Must-do far north ecotourism trail

Overview

Action 4.7: Investigate options to support the growth of active tourism in Queensland.

Lead agency: Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games (formerly the Department of Tourism, Major Events and Small Business)

Status: Complete

Achievements

The Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games has committed $36 million in the state budget to build the ‘Wangetti Trail’.

The iconic 94km trail along the Great Barrier Reef coast from Palm Cove to Port Douglas will become a must-do tourism experience in Far North Queensland.

Expected to be ‘Grade 3’ (medium difficulty) for walkers and ‘More Difficult’ for mountain bikers, the Trail will provide an accessible but challenging offering for visitors.

The Trail may feature public campsites or privately-operated eco-accommodation at 5 locations. Eco-accommodation may include cabins, retreats or huts.

This project will potentially inject $300 million into the local economy in years to come.

Next steps

The Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games will progress delivery of the trail, working with Traditional Owners to create jobs and business opportunities for locals. We will also continue to support development of other bicycle tourism experiences in Queensland.