Wangetti Trail at the forefront of state tourism vision

Queensland economy

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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Tourists Sylvie Falson and Beatrice Viaggio on the Wangetti Trail at Ellis Beach. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Completing the Wangetti Trail from Palm Cove to Port Douglas is one of the top-four priorities of a new State Government tourism plan “to make Queensland the leading holiday destination in the nation”.

Destination 2045, promoted as a “visionary roadmap to supercharge the state’s industry into a new era of growth, innovation and global leadership” touts the Trail as a major project at the forefront of the future of tourism in Queensland. 

A key focus of the plan will be “kick-starting ecotourism”, with the Wangetti Trail north of Cairns, the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, the Whitsunday Skyway in Airlie Beach, and the Ngaro Trail on Whitsunday Island the main projects being concentrated on first. 

The Government states it wants to back 45 new ecotourism experiences by 2045.

Premier David Crisafulli said he wanted to maximise the opportunity of hosting the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. 

“Destination 2045 is our 20-year plan to make Queensland the leading holiday destination in the nation,” Premier Crisafulli said. 

“Queensland will become Australia’s events and ecotourism capital, delivering more ways for locals and visitors to experience and travel around our great state.” 

The Trail, however, has been dogged by controversy since it was first announced more than a decade ago, with many Far North Queenslanders saying a walking and mountain-biking trail along the hilly beachfront is prone to being washed away like parts of the Captain Cook Highway already are. 

Large sections of the first 7.8km section of the Trail from Palm Cove to Ellis Beach already washed away once in February following heavy monsoonal rains, after being opened in September.

Just south of the Ellis Beach pub there was extensive damage, with rocks strewn across the path and parts completely washed away by Spring Creek.

Slated last year to cost $47m to complete, the price of the Wangetti Trail plan has continued to rise, but Premier David Crisafulli said earlier this year his government was still committed to completing the 94km route from Palm Cove to Port Douglas.

The Trail holds cultural significance for First Nations groups including the Djabugay people and aims to provide economic opportunities for communities all the way up to Port Douglas.

The previous state government committed to completing the entire project by 2026, backed by $8m of Federal Government money.

Once completed, the track from Palm Cove to Port Douglas is expected to span a World Heritage area and three national parks showcasing views of Double Island, Trinity Beach and more.

 

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