I always believed there were four Arrow tracks (Red, Yellow, Blue and Green) in Mount Whitfield Conservation Park until I discovered a fifth Arrow track – the Black Arrow. Now most people don’t know about this one so it’s a bit of a secret track in Cairns. Which is why I’ve included it in my 101 Fun Things to Do in Cairns. 

The Black Arrow is a short but incredibly steep walk starting by the eastern edge of the Cairns Airport that leads you up to the summit of Lumley Hill. The track connects to the Blue Arrow at Lumley Hill.

“THE BLACK ARROW TRACK PROVIDES THE BEST VIEWS OF CAIRNS AIRPORT.”

The Black Arrow is the closest track to Cairns Airport. As a result, it has wonderful views of the airport runway as well as the surrounding seascape of beautiful Cairns.

The Black Arrow track is situated very close to the airport runaway so you can see the runway and the planes take off close by. The only downside is you also get to hear the loud plane engines as you begin your hike.

The Black Arrow is one of the least visited of the Arrow tracks so it’s lovely and quiet and you can get the track to yourself most days of the week. On our walk up early Saturday morning, we met one other person and two people on the way down. 

Hiking boots are recommended for this trail due to the nature of the track. It can get slippery, especially on the descent.

If you’re looking for a new track to hike in Cairns and you’re up for a challenge, then the Black Arrow Cairns hike is just the one for you. Read on to find all the information you need to complete this lesser known but fun hike. 

Highlights

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• Close up views of Cairns Airport, city and waterfront
• No experience required, so anyone can tackle this trail
• Short but very steep climb
• Lots of different options for the return trip
• Can extend to Blue and Red/Yellow Arrow trails for a longer hike or run

This hike is best for

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• Incredible views of the local Cairns area and the airport
• A short but hard hill workout
• A quiet hike in nature

Best Time to Visit

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The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Mornings are, however, best to tackle this trail as it is quite open towards the top of the track. Take a bottle of water with you as it gets hot early.

Guide to the Black Arrow Cairns Walk

Distance – 2.1km return
Time – Allow about 1hr walking time
Elevation – 262m
Grade – Moderate
Track – Out and Back
Location – Mount Whitfield Conservation Park
Start/Finish – Duplock Park off Aeroglen Drive

Gradient – Steep hills
Quality of path – Unsealed track
Quality of markings – Not clearly sign posted
Steps – A few steps
Experienced required – No experience required

Parking for the Black Arrow Walk

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There is no designated parking for the Black Arrow walking track. The closest parking area is on Palmerson Street. From there, it’s a short walk across the road to the start of the track. See more details below.

Directions for the Black Arrow Cairns Walk

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The starting point is a bit hard to find. The start is not signposted and given it’s not widely used by many people, you’ll have to look carefully through the bushland to find it. 

Drive past Duplock Park off Aeroglen Drive. Park on Palmerston Street where there’s a bend in the road. Walk past the Dog Prohibited Area sign and you will see the start of the track leading straight up. 

Start the hike by walking up the old, disused steps. From there on, the track changes and you’ll be walking over lots of roots, dried leaves and loose rock underfoot. The track is very steep at the start. 

“THE BLACK ARROW TRACK IS VERY STEEP AT THE START AND TOWARDS THE TOP.”

The trail flattens out a bit in the middle before becoming steep once again towards the top. Finish off the last 150m with a hard elevation gain before reaching the summit of Lumley Hill.

Most of the trail is under the canopy of trees so there’s plenty of shelter from the sun. However, towards the summit, the trail becomes exposed so take care if you’re hiking during the day. 

As you walk up the hill, don’t forget to stop and look back occasionally for lovely views of the Cairns Airport and the surrounding Cairns landscape.  

The summit at Lumley Hill is beautiful with lovely views overlooking the northern coastline of Cairns. There are some gorgeous purple flowering bushes at the top too which add to the beauty of the area. 

Stop a while and rest at the shelter before making your way back. 

Return Options

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1. You can return via the Black Arrow track if you wish. It’s steep going downhill.
    
2. Alternatively, if you would like to extend your walk, you can return via the Blue and Red/Yellow Arrow trails which makes it a longer loop. 

The Blue Arrow track can be found on the left just before you get to the shelter on Lumley Hill.

In Conclusion

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If you’re up for a challenge, you will enjoy hiking the Black Arrow Cairns hiking trail. This short but incredibly steep hike makes the Red Arrow look easy in comparison. 

Do not attempt this hike after the rains as the track will be very slippery. The Black Arrow is best tackled during the early morning hours or anytime in the winter months as the track is very exposed making it a hot climb in the summer months.    

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Cairns, there’s many more enjoyable hikes around Cairns as well as other exciting activities and places to visit.

I love to hear from my readers. Are you planning to hike the Black Arrow? If so, please let me know what you liked and didn’t like about the hike. Leave your comments below.