Hike at a Glance

Quick overview: Experience the challenging 6.2km Mount Marlow trail, a Grade 4 hike located near Townsville. Starting at the western end of the Lagoon Trail, ascend the Many Peaks Range, enjoy stunning views from the Palm Islands to Cape Cleveland, before descending through lush vine thickets to the wetlands. This steep, one-way track, marked by orange trail markers, offers an exhilarating bushwalk for seasoned hikers.

Length:

6.2km

Duration:

3 hrs

Grade:

Style:

One Way

Max elevation: 202m

Min elevation: 11m

Total Ascent: 344m

Start: Lagoon Trail

End: Lagoon Trail

Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park

Queensland

Nearby town: Townsville

From state capital: 1337km

Latitude: -19.195944

Longitude: 146.773326

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Hike overview

Starting at the western end, or 450 m along the eastern end of the Lagoon Trail, this challenging walk across Many Peaks Range leads to the summit of Mount Marlow, before descending through vine thickets and woodland towards the wetlands below. The walk has spectacular views over the Town Common wetlands and along the coastline from the Palm Islands in the north to Cape Cleveland in the south. Some sections of the trail are very steep and there are many steps. In some areas the trail can be indistinct and walkers must follow the orange trail markers. Walkers may return on the same trail or via the Lagoon trail.

Track grade

Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.

Practical information

A car shuffle is required
Bicycles prohibited
Download the Cape Pallarenda Trails map

Trail information and photo by Carolyn Cox

Walk map and GPX file
Cape Pallarenda Many Peaks Track (6.2km)

Total distance: 6201 m
Max elevation: 202 m
Min elevation: 11 m
Total climbing: 344 m
Total descent: -344 m

GPX files, maps and content are copyright Trail Hiking Australia. Not to be copied, redistributed or uploaded to other platforms including AllTrails.

Explore safely

Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.

Leave a trip plan

Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.

Planning checklists

Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.

Getting there

Getting to the trailhead: Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park.

Townsville Town Common Conservation Park is 6 km north of the Townsville city centre. Vehicle access to the park is via the main entrance on the turn-off from Cape Pallarenda Road, near the Rowes Bay Golf Club. The gate at this entrance is open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm daily.

Vehicles must remain on Freshwater Lagoon road (see map). Driving is not allowed in all other areas.

Walkers and mountain bike riders can also enter the park from the eastern end of the Lagoon trail, off Cape Pallarenda Road, and from the Shelly Cove trail in Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park.

Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.

Get there with Google Maps

Accommodation nearby

Find Accommodation

Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.

Nearby towns: North Ward, Pallarenda, Ross Island, South Townsville, Townsville

About the region

Known locally as the Town Common, the park is close to the bustling city centre of Townsville and is a great place to enjoy nature and fantastic coastal views.

Visitors can hike across the Many Peaks Range, enjoy expansive island views while riding the Under the Radar or Smedley's trails or take the trail to the beautiful and secluded Shelly Beach.

Deep-water lagoons, seasonal wetlands, coastal woodlands and sheltered beaches bordered by rocky headlands all feature in this park. Mangrove-lined tributaries of the Bohle River meander across the floodplains that fill each year during the wet summer months.

Up to 280 bird species have been recorded in the area. Magpie geese, brolgas and many others gather here to feed and nest, particularly as the wetlands dry out and food sources become concentrated in the remaining lagoons.

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Hike at a Glance

Hike overview

Track grade

Practical information

Walk map and GPX file
Cape Pallarenda Many Peaks Track (6.2km)

Cape Pallarenda Many Peaks Track (6.2km)

Explore safely

Leave a trip plan

Planning checklists

Getting there

Accommodation nearby

About the region

Similar walks nearby

Nelly-Arcadia-Junction Track (10km)

North-East Coastal Walk (14km)

Cannabullen Falls Trail Walk (13.6km)

Goldfield Trail Walk (19km)

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Cape Pallarenda Many Peaks Track (6.2km)

Cape Pallarenda Many Peaks Track (6.2km)

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Acknowledgement of Country

Curated by: Darren Edwards | Trail Hiking Australia

Last modified:

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