Ingham
Hinchinbrook Way
Ingham
Ingham is the town centre of the Hinchinbrook Region and a major hub for Australia’s sugar industry. Nestled amongst rugged mountain peaks, giant waterfalls, sugarcane filled floodplains, wild islands, tropical reefs, and a beckoning coastline; what is there to do in Ingham? The choices are endless!
Ingham is known as the “Little Italy” of Tropical North Queensland is known for the exceptional richness and quality of its Italian culture, which may be enjoyed at any of the local Italian delicatessens.
If you’re lucky enough you may learn the secrets of Nonna’s outrageously good pasta sauce! Be sure to catch the annual Australian Italian Festival where locals and visitors alike enjoy Italian wine, cuisine, music, and culture. ‘Mangiamo, Beviamo e Cantiamo’! Ingham shows you a small land of plenty, supporting three indigenous nations for a millennia; a richness of infused culture that founded the place we know today. Share a unique experience of culture and history with the Nywaigi people at Mungalla Station.
What is Ingham famous for?
Ingham is most famous for its ingrained Italian heritage, the sugar industry which led the Italian migrants here, the highest single drop waterfall in Australia, Wallaman Falls, and the majestic Hinchinbrook Island with its Jurassic Park-like wilderness.
Ingham is a place where breathtaking scenery, unique wildlife, world-class fishing experiences, delicious, locally sourced food, inspirational art, and 60,000 years of culture are all weaved into one incredible experience known as: The Hinchinbrook Way.
Walks in Ingham
Check out ‘The Hinchinbrook Way Walk’, a fantastic township walk that begins at the Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre.
Your self-guided journey takes you out across an elevated walkway suspended above wetlands and through the canopies of raintrees.
The walk meanders through the incredible offerings of TYTO before descending past inspiring artworks and into the town centre.
Wander through the town’s boutique and gourmet shopping experiences, before looping back through the serene TYTO Parklands and returning to the Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre.
Be sure to check out the Hinchinbrook Way Map to guide you on your journey.
TYTO Parklands and Observation Tower
Discover the many wildlife species that inhabit the TYTO main lagoon or view the lay of the land from the Observation Tower. Great photo opportunities!
Meander along modern architectural walkways that represent the bins vital to the region’s mainstay industry, sugar cane, or connect via casual pathways, bridges over lagoons, and through wooded parklands to scale the 11 metre observation tower for a bird’s eye view.
Picnic tables are available on the Cooper Street entrance next to the Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre, or take a picnic blanket and utilise the shade of one of the wonderful eucalypt trees throughout the Parklands.
Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre
The gateway to TYTO Wetlands and Parklands, the local Visitor Information Centre is the perfect place to gain all the information you need to make the most of your Hinchinbrook getaway.
Helpful, friendly staff will assist you in all your travel enquiries.
TYTO Wetlands
TYTO Wetlands takes its name from the Eastern Grass Owl, Tyto longimembris. This unique and majestic species is a nocturnal master of the wetlands.
The TYTO Wetlands have a bird species diversity that rivals Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, in a space 18,000 times smaller!
The Wetlands are home to 27.4% of Australian bird species in one location. Visit the Hinchinbrook Visitor Information Centre for a map and full bird list.
TYTO Regional Art Gallery
Marvel at the latest Regional Art Gallery exhibition with a contemporary space showcasing local artisans and craft enthusiasts through an annual programme and retail outlet.
Workshops and activities are presented by the TYTO Regional Art Gallery throughout the year to champion further creativity and imagination.
Address: 73-75 McIlwraith Street, Ingham
Phone: 07 4776 4725
gallery@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au
Where to eat
In Ingham
Renowned for its outstanding diversity and the exceptional richness and quality of its Italian culture; be sure to sample Hinchinbrook’s finest Italian inspired Cafés such as JK’s Deli and the Oasis Café. If you are looking to sample the local favourites such as a chicken parmi, locally caught seafood, or a tender char-grilled steak, be sure to hunt down some of Ingham’s favourite Restaurants:
Harvest Restaurant at Hinchinbrook Hotel
Award winning Herbert Valley Steakhouse at Lee's Hotel
The Royal Hotel
Wild Local Prawns
Majestic Café
JK's Café and Deli
Oasis Coffee Lounge
Herbert River RSL - Diggers Cove
Johnny's Fish Bar
4850 Cafe & Fine Dining
Jufu Chinese Restaurant
Alfresco Café
Italian Delicatessens
Exploding with flavours and guided by rich cultural influences, with produce gathered from farm gate and backyard plots. With the freshest daily produce and Italian inspired local delicatessens, you will be delighted with morsels made with love that’ll dance on your taste buds. And, if you’re lucky, you may learn the secrets of Nonna’s outrageously good pasta sauce! Be sure to visit Lou’s Food Emporium or JK’s Deli and find out for yourself how the locals cook, indulge, and live.
Places to stay
In Ingham
Tropical North Queensland is home to an array of places to stay, including boutique, comfortable, and family friendly heritage style accommodation right here in Ingham:
Lees Hotel
Motel Ingham
Herbert Valley Motel
Tropixx Motel
Royal Hotel
Ingham Tourist Park
Mercer Lane Mosaic
Located next to JK’s Cafe & Deli in the heart of Ingham, Mercer Lane is home to over 50 metres of wonderful mosaic work created by local Artist Kate Carr and her mosaic ladies. Through the beauty of mosaic tiles, the history of Hinchinbrook’s sugar industry is portrayed along Mercer Lane and is truly a magnificent sight. Local businesswoman Karen Venables rallied the community together, resulting in over 2,000 locals and visitors participating in the project. The medium of mosaic was used because it is an artistic form that can be quickly learned, and also because it is associated with the artwork of ancient Italy and Italians who, to this day, make up a significant percentage of the local population.
What makes New Ingham Cemetery a tourist attraction?
The Ingham Cemetery tells you a story of the deep diversity of culture and heritage found throughout the Hinchinbrook Shire. The Ingham Cemetery depicts the area’s strong Mediterranean influences with a magnificent display of tiled mausoleums. Undoubtedly, the southern European mausoleums in the Catholic section of the cemetery are quite notable. The older style mausoleums are constructed from traditional materials, white stucco and marble, and contain gothic style windows and doors. The more recent ones are more commonly flat-roofed with parapet surrounds and finished with terrazzo and tiles.
The New Ingham Cemetery is 5 kms from the heart of Ingham’s town centre. Cemetery Road will take you on a journey through various cane fields and stunning views of ancient rainforest trees, before arriving at the New Ingham Cemetery grounds.