What is the Ngaro Track in the Whitsundays?
The Ngaro Track Whitsundays walk is Queensland’s newest multi-day hike: a 32km, three-day, two-night trail across Whitsunday Island that starts at Whitehaven Beach and finishes at Hill Inlet. It sits inside Whitsunday Islands National Park, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, on the traditional land and sea Country of the Ngaro People.
Independent walkers started using the track in April 2026 and guided walks began in May 2026. Numbers are tightly capped, the season is short, and the 2026 independent permits sold out soon after release. If you want to walk it, you need to plan well ahead.
This guide covers the route day by day, the three ways to book, costs, the campsites, how fit you need to be and what to pack.
Information checked October 2026.
Ngaro Track at a glance
- Distance: 32km, one way
- Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
- Direction: one direction only, Whitehaven Beach to Hill Inlet
- Season: April/May to October (the drier, cooler months with lower cyclone risk)
- Group size: maximum 15 people per group (excluding guides), with no more than 45 multi-day walkers on the track at any one time
- Camps: Bowarri yamba (Moon camp) and Dhula yamba (Tree camp)
- Access: by boat only; bookings are essential for all walkers
- Nearest town: Airlie Beach, where guided walks start and finish
The track was built with about $14 million in Queensland Government funding, according to ABC News. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) consulted the Ngaro People from 2018, along with tourism groups, the Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee and walking enthusiasts.
The Ngaro Track route, day by day
The distances and times below come from the guided itinerary published by Australian Walking Holidays. Independent walkers follow the same track and camps, but your pace will depend on your pack weight and fitness.
Day 1: Whitehaven Beach to Bowarri yamba (8.3km, about 5 hours)
You arrive by boat and set off from the southern end of Whitehaven Beach, climbing to a lookout before heading through dry rainforest. The day ends at Bowarri yamba, also called Moon camp, which overlooks Silica Bay.
Day 2: Bowarri yamba to Dhula yamba (10.8km, about 7 hours)
The middle day is the toughest climb. The route follows the coast before ascending Whitsunday Craig, at around 353m, then drops down to Dhula yamba, or Tree camp, set in forest behind Torres Herald Bay.
Day 3: Dhula yamba to Hill Inlet (12.8km, about 8 hours)
The longest day crosses the island and includes what Australian Traveller describes as the Whitsundays’ only mangrove boardwalk. You finish at Hill Inlet, known for its swirling white silica sand and turquoise water, before a boat transfer back to Airlie Beach.
How do you book the Ngaro Track?
There are three ways to walk the Ngaro Track. All require a booking, and day visitors are not permitted on the multi-day track itself.
Option 1: Independent walk
Self-sufficient walkers book a permit through the official Ngaro Track booking site. You carry all your own gear and food, and treat your own water. Independent walkers also get access to a navigation app with maps and track notes, according to QPWS.
Boat transfers to and from Whitsunday Island are not included with an independent booking. The booking site directs you to book them separately through Whitsunday Camping.
Option 2: Full Pack Guided Hike
World Expeditions holds the commercial licence for guided walks on the track. Its Full Pack Guided Hike, sold through Australian Walking Holidays, includes a wilderness guide, marine transfers, Airlie Beach hotel pick-up and drop-off, national park fees and a pre-trip briefing. You carry a full pack of about 12-18kg with your own tent, sleeping bag, mat, cooking gear and food.
Option 3: Walk in Comfort
The catered option suits walkers who want a lighter pack. It includes two breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners plus snacks, twin-share tents with raised beds and mattresses, guides and support staff, marine transfers, Airlie Beach hotel transfers, park fees, emergency communications and stinger suits.
Ngaro Track options compared
| Option | Price | What you carry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | $150 per person (reported March 2026) | Everything, plus water treatment | Experienced, self-sufficient hikers |
| Full Pack Guided Hike | From $1,795 per person | Full pack, 12-18kg | Fit hikers who want a guide and transfers sorted |
| Walk in Comfort | From $2,295 per person, twin share | Day pack and personal items | Walkers who want meals and camp set-up handled |
Prices are as listed by the operators at the time of checking and may change between seasons. The independent price does not include boat transfers.
When are bookings open for 2027?
Bookings for the 2027 season opened on 11 August 2026 for both independent permits and World Expeditions’ guided departures. Independent permits for 2026 sold out shortly after release, so expect strong demand again, especially around school and public holidays.
If your dates are flexible, check the booking calendars for midweek starts and shoulder months such as April and October.
What are the Ngaro Track campsites like?
Both camps were purpose-built for the track. QPWS says each has eight camping platforms, an additional earth area with hammock posts, a communal shelter and a toilet facility with two toilets.
