Starting from Horseshoe Bay Road, Coral Sea, this walk takes you on a circuit in the Edgecumbe Heights Recreation Reserve, visiting Rotary Lookout and Mother Beddock along the way. Expect panoramic coastal views as you pivot around the district. Rotary Lookout gives you great northeasterly views over Horseshoe and Murray bays whilst the Mother Beddock summit covers the southern parts and Rose Bay. You can slow down and take in the scenery at both Ethel Barker and Lions parks. Bring your swimmers and don’t miss the chance of cooling off in the beautiful Horseshoe Bay Beach. Remember to take plenty of water and be careful around the dated steps. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Getting started From the Whitsunday Sands Resort Carpark on Horseshoe Bay Road, head along the said road towards the beach. Take a right turn as you come to the car park at the end and pass by the cafe, keeping the beach to your left. Pass under the big “Rotary Lookout” sign and follow the singular track to continue along Mother Beddock & Rotary Lookout Circuit(clockwise).....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start heading along Horseshoe Bay Road.
After 135 m pass the toilet (35 m on your left).
After another 15 m pass the "The Cafe at Horseshoe Bay" (on your right).
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This is the side trip that takes you to Rotary Lookout. To start this optional side trip turn sharp left here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 220 m continue straight.
After another 55 m turn left.
After another 830 m turn left.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to Mother Beddock Lookout. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 420 m veer right.
After another 300 m continue straight.
After another 40 m turn right.
After another 710 m turn left, to head along Murray Bay Road.
After another 40 m turn right.
After another 80 m pass the "Lions Park" (9 m on your right).
After another 195 m pass the toilet (40 m on your left).
After another 10 m continue straight.
After another 160 m continue straight.
After another 150 m come to a car park.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip taking you to the northernmost point of Cape Edgecumbe, where you can get lost in the view of the vast ocean. This side trip may add 15-20 minutes to your hike. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
The end.
This is the side trip that takes you to Rotary Lookout.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 100 m come to "Rotary Lookout".
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 100 m to the main route.
This little side trip takes you to Mother Beddock Lookout.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After 30 m pass the "Mother Beddock" (15 m on your right).
After another 15 m come to "Mother Beddock Lookout".
The end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 50 m to the main route.
An optional side trip taking you to the northernmost point of Cape Edgecumbe, where you can get lost in the view of the vast ocean. This side trip may add 15-20 minutes to your hike.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 610 m come to the end.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 610 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Mother Beddock & Rotary Lookout Circuit
Grading
Class 2/6
Easy track
Length
3.4 km
Time
1 h to 1 h 45 min
Quality of track
Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient
Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage
Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (2/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)
Some facilities on route
Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.1 km apart with the largest gap of 2.9 km.