Are you visiting Airlie Beach and looking for a fun way to escape the busy town streets?

The Honeyeater Lookout Trail is a challenging yet beautiful hike that will take you from the busy streets into the depths of the rainforest without having to drive anywhere. The trail is located in the Conway National Park and is just a hop and a skip (albeit up some steep hills) away from the centre of Airlie Beach.

Read on to discover what you might find on the Trail, how to get there, how difficult the hike is, and what else you can expect on the trail.

1. It’s the best view in Airlie Beach

The best view is always the highest view – and the Honeyeater Lookout offers just that. The Lookout Trail will take you on a winding path through the rainforest, and at the very end you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the turquoise blue beyond.

Once you get to the top you will be delighted to discover Airlie Beach’s best view. Look out towards the horizon to take in the Whitsunday Passage and spot some of the islands. Take a breath and imagine all the sea-life below, thriving in the waters of the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef.

Closer to the shore, cast your eye over the streets of Airlie Beach and the yachts in the marina. Let the green of the rainforest blend together, and gaze all around as you feel the humid rainforest air surround you.

The views on the way up are limited – there are only a few spots where you can peek through the thick rainforest to see the horizon. You’ll have to be patient if you want the best view!

2. The forest walk will challenge and delight you

On the Honeyeater Lookout Trail, you can expect a 7.5 km-long, shady walk through the rainforest with a spectacular view at the end. Don’t be expecting a walk in the park though – it’s a tough hike. The first half of the trail is relentlessly steep, and you’ll probably be wondering if it’ll ever end. The ground is well-compacted dirt which can get quite slippery when it’s wet. Some sections are rocky with big steps, and there are also a few loose gravelly sections.

Here’s the basic information you need to know about hiking the Honeyeater Lookout Trail:

  • Type: Out and back (return walk)
  • Total Distance: 7.5km
  • Time: Allow 2 hours minimum
  • Grade: 4
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Elevation Gain: 364 metres

The trail is easy to follow so you won’t need to worry about downloading offline maps, but AllTrails will help when you’re looking for the start of the trail.

Lots of people use the Lookout Trail for trail running because of its convenient location, challenging terrain, and lush rainforest shade. Allow 1-2 hours to jog the trail, depending on your speed and how long you plan to stop at the top.

If you come mentally prepared for a tough hike, you just might find you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If you come unprepared, just like I did, you’ll be questioning your sanity and wondering why you thought it was a good idea to go in the first place!

Best time of day to visit

The best time of day to hike the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is early in the morning. Even though the trail is shaded for most of the way, it still gets hot during the day. It is also a very popular hike, so the earlier you go the better chance you have at enjoying the trail while it’s quiet. If you’re a morning lark, then hiking to the Lookout for sunrise will amaze you.

3. You can walk there from the middle of town

The start of the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is at the end of Kara Cresent, one of the residential streets just outside of the Airlie Beach town centre. It takes about 15 minute to walk from town to the start of the trail – but it’s basically uphill the whole way!

In fact, walking to the start of the trail from town is really the only option, because the residential streets have no parking. To find the start of the Lookout Trail, make your way to the end of Kara Crescent and go left onto the gravel private road. After a few steps you should see the big wooden staircase ascending into the forest on the right-hand side. This is the start of the trail.

At the trailhead you will see some signs that will tell you about the Conway Circuit and the Honeyeater Lookout Trail. Pause for a quick look to make sure you’re in the right place, and then get moving!

After you’ve been walking for 2.3km, you should see a sign pointing to the Honeyeater Lookout. Turn right at the sign, then follow the path which will lead you all the way to the Lookout.

4. Stop for a picnic and read your book at the top

Once you have arrived at the Honeyeater Lookout, you’ll probably be wanting to pause to catch your breath. Use this moment to have a look around and cast your eye out over the landscape.

You will find that the Lookout landing is quite small, and that there are quite a few goat-tracks that lead around in front of the wooden barrier. There’s also a cosy wooden bench where you can sit and rest your legs.

A great way to really take in the incredible view is to stay for a while. If you’ve packed a towel or a picnic rug you could sneak around to find a rock to sit on, rehydrate, and have a snack. When I got to the top it was busy but not overcrowded, so I sat on the little wooden bench for a while reading a book. It was lovely to chat with some locals and travellers who had come for the exercise and the views.

If you are having a snack, make sure you take all your rubbish with you when you leave. Be aware of the people around you, and if you are sitting on the bench be sure to offer it to others if they need a rest too.  

5. Perfect for photo opportunities

If you haven’t already realised, one of the best things about the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is the view from the Lookout itself! Although the views are extremely limited on the way up, the views at the end will make the hard hike worth it.

