HINCHINBROOK VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE

Welcome to the Heart of Hinchinbrook

Adventure off the beaten track and explore new horizons in the heart of the Hinchinbrook Shire.

Nestled just north of Townsville, this raw tropical paradise invites you on a journey through unspoilt landscapes as you discover the Hinchinbrook Way. Here you’ll find unique experiences that reinvigorate your mind, body and soul, immersing your senses in the splendour of nature.

The Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre weaves an inspiring narrative that shares the rich history, enviable lifestyle, environmental treasures and many attractions of the area, leaving you yearning for the next chapter. It’s your one-stop shop for tourism information, with a host of interactive displays for all ages, and loads of expert local advice. Queensland National Park permits are available, and we stock a wide range of souvenirs and locally sourced products. The Centre is also a ‘Driver Reviver’ site, offering complimentary tea and coffee.

Just behind the visitor centre, the Hinchinbrook Way Historical Walk takes you on a self-guided journey of discovery, introducing you to the incredible culture, nature, art, gourmet food and boutique shopping found right in the heart of Ingham. This elevated walkway is suspended above the pristine wetlands of Tyto Parklands, which often resounds with a chorus of birdsong, echoing the abundant biodiversity of the area. With its strong Italian heritage, the small country town of Ingham offers warm hospitality and mouthwatering morsels made with love that will make your tastebuds dance. Further afield, a magical landscape beckons you to choose your own adventure. Feel the refreshing mist off Australia’s highest single drop waterfall, dive into natural freshwater plunge pools, experience world-class fishing and unspoilt island wilderness, or explore Jusrassic-like rainforests and encounter ancient cultures.

Whether you’re a nature-lover, adventure seeker or flavour-chasing foodie, we’re here to help you experience the very best this vibrant region has to offer.

Orientation to the Centre

The Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre offers a sensory feast of fun, educational and interactive displays, providing the perfect introduction to the region’s abundant offerings.

The centre itself is surrounded by the pristine Tyto Wetlands. The front of the building boasts a lovely big timber deck, with tables and chairs for sitting and soaking in the relaxed, tropical ambience. Upon entry to the centre, a stunning 2.5-metre-wide copper owl creates a striking first impression. This gleaming sculpture, with magnificent outstretched wings, depicts the majestic Tyto Longimembris (or Eastern Grass Owl) – a native inhabitant of the area, and the unique species after which the wetlands are named. By pressing a button on the wall directly ahead of you on entry, you’ll receive an audible welcome to the Hinchinbrook Shire by local Indigenous community members.

The information counter is directly to your right on entry, with a team of friendly and helpful local experts on-hand to assist with all your information needs. We love offering tips to help you make the most of your time in the Hinchinbrook region, and can assist you to locate brochures, maps and a wealth of other travel resources.

Throughout the centre there’s a range of information boards offering insights about the history of the area, the Tyto Wetlands, and birdwatching in the Hinchinbrook Shire. Beneath the owl sculpture, there’s plush native animal toys for sale. To the far right of the front door there’s a merchandise wall with souvenirs and local products available for purchase.

Behind the centre you’ll find picnic tables and chairs set beneath tall, shady trees, and the beautiful wooded Tyto Parklands, threaded with elevated walkways, boardwalks, bridges and interpretive signs set among lagoons, eucalypt trees and luscious gardens. These picturesque parklands and their suspended paths mark the start of the Hinchinbrook Way Historical Walk – a 1.9-kilometre loop of discovery through the heart of Ingham.

Discover Interactive Displays

To create a truly immersive introduction to the region, our centre proudly features interactive exhibits designed to appeal to a variety of ages and abilities.

A large display titled ‘Shift Workers at Tyto’ offers educational insights into the diverse fauna of the surrounding wetlands. Slide a lever to reveal which birds and animals are night or day shift workers.

A touch screen set in the frame of a tractor invites you to touch on the images of six local farmers, who share their stories of working together to enhance and rebuild the wetland habitat through a range of short videos.

The ‘Tyto Chorus’ is an interactive display featuring a piano with individual keys playing a selection of calls made by birds from the Tyto Wetlands. This is a great tool for helping to identify the feathery fauna of the surrounding area.

Snap a selfie with the centre’s 7-metre-high image of Wallaman Falls. This colossal cascade, located one hour west of Ingham, is Australia’s highest single drop waterfall and the area’s biggest tourist attraction. For those who can’t make the walk to the bottom of the falls, this towering image creates quite a realistic backdrop to photos with family and friends.

At the back of the centre take a walk on the wet side through a large tunnel to experience a unique ‘bug’s eye view’ of three distinct wetland habitats – the mushy edge, the wetland water and the sunny surface.

Or take a seat in front of a large TV and select from a range of short videos that showcase our local tourism destinations and share the stories of our local Hinchinbrook residents.

Challenge your fellow travellers to a round of The Rat Chase Game, or keep the kids amused with books and colouring. or crawl through a tunnel to find a hidden nest.

