I am intending to sew some shorts for myself – simple shorts with an elasticised waistband and pockets for hiking. I live in Queensland so the temperatures I walk in are often high with high humidity. I need fabric that will wash and dry easily, is breathable and is durable.  The shorts could get wet as I walked because of Alpine rain so I do not want them being weighed down with moisture as I walk.
Can you suggest any that would fulfil the above requirements.

You could try the SB001 Bamboo and Soy blend fabric.
50% Bamboo
50% Soy
145 GSM
114 cm Width

We all know how good bamboo is with its super absorbency, anti bacterial and anti fungal properties but combined with easy wash and fast drying capabilities of Soy it’s truly amazing. A by product of tofu manufacture, soy fabric has good biocompatibility, beneficial to human health and is seen to be a sanitarian fibre.

This fabric is a soft crème caramel but will take well to dyes.