Thorsborne Trail enhancement project

Hinchinbrook Island (Munamudanamy) National Park

Thorsborne Trail enhancement project 2023–2025

Hinchinbrook trail experience project 2026-2028

Project overview

The Thorsborne Trail is one of Queensland’s most iconic multi-day hikes. It offers visitors a world-class remote and wild multi-day hiking experience through spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, cultural landscapes and varying significant ecological communities on Australia’s largest island national park, Hinchinbrook Island (Munamudanamy).

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is working with Bandjin and Girramay Traditional Owners  to improve the Thorsborne Trail visitor experience on Munamudanamy (Hinchinbrook Island).

Upgrading existing infrastructure and camping areas on the trail to cater for both current and new users is the focus of the project – including separating Thorsborne Trail walkers from other user groups where possible to retain their remote and wild nature experience on the trail.

The overall project is being completed in two phases:

1. Thorsborne Trail enhancement project 2023-2025
2. Hinchinbrook trail experience project 2026-2028

Read our frequently asked questions about the project.

All works to the Thorsborne Trail itself will remain in-line with the current remote Class 5 hiking experience and focus on reducing unacceptable impacts to natural/cultural values and visitor safety issues, rather than increasing walking comfort or accessibility.

Updated and new communications products about the trail for walkers and industry are also included in the project – improved communication about key cultural, park, trail, and safety information will be provided.

Impacts on park visitors

The Thorsborne Trail and campsites are expected to remain open throughout the project. Works will be staged where possible to reduce disruption, however there will be some minor impacts on hikers during construction.

QPWS will keep visitors informed through Park Alerts and emails to booked campers during construction periods. This page will also be updated as the project progresses.

Why is it needed

In keeping with the remote and wild nature experience, existing visitor facilities on the island were basic with little or no formal planning or design - sites have grown in an ad-hoc manner over the years with additions or upgrades done in an ‘as needed’ fashion at each individual site to deal with emergent issues.

This project allows a holistic view to be taken across the island to allow consistency in site design accommodating functionality, visitor experience, ongoing operational maintenance, safety, and protection of the island’s natural and cultural values.

• In recent years, particularly during the cooler months, the Thorsborne Trail has surged in popularity. While limits have been maintained consistent with the 2017 Management Plan and Visitor Strategy, these limits are now reached for longer periods throughout the year. Camping areas and facilities are no longer adequate to suit the number of users whilst also retaining the remote and wild experience of the trail.
• There has also been conflict between user groups, as some camping areas are also used by boat-based campers, sea-kayak tour campers, and/or day-users.
• Locations of campsites are being reviewed to improve safety.
• Current entry/exit points for the trail don’t provide a sense of arrival/achievement for hikers suitable for an iconic walk.
• Competition for spaces on the trail is causing more inexperienced hikers to book their walks during the wet season - seasonal conditions during these months bring extreme heat and regular heavy rainfall - hikers are often unable to cross creeks and are at the highest risk of heat-related injuries.

The project is consistent with the 2017 Hinchinbrook Island National Park Management Plan and Visitor Strategy which identifies a range of strategic management directions and objectives in relation to the Thorsborne Trail.

Preliminary planning included gathering feedback from visitor surveys and key stakeholders to better understand the issues and needs of trail users to assist with the planning and design processes.

Traditional Owners have been involved throughout the design process, providing oversight of the project, and providing input and endorsement of concepts and planning, as well as working onsite alongside QPWS Rangers during project delivery.

Construction is staged and is generally undertaken during the dry seasons each year.

Funding source

The Queensland Government committed $3.4 million from 2023-2025 to fund the Thorsborne Trail enhancement project.

Joint funding by the Queensland Government and Australian Government of $2.2 million has been committed for the Hinchinbrook trail experience project from 2026-2028.

Thorsborne Trail enhancement project 2023-2025

This stage of the project focused on the main priorities for improving the trail identified during planning stages:

• A new, longer pontoon at the start of the trail (Ramsay Bay boardwalk) to better facilitate vessel transfer needs for the trail into the future
• Re-design of priority camping areas: Little Ramsay Bay, South Zoe Bay, and Mulligan Falls, with a focus on better site design, flow, and seclusion/separation for different user groups
• 4 new toilets replaced aging infrastructure to provide a better visitor experience and improve operational maintenance
• Unique Thorsborne Trail visual identity developed for communications products including signs with a consistent look and feel, with priority camping area signs installed
• Thorsborne Trail guided hiking tours were facilitated with World Expeditions’ division Australian Walking Holidays selected as the successful operator, following a competitive Expression of Interest process, and the first guided tours have now begun
• New group camp sites included as part of the camping area upgrades to facilitate the new guided tour product, integrated to complement and minimise impacts to current self-sufficient independent hikers and ecosystems

Hinchinbrook trail experience project 2026-2028

This stage of the project will deliver the full scope of planned works, to realise the complete vision for the Thorsborne Trail visitor experience.

• Re-design of remaining camping areas: Nina Bay, Banksia Bay, Sunken Reef Bay, and George Point.
• Design of camp sites will allow for seclusion/separation from other users, with appropriate infrastructure depending on the site and user group.
• In keeping with the desired remote and wild experience, site upgrades are generally low-key, focusing on better site design and flow.
• Trail entry/exit and hiker preparation areas at Ramsay Bay (including new toilet) and Mulligan Bayto better accommodate hikers – including park and cultural messaging.
• Minor trail workswill be undertaken at key areas to address impacts to natural/cultural values and visitor safety issues, rather than increasing walking comfort or accessibility. This may include short alternate tracks around tidal creeks/swamps, erosion issues, minor diversions.
• Upgrades to signage across the trail to provide a unique Thorsborne Trail identity.
• Signs will be focused on orientation, management, and safety – kept to a minimum in keeping with the trail’s remote and wild nature experience.
• A Planning Guide and Track Notes Guide will be made available as PDFs on the park’s webpages, including pre-hike planning, maps, and key cultural, park, trail, and safety information/messaging.
• Updated webpage information including online video resources about the trail to provide current information, promote safety, preparation, and key cultural/park messaging.

Project videos

QPWS is putting together a series of videos about the Thorsborne Trail enhancement project currently underway. Each video focuses on a different aspect of the project.

• Traditional Owner partnerships
• Management plan and visitor survey
• Guided hiking tours
• Camping area upgrades
• Traditional Owner construction.

Play all videos listed above in YouTube playlist: Thorsborne Trail enhancement project.

More information

Contact QPWS by email at hinchinbrook@detsi.qld.gov.au or read our frequently asked questions about the project.