Beachcomber Cove Walk and the Diversity Boardwalk, Cape Hillsborough National Park, QLD.

Division Rocks between Cape Hillsborough Beach and Beachcomber Cove.

Beachcomber Cove Track: Moderate Grade. 2.2 km return.

The Beachcomber Cove Track has been under repair for some time. We were hoping that we may have been able to access part of the track but when we arrived at the trailhead in the northern end of Cape Hillsborough Picnic Area we found that the track was closed off. However, not all was lost as it is still possible to head north along Cape Hillsborough Beach to Beachcomber Cove at low tide.

Between Cape Hillsborough Beach and Beachcomber Cove there is a fascinating area of strewn rocks appropriately known as Division Rocks. 

Tiny Sand Bubbler Crabs had left beautiful patterns in the sand.

Sand Bubbler Crab patterns on the beach.

We had hoped we might be able to do some of the headland walk from Beachcomber Cove but this end was closed as well so we retraced our steps along the beach.

Trail marker at Beachcomber Cove.

The Diversity Boardwalk: 1.2 km return. Grade easy. First 300 m wheelchair accessible.
The walk leaves from a huge car park on Cape Hillsborough Road.The Diversity Boardwalk was the surprise of our trip to Cape Hillsborough National Park. The boardwalk offers great access to a tidal mangrove area and then wanders through open eucalypt forest.

Diversity Boardwalk

Mangrove Crab

The eucalypt and vine forest section of the walk offered insights into the local Yuibera culture.

Midden

We could visualise sitting under this large rock and throwing a few shells on the midden.

Green Tree Ants (Weaver Ants)

The forest section of the walk was also a great place for bird watching and butterfly sightings.

Little Bronze Cuckoo

Green-spotted Triangle

Orange Plane

Bordered Rustic

Purple Crow

Blue Triangle

Wedge Island and Andrews Point Walking Track, Cape Hillsborough National Park, QLD.

Cape Hillsborough Beach at low tide and Wedge Island.

We had heard that you can walk out to Wedge Island from Cape Hillsborough Beach at low tide so we checked before we arrived to see when the low tides would be during our stay. It turned out that the low tides in the mornings were so early that it would still be dark so we targeted the afternoons for exploring the beach area of Cape Hillsborough. What we had not realised was how huge the tides are at Cape Hillsborough Beach. The tide seems to go out for ever and ever. 

Agile Wallaby, Cape Hillsborough Picnic Area

We parked at the picnic area on Risley Parade and walked down the boat ramp to the beach. Cape Hillsborough is famous as the place to see "kangaroos" on the beach at sunrise. We were there in the afternoon but we did see Agile Wallabies in the picnic area. We also saw them near our campsite at Smalleys Beach Campground.

Wedge Island: Accessible by foot at low tide.

Cape Hillsborough Beach.

We seemed to have got our timing right and it was an easy walk along the beach and across a natural causeway to Wedge Island.

Causeway to Wedge Island

Andrews Point Walking Track: Grade Moderate to Difficult, 5.2 km circuit.

Near the causeway to Wedge Island we saw a sign indicating the entry to Andrews Point Walking Track so we returned to the sign and began the ascent to the top of the headland. This is quite a steep climb with a fair few stairs but the views from the top are worth it.

View of Wedge Island

View of Whitsunday Islands

At Turtle Lookout we could clearly see several large sea turtles way down below. 

Sea Turtles

Looking back towards the mainland

We managed to take our eyes off the views long enough to capture a couple of other beauties along the walking track.

At Twin Beaches Lookout we discovered that there are in fact twin lookouts. One lookout looks back towards Wedge Island and the other looks over Cape Hillsborough Beach and Beachcomber Cove.

Twin Beaches Lookout

Hillsborough Beach and Beachcomber Cove.

We descended to Cape Hillsborough Beach as the sun was coming down feeling very satisfied with our afternoon of exploring this beautiful part of Australia.

Cape Hillsborough Beach