The high vantage point at the top makes the perfect photo opportunity – for holiday selfies and drone photos alike. Where else in the world can you see a tropical rainforest meet a world-class coral reef?

Are drones permitted at the Honeyeater Lookout?

You are permitted to fly your drone in the Conway National Park without a permit if:

  • Your drone is under 2kg
  • Your photos are only for personal use
  • You observe all CASA rules
  • In addition, you must ensure that you do not disturb wildlife. This means you should not approach birds or wildlife or go anywhere near breeding or nesting animals.

6. The terrain is varied and interesting 

Even though the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is hard, it’s got great variety in terrain, so you’ll be far from bored. There are rocky steps, steep up and down sections, some flatter sections, gravelly sections, and compacted dirt sections.

The trail can be muddy and slippery during and after rains, so take it slowly especially on the way down when the ground is wet.

7. It’s a great way to escape the mayhem of Airlie Beach

The best part about the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is how close it is to the bustling town centre of Airlie Beach. This makes it perfect for escaping the mayhem and slowing down in nature. The trail offers a chance to reconnect with nature without even having to drive anywhere. And once you’re done, you can head back into town for a well-earned ice cream or a beer!

8. Spot some birds

Given that the Honeyeater Lookout Trail is named after a bird, it only makes sense that you should keep an eye out for the wildlife while you hike. There is a huge variety of birds that make Conway National Park their home, and you could spot hundreds on the way. Don’t forget to stop a few times along the way and stand in silence for a moment – you will slowly start to notice the calls of the tropical birds all around.

Keep any eye out for the ever-present brush turkey, or look closer to find scrubfowl, eastern yellow robins, fruit-doves, olive backed sunbirds, or golden whistlers. You might even see a black-tailed monitor or a frill neck lizard if you walk quietly enough along the trail.

9. You can even cycle the Honeyeater Lookout Trail

The Honeyeater Lookout Trail is a ‘side quest’ of the Whitsunday Great Walk, which is also known as the Conway Circuit. Overall, the Conway Circuit is 27.1km long and is a shared hiking and cycling trail. This means that along the way you might be passed by cyclists who are doing a longer section of the trail.

Keep in mind that the Conway Circuit isn’t actually a loop, it’s 27km one-way. So, if you hike or cycle from one end to the other, you’ll still need to backtrack to get back to where you started. You could take public roads to ‘complete the loop’, but the distance is much further.

The Circuit begins at the top of Kara Crescent and winds through the rainforest all the way back out to Brandy Creek Road/Forestry Road.  If you want to cycle the entire 27km of the Conway Circuit, you will need to be a fit and experienced rider and allow about 4 hours to complete it.

Cycling the Honeyeater Lookout Trail

If you’re an avid and fit rider, you could also cycle all the way to the Honeyeater Lookout. The trail is considered hard and will take about 2 hours to complete. It is only suitable for experienced and fit riders. You may have noticed that the cycling time is the same as the walking time – that’s because it’s a very steep and technical trail, meaning it’ll be as slow as walking to get past all the very steep and rocky sections.

Cycle Trails for Intermediate to Beginner Riders

If you’re an intermediate rider, or a very fit and confident beginner, you could head to the other end of the Conway Circuit and cycle through the forest. Head to the Forestry Road car park and get onto the trail. Follow it until you reach Repulse Creek Camp and then turn around and head back. The distance of this leg is 8.3km one-way.

Plan your cycling adventure

To find detailed cycling information for each part of the Conway Trail, head to the Queensland Parks website. You will find a breakdown of the easy, moderate, and difficult sections of the trail.

Quick Tips for hiking the Honeyeater Lookout

Here’s a list of the most important things to organise and know before you tackle the Honeyeater Lookout Trail:

  • Take at least 3 litres of water per person
  • Much of the trail is shaded by the rainforest, but it still gets very hot and humid
  • Bring a snack for the end of the trail
  • Consider using hiking poles, especially if you have knee or hip trouble – it’s steep
  • Bring your camera or drone for the amazing views at the Lookout
  • Wear sturdy enclosed shoes like runners or hiking boots
  • Leave your car in town, there’s no parking on Kara Crescent
  • Bring a torch/headlamp if walking at sunrise or sunset (+ spare batteries)
  • The first half of the trail is the steepest – don’t let it scare you!
  • Dogs are not allowed on the trail (it’s in Conway National Park)
  • The trail is open all year, but can be slippery after rain
  • To see the trail on a map and discover the rest of the Conway Trail, check out this map by Parks Queensland