- Bowarri yamba (Moon camp): overlooks Silica Bay and uses a composting toilet system.
- Dhula yamba (Tree camp): sits in the forest behind Torres Herald Bay.
- Water: rainwater tanks are installed, but all water must be treated. In dry spells you may need to carry extra.
- No campfires: open fires are not permitted anywhere on the track.
- No showers and no mobile phone reception, so plan to be off-grid for three days.
How hard is the Ngaro Track?
It is a challenging walk. Expect 4-8 hours on your feet each day over undulating, sometimes steep terrain, with variable footing and limited signage in places. Australian Walking Holidays grades the Walk in Comfort trip as introductory to moderate (Grade 4) and recommends prior bushwalking experience.
To prepare, the operator suggests training with a weighted pack of 8-10kg each week before you go. If you are walking independently or on the full pack trip, train with the weight you will actually carry.
What to pack for the Ngaro Track
- Broken-in hiking boots or trail shoes with good grip
- Water bladder or bottles, plus a water treatment method
- Sun protection: hat, long-sleeved shirt and reef-safe sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- A stinger suit if you plan to swim
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Headlamp and a basic first aid kit
- For independent and full pack walkers: tent (or hammock for the earth area), sleeping bag and mat, stove, food for three days and a rubbish bag to carry everything out
Safety on Whitsunday Island
Marine stingers are present in tropical Queensland waters, with the highest risk from November to May. Wear a stinger suit whenever you swim. Treat coral and marine life with care: don’t touch or stand on coral, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Carry more water than you think you need, start early on hot days, and let someone know your plans. There is no mobile reception on the track, so guided groups carry emergency communications. Independent walkers should consider carrying a personal locator beacon.
Can you visit Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet without doing the hike?
Yes. The existing short walks remain open, including the Whitehaven Beach lookout, the Solway circuit, Chance Bay, the Beach track and the Hill Inlet lookout. Camping also continues at established QPWS sites such as Whitehaven Beach and Chance Bay, with a booking.
What you can’t do without a Ngaro Track booking is walk beyond Chance Bay onto the new track or use its two camps. A day cruise from Airlie Beach is the easiest way to see Whitehaven and Hill Inlet; browse options on our Queensland tours page.
Why the Ngaro Track has sparked debate
The track’s commercial model has drawn criticism. As ABC News reported, World Expeditions was awarded the exclusive commercial role after a tender, and some local guides and conservationists have questioned the role of a private operator in a taxpayer-funded national park.
Ngaro Elder Peter Pryor told the ABC he supported the track on the condition that it creates jobs, particularly for younger Ngaro people looking for work in tourism. The camp names, Bowarri yamba and Dhula yamba, are a reminder that you are walking on Ngaro Country.
Getting to the Ngaro Track
Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Guided walks include a mandatory pre-trip briefing in Airlie Beach the day before departure, so plan to arrive at least a day early. Independent walkers need to book their own boat transfers to the start at Whitehaven Beach and back from Hill Inlet.
To explore more of the region before or after your walk, read our guide to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Ngaro Track FAQs
How long is the Ngaro Track?
The Ngaro Track is 32km long. It is walked over three days and two nights, in one direction from Whitehaven Beach to Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island.
How much does the Ngaro Track cost?
Independent permits were reported at $150 per person in March 2026, not including boat transfers. Guided options start from $1,795 per person for the Full Pack Guided Hike and $2,295 per person twin share for Walk in Comfort, including transfers from Airlie Beach.
Can you do the Ngaro Track without a guide?
Yes. Self-sufficient walkers can book an independent permit at ngarotrack.com.au. You carry all your own gear and food, treat your own water and arrange your own boat transfers.
When is the best time to walk the Ngaro Track?
The track operates from about April or May to October. These months are drier and cooler, and the cyclone risk is lower than in summer.
How many people can walk the Ngaro Track per day?
Each group is limited to 15 walkers, excluding guides, and no more than 45 multi-day walkers can be on the track at any one time. The water supply at each camp is designed for about 15 walkers plus support staff per day.
Can you do the Ngaro Track as a day walk?
No. Day use of the Ngaro Track is not permitted. Day visitors can still use the existing short walks around Whitehaven Beach, Chance Bay and Hill Inlet.
Plan your Ngaro Track Whitsundays walk
The Ngaro Track Whitsundays experience rewards early planning. Check the 2027 calendars on the official Ngaro Track site for independent permits, or compare the guided departures with Australian Walking Holidays. For full park rules and track updates, read the QPWS Ngaro Track FAQs.
Then round out your trip with a reef or island tour from our Queensland tours collection.
