Thorsborne Trail: How Hinchinbrook Island's booking system works

The Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island is a 32 km coastal walk through rainforest, mangroves, and beaches on Australia's largest island national park. Only 12 hikers can start each day. Permits for the entire season are released at once, and popular dates go fast.

For how Queensland's permit system compares to other states, see our state-by-state guide to Australian camping bookings.

How the permit system works

QPWS manages Thorsborne Trail permits through book.parks.qld.gov.au. Unlike most Queensland campgrounds (which use rolling availability), the Thorsborne Trail releases all permits for the entire hiking season in a single drop.

For the 2026 season, permits were released on 16 December 2025 at 10am QLD time. Every start date from March through December went live at once. Peak-season dates (June-September) went first.

The daily limit is 12 new starters per day. This replaced the old rule of 40 people on the trail at any one time. The new system is stricter — fewer people starting each day, but a more predictable experience on the trail.

The hiking season runs 1 March to 31 December, with a mandatory closure during January and February (wet season).

2026 permit fee: Unguided permits are free for the 2026 season specifically. The standard QPWS camping rate is $7.50 per person per night — expect this to apply in future seasons.

The trail at a glance

The trail runs one-way, north to south. Each day gets better — Zoe Falls and Mulligan Falls are saved for the final days. Ferry operators transfer you to Ramsay Bay at the northern trailhead and collect you from George Point at the southern end.

The 7 campsites

Seven designated camping areas are spaced along the trail:

1. Ramsay Bay — First night for most hikers. Beach setting, creek water.
2. Nina Bay — Small, sheltered bay.
3. Little Ramsay Bay — Alternative first-night stop.
4. Banksia Bay — Short spur (~450m off the main trail). No water supply — carry in.
5. South Zoe Bay — Below Zoe Falls, the trail's highlight.
6. Mulligan Falls — Rainforest campsite at the base of the falls. Limited to 1 night per group.
7. George Point — Final campsite before pickup. No fresh water.

All campsites have composting toilets (upgraded in 2024-25) and pack poles for food storage. No campfires. No generators. Carry all water purification — most sites have creek water but it needs treating.

Note: George Point's toilet is temporarily closed due to coastal erosion (until approximately October 2026).

Maximum stay is 2 nights per campsite, except Mulligan Falls (1 night max).

Getting to Hinchinbrook Island

Hinchinbrook Island is off the coast of North Queensland, between Townsville and Cairns.

Cardwell is the traditional departure point — about 160 km north of Townsville (~2 hours) and 190 km south of Cairns (~2.5 hours). Hinchinbrook Island Cruises operates from Cardwell, though some services are transitioning to Lucinda (a nearby port) from 2026.

Absolute North Charters operates from Lucinda.

Both operators run transfers to Ramsay Bay (north trailhead) and pickups from George Point (south trailhead). Book transport after securing your permit — operators fill up for peak dates.

What to do if it's booked out

QPWS cancellation policy: full refund if cancelled 2 or more days before arrival. No refund within 2 days. No exceptions except death or serious illness (with documentation).

Because permits for the entire season drop at once, the first wave of cancellations happens within days of the release. Hikers who grabbed multiple start dates release the extras as they finalise plans. A second wave comes throughout the season as people's plans change — the 2-day threshold is generous enough that people cancel whenever they decide not to go.

QPWS has no waitlist. Cancelled permits reappear on book.parks.qld.gov.au for whoever happens to be checking. No notification.

Schnerp monitors QPWS for Thorsborne Trail cancellations. You tell us your preferred start dates, and we scan for openings. When a permit becomes available, you get an alert so you can book it before someone else does.

You can set up a Thorsborne Trail availability request in under a minute.

Quick reference