Stage 3 of the Thorsborne Trail covers 5.8 km from Zoe Bay to Mulligan Falls, with 291 m of ascent and 272 m of descent. The highest point is 239 m. Allow about 4.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Camp below Mulligan Falls, 1 km past Diamantina Creek, with defined sites, platforms, pack poles and a composting toilet. One night only. The falls area is a restricted access zone (deaths have occurred on the slippery rock); fill up with water here for the last day.
Open camping area behind the fore dune, reached by a very steep 30-minute side track from the trail before Diamantina Creek. No facilities and no campfires; water from the creek at the northern end of the beach.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or booking sites but could not be checked on an official page. The trail camps are run by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and need a Thorsborne Trail pass booked for your dates; only 12 independent hikers start each day. There are no huts, so carry a tent, a stove and all your food.
Emergency: call 000 (112 from a mobile) or VHF 16. Carry a PLB. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.