Conway Circuit Hike (27km)

The Conway Circuit is a 27-kilometre trail winding through Conway National Park in Queensland’s tropical north. Typically tackled over two days, this Grade 4 hike is part of the Whitsunday Trails network and is open to both walkers and mountain bikers. The path meanders through lush rainforest, skirts seasonal creeks, and opens up to distant views of the Whitsunday Islands and surrounding coastal townships. Whether you're there for the solitude, the scenery, or the steady rhythm of your footsteps on the trail, this journey offers a memorable immersion into the region’s natural beauty.

Starting from the Forestry Road car park, the trail follows an old logging route for around 800 metres before reaching the Kingfisher Walk. Though unsuitable for bikes, this short return detour is well worth the effort. The track loops through a dense pocket of rainforest, where giant strangler figs and tulip oaks tower overhead, their roots and trunks forming an almost sculptural network. Back on the main circuit, the path continues to the Wompoo Way junction. Here, hikers can take a side trip to a seasonal creek. The return walk takes about an hour, offering a peaceful break and a chance to explore the forest's quieter corners.

From Wompoo Way, the circuit continues past Impulse Creek. The vegetation begins to shift, moisture-loving Mackay tulip oaks give way to their tougher, drier cousins, while delicate vines are replaced by thick, woody tangles. The contrast is striking, a reminder of the many microclimates within the park. Eventually, you’ll arrive at Repulse Creek camp, nestled among the trees. It's a quiet spot to pitch your tent, listen to the evening chorus of frogs and insects, and rest up for the next stretch.

The second day begins with easier terrain, the trail winding through open forest and crossing two creeks before becoming steeper. As the track climbs towards Mount Hayward, it traces a ridge line, offering increasingly expansive views. The summit is a satisfying reward, cool breezes and sweeping vistas help make the climb worthwhile. From here, the circuit continues along the ridge to Bloodwood camp, a site perched with views stretching beyond Jubilee Pocket and out to the Whitsundays.

From Bloodwood, the final leg to Airlie Beach follows a coastal ridge through sparse vegetation twisted with vines. The forest here has a weather-beaten resilience, growing in rocky soils and shaped by sun, wind, and the occasional cyclone. A tough ascent through low vine thickets leads to a descent into taller forest. Along the way, a side track leads to Honeyeater Lookout. The return trip adds roughly an hour and a half, but the outlook, from Cannonvale to the Dryander Range and a scatter of Whitsunday Islands, is hard to pass up.

The descent into Airlie Beach is a gentle end to the journey. Along this stretch, the forest is dotted with grasstrees, cycads and gum trees. If you’re lucky enough to see the grasstrees in bloom, keep an eye out for honeyeaters darting in to feed. It’s a final reminder of the richness and diversity that defines the Conway Circuit, an experience shaped as much by the subtle changes in the landscape as by the effort it takes to traverse it.