef’s Table: BBQ.

    “The Balvenie has always been deeply committed to traditional craft, which resonates with the way that I cook over fire. Bringing this philosophy to Hayman Island felt like an opportunity to create a magical dining experience in one of Australia’s most spectacular locations.”

    “Guests will see, smell, and hear the crackle of wood and the subtle dance of fire as we celebrate ingredients. I hope they leave with a deeper appreciation for the craft behind what’s on their plate and in their glass: the years that it takes to produce a cask of The Balvenie whisky, and the care and the detail involved in cooking with fire,” he says.

    Hastie says he believes special events like this one-of-a-kind dinner highlight the richness and diversity of Australian produce and landscapes. “It is an invitation to visit our country and celebrate our unique regional stories,” he says.

    fire-driven cooking technique

    Lennox is committed to advocating for his fire-driven culinary philosophy.