Earl Hill Trinity Beach
Earl hill is one of the many hikes that you can do with your dog in FNQ. As Earl Hill is not located in a National Park you can enjoy this amazing nature walk together with your dog.
We love to do this hike with our dog Biggie as it is the perfect workout for the both us.
Earl Hill Summit Beginning of track Flag Ship Drive
Earl hill essentials to bring:
Water! Lots of water! There is a tap located at Flagship Drive and another one at the carpark near Half Moon Bay beach, so you can fill up your bottle if needed.
There is also a dog bowl on the top of the hill which your dog can use, if you don’t have a portable one.
Where is Earl Hill Cairns?
Earl hill is located at the corner of Roberts Drive and Flagship Drive. We always start our hike here. However, you can also start the trail at the end of Half Moon Bay beach (left side of the beach).
Earl hill track
Where to park my car to go to Earl Hill Trinity Beach?
There is a public car park opposite of the Bluewater Boat ramp. From here it’s a short walk to get to the beginning of the Earl Hill walking track on Flagship Drive. If you’re lucky though, there may be parking sports available on Flagship Drive itself.
Earl Hill Summit views to Half Moon Bay
How many km is Earl Hill?
This really depends on which route you’ll take. There are multiple routes on Earl Hill, so lots to explore!
You have two options on where to start the hike: 1. from Flagship Drive in Trinity Beach and 2. from Half Moon Bay Beach (left side of beach at the end).
The ”main” route is 1.8km one way, and therefore 3.6km return. This is the trail from Flagship Drive all the way to the top and back! This hike will roughly take 45 mins to 1 hour, depending on your fitness and speed.
However, if you’re up for a longer walk there are other trails you can take. We will be breaking them all down below.
Earl Hill Stairs
How long does it take to do Earl Hill walking track?
If you start at Flagship Drive in Trinity Beach (which is the main route to the top of Earl Hill) you can follow the ”Warrkin Track”. This route will lead you all the way up to the summit and is a hike of 3.6km return.
Once you have walked roughly 1.2km you will find the first sign with an option to either continue to the summit via the Warrkin Track or take a right onto the Bakarra Track. Make sure to follow the signing ”Warrking Track” to continue your way to the summit.
A bit further up you will have another cross-road where you can choose to either go left (this is the steep way to the top, like pretty freaking steep) or take a right to continue your way to the top. It really depends which mood we’re in, but the wife normally decides we take a right and take the ”easier” trail. Let’s be clear, the ”easier” way is still pretty darn hard and a proper workout, so don’t be ashamed at all if you decide to take a right!
Along the Warrkin Track there are plenty of spots to enjoy some amazing views, which include: Half moon Bay Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity beach and Double Island. You may need a break or two (or more!) along the way to catch your breath, and perhaps give your doggie a little break, as it’s quite a climb.
Tip: There is a dog bowl on top of the hill so we’d recommend to bring some water for your dog to stay hydrated.
After you have taken in the amazing views on the top of Earl Hill, you can make your way back down and return to Flagship Drive.
However, if you’d like to extend your hike or spice it up for a change, you can also decide – once you’ve made it halfway down – to follow the ”Bakarra Track” instead. This track will lead you to Half Moon Bay Beach. This will extend your hike though and it will take you roughly 1.5 hours in total to complete the hike.
On the Barakka Track you will also find the Trinity Beach Lookout which is stunning and worth a short stop. Once you continue your way down on this track, you will eventually reach Half Moon Bay beach (YES! You have made it!).
If you start your hike and don’t feel like going all the way up to the top of Earl Hill, you can also decide halfway up to take the Bakurra Track instead and walk to Half Moon Bay Beach. This track does have a lot more steps than the ”main” track going to the top, so this is something to keep in mind.
Earl Hill Sign
Like to explore more?
If you’re up for an easier walk, make sure to read our blog posts about Half Moon Bay beach
After a long walk it might be nice to take your dog for some food in Trinity Beach. Make sure to check out our blog post of all the dog friendly restaurants in Trinity Beach as well as all the other amazing spots that you can explore with your dog in Trinity Beach.
We’d also advise to check out the council website for updated maps of Earl Hill.
Earl hill summit stairs at Half Moon Bay Beach side
Frequently asked questions
Earl Hill is a hiking trail in FNQ that you can do with your dog. It is not located in a National Park, so you can enjoy the hike with your furry friend.
The most essential item to bring when hiking Earl Hill is water, and lots of it. There is a tap located at Flagship Drive and another one at the carpark near Half Moon Bay beach, so you can fill up your bottle if needed. If you have a dog, there is also a dog bowl on the top of the hill which your dog can use, if you don’t have a portable one.
Earl Hill is located at the corner of Roberts Drive and Flagship Drive. The hike can be started from two locations: 1. from Flagship Drive in Trinity Beach, or 2. from Half Moon Bay Beach (left side of beach at the end). There is a public car park opposite the Bluewater Boat ramp, which is a short walk away from the beginning of the Earl Hill walking track on Flagship Drive. If you’re lucky though, there may be parking spots available on Flagship Drive itself.
The length of the hike really depends on which route you’ll take. The “main” route is 1.8km one way, and therefore 3.6km return. This is the trail from Flagship Drive all the way to the top and back! This hike will roughly take 45 mins to 1 hour, depending on your fitness and speed. However, if you’re up for a longer walk there are other trails you can take. If you start at Flagship Drive in Trinity Beach and follow the “Warrkin Track”, which will lead you all the way up to the summit, it’s a hike of 3.6km return. It will take roughly 1.5 hours to complete the hike, which includes taking in the amazing views and some rest stops.
The main route to the top of Earl Hill is 1.8km one way and is a moderate to difficult hike with a steep climb. It may be challenging for beginners, but there are other trails available that are less steep and shorter in length.
Dogs are allowed on the hike at Earl Hill but they must be on a leash at all times. This is to ensure the safety of both the dog and other hikers.
Yes, Half Moon Bay Beach is a popular spot for swimming and relaxing after a hike at Earl Hill. However, it is important to note that there are no lifeguards on duty and it is important to follow water safety guidelines, also there may be crocs present.
Biggie’s verdict
I love Earl Hill a lot as I usually do this together with my friends! After they have changed the track it’s become an even better experience as I can now run up the track really fast and make my parents tired! I then wait on top of 1 of the steps until they finally make their way to me because I am so fast!