Thorsborne Trail Hike

Distance: 2.5 km
Time:         allow about 2 hrs hiking time

Details:

This is a popular spot to camp when completing the hike in 3 nights/4days.

· Camping area: Little Ramsay Bay—southern side of lagoon

· Water: Little Ramsay Bay—creek upstream from the lagoon area

· Toilets: Little Ramsay Bay—southern side of lagoon area

· Food boxes: Little Ramsay Bay

At the southern end of Nina Bay, the trail crosses a rocky section and heads towards the base of a small cliff. The trail climbs the cliff and follows the headland to Boulder Bay. At very high tides a detour through dense vegetation around the top of Nina headland may be necessary. Green turtles Chelonia mydas are often seen in the sea along this section. The trail then rock hops around Boulder Bay to the base of the headland at the southern end. At the southern end of Boulder Bay, orange markers indicate the trail, which travels south-east over the low ridge to the northern end of Little Ramsay Bay.

Distance: 10.5 km
Time:         allow about 6 hrs hiking time

Zoe Bay would have to be the highlight of the walk in my opinion! Most people camp here and sometimes spend 2 nights here to give yourself a nice break during the hike.

Details:

· Camping area: Banksia Bay and southern end of Zoe Bay

· Water: Banksia Creek—100 m upstream from the beach, and Zoe Creek—600 m upstream from the camp sites

· Toilets: Zoe Bay—southern end

· Food boxes: Zoe Bay—southern end

From Little Ramsay Bay the trail proceeds south, crossing a tidal creek and continuing to rocks at the end of the beach. The next beach is then accessed by rock hopping around the small headland. At the end of this beach, the trail leads to the upper edge of rocks above a larger sandy beach. From the southern end of this beach the trail heads south-easterly through a small gully to the top of a ridge.

At this point, a side path leads to Banksia Bay (600 m return) and a small camping area. This bay has spectacular fringing reefs and golden orchids Dendrobium discolor can be seen growing on the beachside rocks.

The main trail continues south, descending to the Banksia Creek crossing and onwards south-east to the saddle between Banksia and Zoe bays. At the top of the saddle the trail then descends a rocky creek into the Zoe Bay catchment.

Turning south-south-west, the trail travels to North Zoe Creek through a succession of vegetation types, from dry open forest to rainforest and mangrove swamps. The variation in rain, fire and drainage are the driving forces behind the distribution of these vegetation types.

The trail then passes through several palm swamps in tall rainforest between North Zoe Creek and Fan Palm Creek. The trail may be less visible in these areas. Look carefully for the trail markers.

The most reliable water sources in this section are found where the trail crosses Fan Palm Creek and Cypress Pine Creek. The rainforest here is ideal for bird watching and the deep ’wallock-a-woo’ call of the brightly coloured but elusive wompoo fruit-dove Ptilinopus magnificus can sometimes be heard from within the canopy.

Look out for the hooked tendrils of the yellow lawyer cane Calamus moti and hairy mary C. australis. These climbing palms use hook-studded branches to support growth towards the canopy. Although not poisonous, these tendrils can take a firm hold of hikers’ skin, packs and clothing.

Be prepared to get your feet wet as there are several creek crossings and swampy sections. The trail enters the beach at Zoe Bay with the mouth of South Zoe Creek about 400 m to the south.

The spectacular Zoe Falls are a few minutes along the track from the camping area and are well worth a visit. There is no camping at Zoe Falls—please camp in the camping area.

At low tide look for armies of small, blue soldier crabs Mictyris platycheles on the sand flats near the mouth of South Zoe Creek. From the southern end of the beach the trail leads through magnificent rainforest featuring the orange trunks of alligatorbark Calophyllum sil and the tall, buttressed blue quandong Elaeocarpus grandis. The bright blue fruits of the quandong often litter the forest floor. Large eucalypts emerge above the rainforest canopy, suggesting that this has not always been a rainforest, but that over the last few decades, the absence of fire has caused the rainforest to invade open eucalypt forest.

Distance: 6.5 km
Time:         allow about 4 hrs hiking time

Details:

This is a great spot to stop and have lunch during the hike. This is not a campsite, but a great place to relax before continuing on!

