The White Rock Hike Cairns is an out-and-back strolling monitor resulting in “White Rock Lookout” probably the greatest peak lookout factors close to Cairns. Views embrace Cairns, the suburbs, Trinity Inlet, Walsh’s Pyramid and Yarrabah.
Searching for an honest viewpoint hike that’s accessible and near Cairns? The White Rock hike is a reasonable strolling monitor only a quick drive away which presents in my view, probably the greatest viewpoints you’ll get overlooking Cairns and the encircling space.
On this fast information, I’ll element every part it’s good to learn about attending to the White Rock Lookout trailhead, finishing the hike and undergo what you would possibly anticipate on the stroll.
The place is the White Rock Lookout
White Rock Lookout is positioned on the Lamb Vary simply beside Mount Sheridan. The strolling monitor is inside Dinden Nationwide Park, beside the Lake Morris Reserve on the mountains overlooking Cairns, which is roughly 10 kilometres to the northeast.
It’s straightforward to see the place the title comes from. In the event you look as much as the hills it’s straightforward to identify it protruding like a, effectively, huge white rock. It’s a major lookout as a result of it is likely one of the solely uncovered rocky outcrops on the vary which presents views over Cairns and the encircling suburbs, in addition to all the Trinity Inlet.
Like most hikes close to Cairns, you’re going to wish your personal technique of transport to succeed in the trailhead. In the event you’re travelling to Cairns and don’t have your personal automobile, I’d advocate utilizing RentalCars.com. This can be a value comparability web site that works equally to Skyscanner.
The way to Get to the White Rock Strolling Observe
Searching for actual instructions to White Rock lookout? Somtimes, attending to the strolling monitor might be just a little complicated at first. Nevertheless, should you comply with these instructions, you’ll discover it straightforward.
Though Cairns is just about 10 KM away from White Rock Peak, you’ll must put apart about 20-minutes for the drive. It is because to get to the trailhead, you’ll must drive up the steep and winding, Lake Morris Highway, simply off the Cairns Western Arterial Highway reverse Brimsmead.
When you get to the Lake Morris Service Highway, you’ll must proceed up for about 10 kilometres. You possibly can monitor the gap by checking the gap markers on the white roadside marker posts.
In the event you navigate to the pin under, you’ll finally attain a few cleared, grassy areas on the aspect of the highway the place you may park your automobile. The White Rock strolling monitor trailhead begins at a big steel gate on the left aspect of the highway, simply throughout from the grassy clearing (simply after the 9.5 KM marker).
The drive up Lake Morris Highway will take roughly quarter-hour and features a few non-compulsory lookout stops alongside the best way. One in every of these features a newly renovated “Campbells Lookout”, which overlooks Cairns however doesn’t compete with views on provide at White Rock lookout.
It’s additionally vital to notice that this service highway is a well-liked bicycle owner coaching monitor. We drove right here effectively earlier than dawn and needed to make approach for a minimum of a dozen cyclists. Be certain that to maintain that in thoughts and take care round bends.
Don’t make the error of skimming this part and counting on Google to take you to the “White Rock Lookout” pin. It will try and route you to the precise lookout, not the start line for the stroll.
White Rock Hike Cairns
The White Rock hike is a 5 KM return, out and again path within the Lamb Vary, simply above Cairns. This monitor takes roughly 1.5 hours for the return journey should you’re conserving an honest tempo.
The monitor begins as a large, 4WD highway earlier than merging into dense forest with tree roots and uneven floor underfoot. The White Rock stroll is steep in some sections, particularly the ultimate descent to the White Rock lookout. Nevertheless, there are no technically troublesome sections and anybody with a first rate stage of health can get pleasure from this hike.
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Metallic Entrance Gate to Pylon
The large, metal gate marks the beginning of the White Rock hike. The primary part is flat and shortly pops up on the first Pylon, the place you have to to show virtually 180 levels to proceed on the monitor to the correct.
This monitor is a 4WD entry highway to the communications tower and is due to this fact very large and straightforward to comply with. Nevertheless, this part can also be fairly steep, so be ready to interrupt some sweat.
After a fast leg burn, you’ll come to a different pylon and fenced-off communications web site. You could stroll round this on the monitor to the correct. The precise White Rock strolling monitor begins behind the fenced-off constructing and instantly enters into dense rainforest.
White Rock Bushwalking Observe
When you’ve gotten off the entry highway, you’ll be on essentially the most gratifying a part of the hike by means of the forest. This monitor is scenic because it descends on uneven floor that may get muddy and slippery following heavy rains.
There are orange triangle markers and colored ribbons within the timber which mark the monitor to the lookout.
After about 15 to twenty minutes, you’ll attain a small survey level simply earlier than a fork. Onwards is the ultimate descent on the White Rock strolling monitor to the lookout, which is also referred to as “White Rock Peak”.
Descend to White Rock Lookout (left monitor)
It’s vital to take the left, narrower monitor to descend the 50 metres to the lookout. This final bit is pretty steep however there are many timber and roots to carry onto as you make your approach down.
The fitting monitor on the fork continues very steeply all the best way to the water towers at Bentley Park. It’s additionally doable to hike as much as White Rock Lookout on this monitor by driving up on Roberts Highway in entrance of St Teresa’s Faculty. Nevertheless, this route is far steeper and less-walked.
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Epic Views at White Rock Lookout Cairns
As quickly as you escape of the tree line you’ll understand the place this rock obtained its title. You’ll additionally realise why it’s often called probably the greatest lookouts in Cairns.
Views span 180 levels from Cairns to Walsh’s Pyramid and the Gillies Vary. Just under, you’ll have good views of the suburbs spanning south of Cairns and a bit additional out, an uninterrupted view of all the Trinity Inlet.
We departed for the White Rock Lookout from Cairns earlier than dawn. This was undoubtedly value it as we had been handled with a formidable mild present as golden morning rays penetrated the Yarrabah mountains to light up the valley and distant ranges.
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GPX Map and Observe Information
Under I’ve included a GPX file which I recorded utilizing my Garmin watch. You possibly can obtain the file under if you wish to add it to your personal GPS watch or cellphone. Nevertheless, for this lookout hike, I’d recommend simply sticking to following the ribbons and knowledge above.
GPX File: Obtain
My Strava: Go to
Tricks to Think about for the White Rock Hike
- Begin early for the most effective views
- Convey deet (ticks and leeches might be pests on this monitor)
- Convey sufficient water for two hours of strolling
- Screenshot or bookmark this weblog as reception is spotty on the Lake Morris Highway
- Keep distance from the sting at White Rock peak, it’s a sheer drop and might be slippery
Extra Cairns Hikes and Journey Sights
I hope that this fast information to strolling the White Rock hike Cairns has been helpful in planning your journey! In the event you loved this weblog put up, why not take a look at another concepts within the listing of guides under.
In any other case, an important start line is that this mega-post to the Greatest Issues to do in Cairns or this information to the most effective mountaineering trails in Cairns.
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