01
Mt Rooper Lookout
1.2km each way through palm forest to a lookout over the Whitsunday Passage. Roughly 60 minutes return. The easiest big-view walk in the park.
Airlie Beach · Hiking · Wildlife · Free
ConwayNational Park
The park starts at the edge of town. Within a five-minute drive of Airlie Beach you're in proper subtropical rainforest, with lookouts over the Whitsunday Islands waiting at the end of every track.
Free entry23,800 haMulti-day walksWildlife
- Size
- 23,800 hectares
- Trailheads
- Multiple
- Cost
- Free
- Best time
- Apr – Oct (dry)
- Phone reception
- Patchy/none
- Accessibility
- Trails only
The town's own rainforest.
Conway National Park is the great quiet secret of Airlie Beach — a 23,800-hectare wedge of tropical rainforest that wraps around the town's southern and eastern edges. It's the largest coastal lowland rainforest in Queensland, and it begins about five minutes from the main street.
The park's headland setting means almost every walk ends at a view: the Whitsunday Passage opening up between hills, Hayman and Hook islands sitting offshore, or the long curve of Whitsunday coast running south. The forest itself is dense and tall — strangler figs, hoop pines, palm groves — and home to a surprising amount of wildlife, including the occasional carpet python and a healthy population of brush turkeys.
There are walks here for every fitness level. The Mt Rooper Lookout is an hour return on a wide, well-graded path. The Conway Circuit is a full-day or multi-day loop. The Whitsunday Great Walk is a 30km, three-day end-to-end that finishes back near the marina.
Because of the area's traditional importance to the Ngaro and Gia peoples, several walks pass cultural sites. Stay on marked tracks and respect any signage about Country.
No phone reception on most trails. Tell someone your plan, carry plenty of water (at least 2L per person for the longer walks), and start early in summer — humidity is real here.
The walks
Tracks worth doing.
02
Honeyeater Lookout
2.2km each way (4.4km return), moderate. Different angle on the islands, fewer crowds than Mt Rooper, and you might actually see honeyeaters.
03
Swamp Bay walk
1.2km each way down to a quiet rainforest-backed beach. Croc warnings apply — admire from the shore.
04
Conway Circuit
27km loop, two days with overnight camping at Repulse Bay. For experienced bushwalkers; permits required.
05
Whitsunday Great Walk
30km, three days, Brandy Creek to Airlie Beach. The biggest walk in the region — a proper expedition through varied rainforest.
06
Coral Beach walk
1.2km return through dry rainforest to a coral-rubble beach. Best at low tide; bring shoes for the coral.
Plan your walk.
The park is well-managed but remote enough that a bit of planning pays off.
When to go
Apr–Oct is the dry, comfortable window. Summer (Dec–Mar) is hot, humid, and storm-prone — still doable, but go very early.
Getting there
Mt Rooper trailhead is 7km from the Airlie Beach main street, 12 min drive. Sealed road, signposted.
What to pack
Hiking shoes, hat, plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent. Long pants for the Conway Circuit.
Camping permits
Required for Repulse Bay and other backcountry camps. Book through Queensland National Parks.
Pair it with
Half-day combos.
Town centre
Airlie Beach Lagoon
Cool off post-hike — there is no better feeling on a humid Whitsundays afternoon.
30 min driveCedar Creek Falls
Freshwater swim in a rainforest pool. Often combined with Mt Rooper as a day trip.
10 min driveCoral Sea Marina
Reward yourself with a sundowner at Hemingway's once the boots come off.