Destination guides > Australia > Queensland > North Queensland > Cardwell
Cardwell
Cardwell is a seaside town straddling the Bruce Highway at the edge of the Hinchinbrook Channel. It is a quiet place without many attractions of its own but it has a perfect location for visiting the rugged Hinchinbrook Island. Some travellers come here just for that reason, while others come to work on the nearby banana and prawn farms. The hostels here cater mostly to guests on a working holiday.
The other big draw is fishing, and there are boat hire companies and guided fishing tours on offer all through town. Five Mile Swimming Hole is a good place for a dip in the water and is popular with local families who use the barbecue facilities there. There are walking tracks throughout the Edmund Kennedy National Park, as well as some waterfalls and swimming holes. Murray Falls (a 45-minute drive north of Cardwell) are the most accessible waterfalls in the area. Cardwell stretches only about 3km, so it can be a bit boring for many backpackers. If you will be here for more than a day, it is a great idea to get out of town and explore some of the natural surroundings.
Practical information
Cardwell Bush Telegraph Heritage Centre
53 Victoria Street, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 2412
Website www.cardwelltourism.com
Cardwell Rainforest & Reef Visitor Information Centre
142 Victoria Street, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 8601
Website www.greatgreenwaytourism.com/rainforestreef.html
Coming & going
BUS & COACH
Cardwell is on the main bus route between Cairns and Townsville.
Greyhound (tel 1300 473 946) buses stop at the Seaview Cafe at 89 Victoria Street and Premier Motor Service buses stop on Brasenose Street.
FERRY
Ferries between Cardwell and Hinchinbrook Island are operated by Hinchinbrook Ferries (tel (07) 4066 8270 or 1800 682 702). A day return fare costs $125 and they can drop you off at Ramsay Bay at the northern end of the Thorsborne Trail for $85. Transport between the other end of the trail and the mainland costs $46 and is operated by Hinchinbrook Wilderness Safaris (tel (07) 4777 8307).
Hostel accommodation
Cardwell Backpackers Hostel
178 Bowen Street, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 8014
Hinchinbrook Hop
186 Victoria Street, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 8671
Kookaburra Holiday Park
175 Bruce Highway, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 8648
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Historic Cardwell Post Office & Telegraph Station
Cardwell’s old post office has been restored and reopened as a museum. The museum features exhibits on local history with displays on the construction of the telegraph and the road and rail lines.
53 Victoria Street, Cardwell
Tel (07) 4066 2412
Admission free
Open Tue-Thu 10am-1pm, Sat 9am-noon
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