Mount Whitfield Conservation Park is a rainforest surrounded by the urban development of Cairns. Covering 741 acres (300 hectares), it’s a popular place for locals and visitors alike to escape the bustling city. As a forested range completely isolated from other natural vegetation, it’s incredibly delicate, consisting primarily of rainforest, with patches of both eucalyptus forests and grasslands with cycads.
Mount Whitfield Conservation Park has two main walking tracks. The Red Arrow circuit takes about an hour to complete and has about a mile (1.5-kilometer) return. Begin by climbing up a rainforest gully to a sheltered lookout that offers views over Cairns, the airport, and the northern beaches. The track then winds through open forest and descends through thick stalks of bamboo.
The Blue Arrow circuit has a roughly 4-mile (6.6-kilometer) return and takes 4-5 hours to complete. The hike climbs through the rainforest to 984 feet (300 meters) above sea level. A connecting circuit, the Green Arrow, begins toward the top of the Blue Arrow loop, and the Yellow Arrow circuit heads off from the first picnic shelter along the Blue Arrow track. An optional sidetrack leads to the summit of Mt. Lumley Hill, with views over Trinity Bay and the mangrove forests that line Barron River.
Australian brush turkeys, orange-footed scrubfowl, and possibly buff-breasted paradise kingfishers (in the summer months) can be seen in the park.
Camping is not allowed in the park, but picnic shelters are available at the top of the Red Arrow circuit.
There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities or tracks in the park.
Only physically fit walkers should tackle the Blue Arrow circuit. Allow plenty of time to return before dark; visitors are advised not to start this walk after 2pm.
Mt. Whitfield is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from central Cairns and is easily accessible by car or via the city’s bus service, which provides transport to and from the park’s entrance on Collins Avenue. The Red and Blue Arrow circuits start from trailheads on Collins Avenue—one near the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre and one to the east of the Tanks Art Centre.
The cooler, drier months, from May to September, are considered the best time for walking around Mt. Whitfield. You’ll experience pleasant weather and reduced humidity. The tracks are popular for joggers, particularly the Red Arrow circuit, which can get busy sometimes. Steer away from December through April, which is the wet season.
Located just outside Mt. Whitfield, Cairns Botanic Gardens is another must-see for nature lovers. The horticultural oasis is home to more than 4,000 species of flora, including exotic species of palms, gingers, bamboo, vines, aroids, and fruit trees. The gardens attract bikers, joggers, walkers, and birding enthusiasts.
