Flight Centre’s in-house copywriter Lyndon Barnett is an avid hiker. He recently visited Tropical North Queenslands Whitsunday Coast of the Great Barrier Reef, which is easy to reach with domestic flights from the major cities of Australia such as Sydney and Brisbane.
Most visitors come to the Whitsundays to relax on the islands and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef – both of which are perfectly legitimate reasons to appreciate this incredible destination. However hikers might also be interested to know that the region has some terrific day hikes.
Around two hour’s drive south of Airlie Beach is the Eungella National Park. I really enjoyed hiking the various walks through the sub-tropical rainforest – the views across the valley are spectacular. The park itself is part of the wider Great Dividing Range that stretches the entire east coast of Australia. One of the big attractions for kids of all ages is the opportunity to spot a wild platypus swimming in the nearby river.

About the Author: Lyndon Barnett has travelled independently to 68 countries and extensively throughout Australia. He currently resides in Brisbane, Queensland.


A wild platypus swimming in the river will surely delight the kids. Will check it out.