Conway National Park

Top choice in Airlie Beach


This serene national park encompasses the Conway Peninsula, once the hunting grounds of the Giru Dala and still home to large swaths of lowland tropical rainforest, remote mangroves, rocky uplands, and pandanus and paperbark woodlands. The day-use area, plus two car parks, 7km, 8km and 11km east of Airlie Beach, respectively, are the starting points for two easy-to-moderate walking trails apiece. The Whitsunday Transit bus from Airlie Beach to Shute Harbour (one to two hourly) can drop you at the trailheads.

From the day-use area, the Coastal Fringe Circuit (1.2km) traverses coastal rainforest, with Hayward Gully (1.6km) branching off into a rocky gully.

Mt Rooper car park is the starting point for the Swamp Bay traverse (2.1km), ending at the coral-strewn beach overlooking the Molle island group, as well as the ascent of Mt Rooper (2.3km, 221m) through low woodland. Combine the two trails via the 5.4km Mt Rooper Circuit, with good views of the Whitsunday Islands.

Just above Shute Habour, the Coral Beach trail (1.1km) takes you to the eponymous beach from the Coral Bay car park, with an additional 600m leading to the The Beak lookout overlooking the Whitsunday Passage.

Finally, 17km west of Airlie Beach, the Forestry Rd car park (off Shute Harbour Rd) is the jumping-off point for the demanding 27km Conway Circuit that brings you back to Airlie Beach, with bush camping en route.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Airlie Beach attractions

1. Daydream Island

2.14 MILES

The rainforest-cloaked, reef-fringed Daydream Island is only 1km long and 200m wide, and very popular with day visitors due to its accessibility. Much of…

2. South Molle Island

3.05 MILES

The largest of the Molle Islands group, South Molle is virtually joined to its reef-fringed siblings, Mid and North Molle Islands. The island is mostly…

3. Cedar Creek Falls

10.24 MILES

These beautiful falls, a popular swimming spot when there's sufficient water, can be reached by turning east from the Proserpine–Airlie Beach road at…

4. Hamilton Island Wildlife

11.59 MILES

This sweet little wildlife centre is a good place to introduce your kids to various marsupials, including wallabies and koalas, as well as a dingo,…

5. Escape Beach

13.01 MILES

This sheltered, sandy cove, lapped at by azure waters, is Hamilton Island's loveliest beach - all the more because you're likely to have it all to…

6. Whitsunday Island

13.49 MILES

The largest of the paradisaical group to which it gives its name, Whitsunday Island is ruggedly forested, and surrounded by clear teal waters and coral…

7. Armit Island

15.07 MILES

Little-visited Armit, in the northern Whitsundays, boasts fringing reef, secluded anchorage, nesting birds from October to March, and a peaceful, facility…

8. Whitehaven Beach

16.02 MILES

One of of Australia's most photogenic and hyped beaches, Whitehaven is a pristine 4.3 mile-long (7km) stretch of blinding sand (at 98% pure silica, some…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "australia/queensland/airlie-beach/attractions/conway-national-park/a/poi-sig/1616193/362409",
      "destination": "Airlie-Beach",
      "continent": "Australia-&-Pacific",
      "country": "Australia",
      "region": "Queensland",
      "city": "Airlie-Beach",
      "position": "superzone"
    }