The Misty Mountains Story

The Misty Mountains Trails are located in protected areas in the heart of World Heritage Rainforest, which covers an area of 894,420 hectares - stretching from Townsville to Cooktown on the north-east coast of Queensland.

The need to protect Australia's rainforests in Tropical North Queensland was identified back in 1966 but the process of formally listing them as a World Heritage Area took until December, 1988. Not everyone was in favour of proceeding with the listing and many campaigns were waged in both directions including blockades, protests, legal cases and petitions. Some of the key struggles, setbacks and gains are detailed on the Wet Tropics Management Authority's website.

Walkers will follow in the footsteps of the local indigenous Jirrbal and Ma:mu people as they moved from the coast to the hinterland, and also follow the many timber tracks later used by early pioneers and forestry operators.

Over 130 kilometres of tracks have been constructed under a unique partnership between the shires of Eacham, Herberton, Cardwell and Johnstone, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), Traditional Owners,and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia.

The project was funded by the Queensland Heritage Trails Network (QHTN), a joint initiative of the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Government.

The principles of the Misty Mountains project are:
- to develop a long-distance walking track network
- present the wet tropics natural and cultural values,
- link the regional shires of Eacham, Herberton, Cardwell and Johnstone, and
- provide economic development opportunities for Regional Communities south of Cairns.

For more information on the history of Misty Mountains, select a link below:
Traditional Owners
Landscape Geography
Flora & Fauna of Misty Mountains