Why you’ll need to be quick to be on the right track

Bookings for the 2027 Ngaro Track season will open on Tuesday, August 11, with hikers being urged to secure their place early on what has quickly become one of Australia's most sought-after multi-day walks.

Independent walker permits for 2026 sold out shortly after release. 

The 2027 permits are expected to sell quickly, particularly across peak travel periods. 

Bookings are available via www.ngarotrack.com.au for the spectacular 32-kilometre trail across Whitsunday Island.

Developed by the Queensland Government in partnership with the Ngaro Traditional Owners, the Ngaro Track is Australia's newest purpose-built multi-day walk.

The trail links Whitehaven Beach with Hill Inlet through ancient rainforest, towering pines, secluded beaches and spectacular coastal lookouts. 

Walkers stay at purpose-built camps at under Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service's managed permit system.

Michael Buggy, director of World Expeditions Travel Group Australasian Operating Companies, said the response to the Ngaro Track had exceeded expectations, with the independent permits proving especially popular.

"The response from hikers has been phenomenal," Buggy said.

"With only a limited number of departures available each season, we expect demand to remain exceptionally strong."

Coinciding with the release of the independent walker bookings, World Expeditions will also open bookings for its fully supported Ngaro Track Walk in Comfort as well as its Thorsborne Trail Guided Walk departures for the 2027 season. 

To celebrate the launch, World Expeditions is offering $200 per person off all 2027 departures on both guided itineraries for new bookings made between August 11 and midnight on August 18. 

You can now book for Australia's "next great walk"

 

Bookings are now open for the much-anticipated Ngaro Track, Queensland’s newest multi-day hiking experience on Whitsunday Island. 

World Expeditions is to deliver guided walks along the landmark 32-kilometre trail – the first of its kind in the region.

With first departures starting from May 2026, the World Expeditions Australian Walking Holidays division will provide a fully supported three-day/two-night walk complete with expert guides, all meals and purpose-built infrastructure including two campsites that showcase the natural beauty and cultural significance of the island. 

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Accessed by boat from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour, the 32-kilometre Ngaro Track, which has been created by the Queensland Government, offers an opportunity to explore the biodiversity and Indigenous heritage of Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the Whitsunday Islands National Park and a key site within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Walkers will traverse rainforest, vine thickets, rocky headlands, and high lookouts like Whitsunday Craig. The Ngaro Track links iconic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet. Walkers will enjoy multiple opportunities to take a dip in the ocean along the trail.

The project was developed in close partnership with the Ngaro People, traditional owners of Whitsunday Island. 

Interpretive totem posts carved from local hardwood feature art and stories contributed by Ngaro families, will offer walkers a chance to learn thee knowledge, values and ancestral ties that have been passed down through generations.

“At the heart of what we do is creating journeys that honour and protect the landscapes we explore,” said Michael Buggy, director of World Expeditions Travel Group (WETG) Australasian Operating Companies. 

“The Ngaro Track represents that mission. We’re privileged to work with the traditional owners of Whitsunday Island, the Ngaro People, to help shape this spectacular walk.”

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the multi-day Ngaro Track will open up one of Queensland’s outstanding destinations in a way that respects and protects Country.

“The Ngaro Track will soon become a must-do walking experience for the Whitsunday region, for people to embrace the stunning scenery, learn about cultural connections to the landscape, and leave only footprints behind,” Powell said.

“Showcasing the Whitsundays’ breath-taking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, it’s truly a perfect example of Queensland’s ecotourism potential - and it’s the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come."

The Ngaro Track has been enhanced with two purpose-built, elevated campsites - Bowarri yamba (Moon Camp) and Dhula yamba (Tree Camp) - developed to offer a low-impact, immersive walking experience. 

These facilities feature communal cooking areas and gathering spaces with sweeping views over secluded bays and beaches, marking a significant investment in sustainable visitor infrastructure.

Travellers joining the World Expeditions' guided Ngaro Track walk benefit from a fully supported experience: they walk with just a small pack and arrive to camps already set up with raised camp beds, comfortable tents, pillows and freshly cooked meals (dinner and breakfast), with a picnic lunch served whilst on the track. 

It is priced from A$2195 per person for three days/two nights including boat transfers. Bookings via worldexpeditions.com/ngw.

Independent walkers are also catered for on the newly constructed trail where they carry their own equipment, including tents, sleeping bags, food and cooking supplies. 

To preserve the remote and natural experience of the Ngaro Track, independent walker permits are limited to 15 walkers per section per day. Independent walker bookings for the 2026 season are available now from www.ngarotrack.com.au.