There’s so much to explore and discover right here in our centre!

Explore A Rich Heritage

The Hinchinbrook Way taps into 60,000 years of culture, sharing Indigenous and immigrant stories where cherished traditions are passed down through the generations.

The multi-award winning Mungalla Station delivers an authentic and unique experience of the region’s rich Indigenous history and culture. Occupied by the Nywaigi People for over 60,000 years, Mungalla Station is a successful Indigenous enterprise and iconic Australian cattle station. The property offers valuable insights into the history, culture and customs of its earliest inhabitants through an incredible range of tours, featuring multi-sensory elements such as earth oven dinners and contemporary live Indigenous music.

Ingham is the heart of the Hinchinbrook region, serving as the central town for the local sugar industry. The incredible 42-metre long Mercer Lane Mosaic (found on the Hinchinbrook Way Historical Walk) depicts the history of the sugar cane industry in Ingham, dating back to the 1870s.

This warm and welcoming country community boasts a proud Italian immigrant culture and is often referred to as the ‘Little Italy’ of Tropical North Queensland.

Ingham also claims fame as home to the original ‘Pub With No Beer’, immortalised in the lyrics of Slim Dusty’s song by the same title. During World War II, Lee’s Hotel, formerly known as the Day Dawn Hotel, was the first pub encountered by troop convoys as they passed through Ingham. Upon their arrival, regardless of the hour, the bar opened for service, and one particularly hot thirsty day, the troops drank the bar dry. Happening upon this sorry plight, local poet Dan Sheahan penned the lament of ‘The Pub Without Beer’, which was later adapted by Gordon Parsons to form the lyrics of Slim Dusty’s iconic Aussie tune. Thankfully, these days the pub is restocked, and you can stop in to enjoy a cold brew, a comfy bed, and a yarn with the friendly locals.

Highlights of the Hinchinbrook Region

Step off the well-trodden tourist path and discover the hidden treasures of the beautiful Hinchinbrook region.

The towering torrent of Wallaman Falls is a big drawcard for visitors to the region. Just an hours’ drive west of Ingham, a breathtaking lookout offers spectacular views of the waterfall’s 268 metre plunge to the pool below. A 45-minute, moderate grade walk takes you to the base of the falls, to experience the splendour up-close and hear the mighty roar of the falls crashing onto the rocks.

Beyond this much-loved landmark, many other natural wonders await. Cool off in the deep shaded swimming holes of Jourama Falls or chill out in the refreshing streams of Broadwater. The pristine environment of the Tyto Wetlands, located behind the Visitor Information Centre, boasts four kilometres of walking tracks traversing the area’s diverse ecosystems. These wetlands offer over 240 different species of birds, whose calls fill the air with a symphony of birdsong.

Explore the unspoilt magic of Hinchinbrook Island – Australia’s largest island national park. Adorned in rugged mountain peaks, rich tropical rainforest and soft sand beaches, Hinchinbrook Island is a rare and rugged landscape well worth exploring. Further offshore, the World heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef fills the calm waters of the Coral Sea with an abundance of colourful marine life.

Back on the mainland our beautiful beach front havens will set the scene for world-class fishing opportunities and relaxing escapes. In the region’s peaceful waterways, try your luck catching wild barramundi beneath the gaze of rugged, mist-bound mountain peaks.

For a true taste of our heritage, be sure to pay a visit to our delightful delicatessens, boasting a unique assortment of Italian cuisine. Savour locally crafted delights, immerse your senses in the rich aromas and flavours of fine Italian fare, and experience the heart-warming hospitality of our proud local community.

Accessibility

The township of Ingham is located in sunny North Queensland, approximately 100 kilometres north of Townsville and just over 200 kilometres south of Cairns. The nearest airport is in Townsville, with hire cars available at the terminal. You can take a leisure train ride to Ingham aboard Queensland Rail’s Spirit of Queensland service, with regular north and southbound services between Brisbane and Cairns. Greyhound Australia offers coach transport to the town, and Ingham Travel also provides a shuttle service between Townsville and Ingham weekdays, with two daily departures from the Townsville Airport. (There’s no public transport in the town itself, but local car hire is available and Ingham Cabs provides taxi services in the area to help you get about.

The Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre is located on the corner of Cooper Street and Townsville Road, just south of Ingham. At the time of publishing, our centre’s opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and 9am to 4pm weekends and public holidays. To confirm hours or for any enquiries ahead of your visit please contact our friendly team by phoning 07 4776 4792 or emailing tourism@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au.

For those self-driving to the centre, there is accessible parking out the front and ramps at the front and side of the building, offering ease of access for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. The centre’s public areas are all on one level, with wide doorways and tactile indicators to create an inclusive experience for all.

The centre also offers accessible bathrooms with braille signage, located just outside the back door of the building. For those travelling with assistance animals, grassy areas suitable for their toileting are found behind the Visitor Centre, opposite the bottom car park.