Mount Rooper Circuit

Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands are primarily explored out on the ocean, but there exists a less-trodden path to catch some majestic views out over the Whitsundays. Ascend Mount Rooper (228 m) in Conway National Park to catch 360-degree views of the Whitsunday Passage and islands, Shute Harbour, and mixed forests lining the Conway Range. Conway National Park contains the largest area of lowland tropical rainforest outside of Tropical North Queensland and features an exotic array of plants and environs including lowland woodlands and rainforest, mangroves, hoop pines, grasstrees, paperbark, vines, padanus, grasstrees, brush box, and wattles.

Drive about 8 kilometers from Airlie Beach along Shute Harbour Road and park in the car park marked for Conway National Park: Swamp Bay and Mount Rooper. See the Conway National Park Map for trail markers and sights of interest. From the car park, a short walk (300 m) will take you to a turnoff to begin the ascent of Mount Rooper. A slow ascent of 2.1 kilometers up the side of the mountain is eased with switchbacks traversing the ever-changing foliage with panoramic views out over the Conway Range. Do be mindful as you climb; this path is shared with hikers and mountain bikers alike.

The summit of Mount Rooper has an incredible lookout over Shute Harbour, the Whitsunday Passage, and the many islands scattered just off the coast. Continue from the lookout to gain more views out over Daydream and North Molle islands before beginning the descent down Mount Rooper to complete the circuit. If you so desire, you can connect with the Swamp Bay track to visit the remote, peaceful pebble beach along the shore of the bay that has picnic areas and campsites (reservation required).

Enjoy this trip from nearby tropical holiday hub Airlie Beach to get some quiet time in the forests of Conway National Park. The wonderful views over the Whitsunday Passage and islands, as well as the intriguing diversity of plant life, make this a worthwhile adventure.