Hichinbrook Island, separated from the northeastern Queensland coast by Hinchinbrook Channel, is a wilderness island which invites eco-tourism and activities such as hiking and snorkeling.

Hinchinbrook, a national park, lies opposite the port of Cardwell on the Queensland coast and is some 100 kilometres north of Townsville and 180 kilometres south of Cairns.

The waters around the island are part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Nim's Island

Hinchinbrook is the island on which much of the wilderness footage in the film Nim's Island was shot. The film, based on Australian author Wendy Orr's 1999 children's book, stars Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin, who played the girl in Little Miss Sunshine, as Nim.

The production was based at the Warner Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and marine life from Sea World, including sea lions and pelicans, joined the cast.

Visitor destinations

Main visitor destinations on the island are the Hinchinbrook Island Resort on the northern tip of the island at Cape Richards and the 32-kilometre Thorsborne Trail along the island's east coast.

Hinchinbrook Island Resort provides accommodation in cottages and tree houses and offers a range of island activities for visitors.

The Thorsborne Trail is only for experienced walkers and normally takes four days to walk from end to end.

Camping on the island

A permit is required to camp on the island and numbers allowed to camp are limited to protect the park from degradation.

No open fires are permitted at any time.

Crocodiles, found in the island's waterways, pose a danger to campers and other island visitors.

Getting there

Ferry services operate between the coastal town of Lucinda and Georges Point on the southeastern end of Hinchinbrook Island; and between Port Hinchinbrook (with bus connections to Cardwell) and the northeastern parts of Hinchinbrook Island such as Ramsay Bay, Macushla and Cape Richards.