ATTRACTION CAPE HILLSBOROUGH

Waking to greet the spectacular ocean sunrise is the best way to become truly immersed in the ruggedly natural paradise of the Hibiscus Coast. 20 kilometres north of Mackay lies the Hibiscus Coast which includes the delightful seaside towns of Seaforth, Halliday Bay, Ball Bay and Cape Hillsborough. This is the perfect place to find a quiet beach or picnic table and enjoy the sounds of nature. Cape Hillsborough National Park is where the rainforest meets the coastal water of the Coral Sea, with a beautiful beach shared with the local wallabies, scenic nature walks and spectacular views. The Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort offers beachside accommodation and facilities. At low tide you can walk from the Cape Hillsborough beach to the Wedge Island Reef via a causeway. Wedge Island is fringed with nearby coral, a popular snorkelling destination. Just remember to return before the tide starts coming in as the causeway will recede underwater. Camp on a remote island in Newry Islands National Park. Launch your boat from the Victor Creek boat ramp. Abandoned resort ruins are located near the camp site on Newry Island.

Smalleys Beach is situated approximately 35 kilometres north of Mackay and is part of the Hibiscus Coast. This secluded beach is also located in the Cape Hillsborough National Park and offers limited camping sites. Facilities include toilets, and small secluded sites. Water must be brought with you. Camping is by self registration. A gravel road can be accessed from Cape Hillsborough Road to Smalleys Beach to camping sites. Camping sites have great access to the picturesque beach and walking trails.

At Cape Hillsborough National Park, rainforest literally meets the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, providing unique habitats for plants and animals. Rugged, rainforest-clad hills plunge to rocky headlands of rhyolite boulders. Created by volcanic activity, the boulders separate white sandy beaches in this scenic and peaceful park. Watch the sunrise on the beach and meet friendly wallabies as they search for treats that the ocean washed up overnight. This is the perfect opportunity to get beautiful photos of the sunrise over the national park and get up close to these playful creatures. Learn about the history of the park and the Yuibera (Yuwi) Aboriginal people who continue their traditional use of the rich natural resources found here. The 1.2 kilometre Yuibera trail illustrates traditional coastal life. Observe more than 150 species of birds and 25 species of tropical butterflies and along the award-winning Diversity boardwalk, see shell middens from Yuibera feasts. Camping, cabins and motel rooms are available at the nearby tourist park and national park camping at Smalleys Beach

Cape Hillsborough National Park, approximately 45 minutes north of Mackay, is where you'll find rainforest meets the shoreline, volcanic headlands, eucalypt forests home to koalas and kookaburras and prehistoric rock formations. Cape Hillsborough Beach, also know as Casuarina Beach, provides one of the most iconic Australian photo backdrops, the 'Roo on the beach' at sunrise. Wallabies and kangaroos scour the morning tide for mangrove seed pods, seaweed and coral sand dollars. Enjoy the sunrise as wild marsupials bound up and down the beach. Remember however, that these are wild animals and should be treated as such. Please do not feed the kangaroos and wallabies and ensure to keep a safe distance at all times.

Meander through Melaleuca woodland, a mangrove community, open eucalypt forest and vine thicket. The diversity of the unique flora that forms to create the natural paradise of Cape Hillsborough National Park is represented along the popular Diversity Boardwalk. This trail illustrates the way the Yuibera Aboriginal people used the park's native plants for survival. Large rhyolite boulders scattered over the headlands and beaches of this naturally breathtaking area are a reminder of volcanic activity millions of years ago, as are volcanic plugs and other unique rock formations found in the park. The first 300 metres of the Diversity Boardwalk is accessible to wheelchairs. The complete trail is a 1.2 kilometre return journey and takes 40 minutes to complete, allowing time to appreciate the natural beauty of the walk. Butterfly lovers will enjoy this walk as different breeds of butterfly can be seen year-round. ...