The Best Wheelchair Accessible Walks in Queensland, Australia

Barron Gorge Glacier Rock. Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Kelisi

One of the top things to do on an Australian vacation is bushwalking. What you may not know is that being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t experience this popular Australian activity. You won’t need to miss out on all the beautiful nature or seeing it up close. A vacation in Queensland is likely to include a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, but it will also likely mean visiting some of the national parks throughout the state. Don’t worry, your choices aren’t limited. There are 78 Queensland National Parks with wheelchair access.

 

Tips for Hiking Wheelchair Accessible Trails in Queensland Australia

 

Before we highlight some of the top wheelchair accessible walks in Queensland, let’s go over some hiking tips.

 

  1. Research Your Hike. Some things to take into consideration when reading up ahead of time about hikes is if it is a round trip length or one way length. Some walks are only partially wheelchair accessible, so be sure to ask about this aspect.
  2. Never Go Alone. Always take friends, family, or a guide with you. On top of that, it is always a good idea to let someone not hiking with you know where you are going and when you will return.
  3. Stay Hydrated. Be sure to bring extra water just in case. Even though it might be humid, it is still easy to get dehydrated.
  4. Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunblock, but also wear a hat and appropriate clothing.

 

Highlights of the Best Wheelchair Accessible Walks in Queensland Australia

 

As we mentioned, there are plenty of wheelchair accessible walks in Queensland’s National Parks to choose from. It wasn’t easy, but we have narrowed it down to just 4 trails to highlight for you here today. To see the list of all of them, click to Queensland’s National Park website.

 

Barron Gorge National Park

Barron Gorge National Park is located in North Queensland, 27 km north-west of Cairns. It is part of the Wet Tropics Heritage Area. The Din Din Barron Falls boardwalk, lookouts and toilets are all wheelchair accessible. Taking this boardwalk trail allows you to see the scenery in the park which includes rugged peaks, steep gorges, waterfalls, rainforest, and the varied wildlife in the area. The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is also wheelchair friendly.

wheelchair accessible walks queensland australia

Barron Falls. Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Ash Simmons,

 

Cape Tribulation, Daintree National Park

The Cape Tribulation section of Daintree National Park has three boardwalks that are wheelchair accessible and a fourth that is partially wheelchair accessible. The Marja Boardwalk, Dubuji Boardwalk, and Kulki Boardwalk are completely wheelchair accessible; while the Jindalba Boardwalk is only wheelchair accessible to the creek from the exit which is close to the disabled access parking bays. Daintree National Park is located in the Far North Queensland; it is 100 km northwest of Cairns and just north of the port city of Port Douglas. The Daintree Rainforest is very special; it is the largest continuous and oldest tropical rainforest in the world. This national park is also special because it is where two World Heritage Areas and National Parks meet each other at the ocean. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef at the Coral Sea. It is also one of the only rainforests in the world that extends to the coast.

wheelchair accessible walks queensland australia

Mossman River and Gorge in Daintree National Park Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Photnart – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

wheelchair accessible walks queensland australia

Great Sandy National Park

Great Sandy National Park is located north of Sunshine Coast and is comprised of two sections, the Cooloola section and Fraser Island. There are wheelchair friendly walks in the Cooloola section which spans from Rainbow Beach down to Noosa Heads. Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island. Cooloola is the largest remnant of coastal vegetation in Queensland’s southern mainland. The Cooloola Recreation Area is known for its high sand dunes, coloured sand cliffs, beaches, freshwater lakes, tall forests, paperbark swamps, and wildflowers.  The wheelchair accessible facilities in this section of the park include the day-use area at the Freshwater campsite, the Bymien picnic area, Fig Tree Point, and Harrys camping and day use areas.

 

Eungella National Park

Eungella National Park is located about an hour and a half east of Mackay. If you are taking a holiday in Mackay, a trip to Eungella should definitely be on your list. Not only is it a chance to see the lush rainforest and unique scenery here, but it is the best place to catch a glimpse of the elusive and shy platypus, which are often seen here. The Sky Window short walk is wheelchair accessible and is where you will find amazing, panoramic views of the Pioneer Valley below.

wheelchair accessible walks queensland australia

Eungella National Park View from the Sky Window. Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Turtleplace – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,