Queensland · Attraction
Cape Hillsborough National Park
Kangaroos at sunrise on the beach
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
About 50 kilometres north of Mackay, Cape Hillsborough National Park delivers one of Queensland's most extraordinary wildlife moments: eastern grey kangaroos and agile wallabies gathered on the sand as the sun rises over the Coral Sea. This volcanic peninsula is draped in rainforest and hoop pines, with rocky headlands, quiet beaches, and tidal flats all free to explore.
The kangaroos gather on the beach each morning to graze on seaweed and soak up the early sun. Arrive around 30 minutes before sunrise, move slowly, and the animals will carry on feeding within arm's reach. The scene of silhouetted macropods against a glowing sky is one of the most photographed wildlife encounters in Queensland.
Beyond the beach, the park offers a range of short walks through rainforest and mangroves, lookouts with views to the Whitsunday Islands, and rocky headlands rich in volcanic geology. Turtles occasionally nest on the beach between November and January, and the foreshore is dotted with Aboriginal middens that speak to thousands of years of Yuwibara Country use.
A nature tourist park sits at the park entrance and provides campsites, cabins, and access to facilities, making it a popular overnight base. Entry to the national park itself is free and open all year round.
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Scenic views