Blue Arrow Circuit

Starting from the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Edge Hill, this track takes you on a circuit in the tropical rainforest of Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, optionally visiting the summit along the way. There is also a hut and viewpoint atop Lumley Hill, accessible with a side trip that’s officially a part of the circuit. As you walk along this shaded track through the lush rainforest, keep an eye out for the wallabies and pademelons. You might even see a fluffy tree kangaroo if you’re lucky. Lift your head up to see airplanes landing or taking off from the Cairns Airport nearby. If you choose to complete this track under wet conditions, you may come across little waterfalls along the flowing creeks. Although, this leads to slippery parts on the track and more leeches. Take enough water and make sure you complete the walk before dark to be safe. The area is quite popular, so scheduling it on an early weekday morning can help avoid the crowd. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	(-16.8993416,145.7491088)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Florence Street, A1 Turn on to Sheridan Street, 1 then drive for 2.9 km Turn left onto Collins Avenue and drive for another 760 m Turn right and drive for another 40 m

Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre(near the TANK sixtyfour cafe), head along the paved road directly away from Collins Avenue. After coming to the car park at the end of the road, pass through the bollard and head towards the brown sheltered informative signpost behind the blue&white trailhead signpost. Pass by the said brown signpost and head straight into the forest along the well-formed walking track(Red Arrow Circuit). After about 280 metres(from the start), veer left at the fork to continue along Blue Arrow Circuit(clockwise). This is the recommended direction of travel.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Wild Bean at the start. T:+61 7 4053 4311 Find the Visitor Centre at the start.
	After another 285 m veer left.
	After another 470 m veer left.
	After another 205 m continue straight, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit. After another 55 m pass the shelter (20 m on your right). Continue straight, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit. After another 360 m pass the shelter (on your left).
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional side trip takes you to the summit of Mount Whitfield via the Green Arrow Walking Track. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 1.4 km (at the intersection of Blue Arrow Circuit & Green Arrow Walking Track) veer right, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This side trip takes you to the viewpoint atop Lumley Hill, then to a hut nearby. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 430 m (at the intersection of Mount Lumley Lookout Track & Blue Arrow Circuit) turn right, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit. After another 260 m come to the viewpoint. After another 2 km continue straight, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit. After another 50 m continue straight, to head along Blue Arrow Circuit.
	After another 205 m turn left. After another 70 m pass the shelter (15 m on your left). Then come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left).
	Veer right.
	The starting point of an alternate access track. An alternate access point from/to Collins Avenue. Details below. After another 450 m continue straight. After another 20 m continue straight. After another 265 m pass the "Visitor Centre" (on your left).
	After another 15 m come to the end.

This side trip takes you to the viewpoint atop Lumley Hill, then to a hut nearby.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Blue Arrow Circuit & Mount Lumley Lookout Track Start heading along Mount Lumley Lookout Track (a walking track). After 300 m pass a seat (on your left). Then come to the viewpoint (on your left). After another 65 m come to a shelter.
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 360 m to the main route.

This optional side trip takes you to the summit of Mount Whitfield via the Green Arrow Walking Track.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Green Arrow Walking Track & Blue Arrow Circuit Start heading along Green Arrow Walking Track (a walking track). After another 330 m come to "Mount Whitfield".
	The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 330 m to the main route.

An alternate access point from/to Collins Avenue.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 225 m come to the end.

Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Blue Arrow Circuit

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	6.6 km
Time	2 h 30 min to 4 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There are 4 on route, on average they are 1.5 km apart with the largest gap of 3 km.

Seat: There is one 3.2 km (plus an extra 300 m along side route) from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Shelter	1 km	[shelter]
Shelter	1.4 km	[shelter]
Seat	3.2 km + 300 m	[seat]
Shelter	3.2 km + 380 m	[shelter]
Shelter	5.9 km	[shelter]

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