· Camping area: Sunken Reef Bay—behind the fore dune

· Water: Sunken Reef Bay—creek at northern end of beach and Diamantina Creek

From the Zoe Bay camping area, the trail runs parallel with South Zoe Creek, crossing it about 100 m downstream from Zoe Falls. It then continues up a steep slope onto the granite slabs above the falls where there are spectacular views of Zoe Bay. Please remain on the trail at all times and do not camp at Zoe Falls.

Continuing along South Zoe Creek, the trail occasionally crosses narrow rocky tributaries. It then follows a distinct spur to the granite rock pavement of a saddle. At 260 m above the sea, this is the highest point on the trail. On a clear day the picturesque views include the Palm Island Group and Magnetic Island to the south.

Tall heath communities, typical of much of the mountainous parts of Hinchinbrook Island, dominate this section of the trail. Among the many striking sights are the near threatened (rare) blue banksia Banksia plagiocarpa with its blue-grey flowers, gnarled cones and spectacular rusty-red new foliage as well as the pink flowers of the native lasiandra Melastoma malabathricumsubsp. malabathricum. Along the creeks, coral fern Lycopodium cernuum and insectivorous plants like sundews Drosera adelae and D. spatulata line the moist banks.

After crossing the saddle, the trail traverses steep forested slopes of the Sweetwater Creek catchment before climbing into coast she-oak Casuarina equisetifolia and grasstree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii shrubland. The grasstree’s tall flower-spike produces white flowers which are rich in nectar a popular food for many native birds and insects.

The trail then descends into the Diamantina Creek catchment, passing a sidetrack to Sunken Reef Bay before reaching the Diamantina Creek crossing.

Site Detail:

This location is off the main trail. This is a camp spot, but with no food boxes, toilets or tables. There is water at the end of the beach, however, it may need treating and is not always available depending on rain. Camping is permitted here, however, it is not as popular as the other spots.

Thirty minutes walk along a sidetrack takes you to Sunken Reef Bay camping area Water is available from a small creek at the northern end of the beach. During the dry season, water can be obtained from Diamantina Creek. Camping behind the foredune is popular with sea kayakers and hikers. Between October and March be aware that beach stone-curlews Esacus neglectus and the occasional green turtle Chelonia mydas nest here. Remember, camp fires are not permitted.

Flotsam and jetsam are carried to this beach by the currents. QPWS staff regularly remove the rubbish component of the debris.

Distance: 1 km
Time:         allow about 30 mins hiking time

Details:

Most people camp here when completing the hike in the normal 3 nights/4 days.

· Camping area: Mulligan Falls

· Water: Mulligan Falls

· Food boxes: Mulligan Falls

Use caution when crossing Diamantina Creek particularly if the creek is swollen after heavy rain. Follow the markers diagonally across the creek before the trail continues up a short slope and descends a steep hillside to reach the base of Mulligan Falls Camping here is restricted to one night.

The vegetation in this area is typical of lowland rainforest communities found on Hinchinbrook Island. On a clear day, this section affords good views of Lucinda and the Palm Island Group.

Do not enter the restricted access area at the falls. Death and serious injuries have occurred when people have entered this area. Rock pavements, including those well back from the falls, are extremely slippery and dangerous.

Collect fresh water before leaving Mulligan Falls as water sources are not reliable further along the trail.

Distance: 7.5 km
Time: allow about 2.5 hrs hiking time
Details:

Mainly used as a drop off and pick up location, however people do camp here too.

· Camping area: George Point—southern end of Mulligan Bay

· Toilets: George Point

· Food boxes: George Point

From Mulligan Falls the trail follows the coast, travelling through rainforest and crossing five creeks. The last, Moth Creek, provides only seasonal fresh water and should not be relied upon. About 300 m south of the Diamantina Creek inlet, a sign indicates the northern entrance to Mulligan Bay. The colourful, noisy pitta Pitta versicolor is often seen in this area. Listen for their distinct ’walk-to-work’ call as they search the forest floor for snails and insects.

George Point, the southern exit of the trail, is a further 5 km walk along the beach. About 2 km along, Mulligan Creek flows into the bay and it is advisable to cross this creek at low to half tide. Fresh water is not available here or at George Point, at the southern end of Mulligan Bay.