GLAMPING SITE SUGGESTIONS

THERE are plenty of national parks screaming out for input from private enterprise. Here’s some the State Government could consider for lodges, camping, glamping or whatever: Lakefield National Park ( western Cape York Peninsula), Girringun inland from Cardwell ( hands off the Herbert Gorge), Boodjamulla ( Lawn Hill), Eungella ( Mackay), Wooroonooran ( Innisfail), White Mountains ( Pentland/ Hughenden, Staaten River ( Gulf Country), Tully Gorge. There are all of these and many more where the Government could get private enterprise to set up shop, but it picks the Thorsborne Trail — a pristine, bush hiking trail — on Hinchinbrook Island. It’s not just card carrying greenies who will oppose this move. Everyday people who walk this trail and visit the island will oppose any attempts to turn the Thorsborne Trail into a cash cow for Queensland Treasury. FOUR blokes dirty about the State Government’s plan to turn the wild and beautiful Thorsborne Trail into a theme park are Toby Rowan, Daniel Lyne, Chris Newton, and Andrew Rowan ( pictured). These blokes did the hike a few weeks ago. Daniel Lyne contacted me this week after seeing reports about what the State Government had in mind for the trail and had this to say: “It made me angry when I read what the Government wanted to do with the Thorsborne Trail. We had an amazing time there and I think it was the isolation and ruggedness that had a lot to do with it. I would hate this development to go ahead and take that away for others to enjoy. We had a ball on our trip. I want to do it again and I want it to be just like it is now.”