Paluma Range National Park

Introducing Paluma Range National Park

Don’t miss the scenic Mt Spec–Big Crystal Creek section of this national park. It straddles the 1km-plus Paluma Range west of the Bruce Hwy and has Australia’s most southerly pocket of tropical rainforest, with wonderful coastal views. It’s about 62km north of Townsville.

Take the northern access route to Big Crystal Creek, via the 4km road, 2km north of Mt Spec Rd. Here goannas scamper away from your approaching footsteps as you walk the few hundred metres from the picnic area to the popular Paradise Waterhole. There’s a self-registration QPWS camping ground (per person/family $4.50/18) with toilets, gas barbecues and water (treat before drinking).

The southern access route, Mt Spec Rd is a dramatic narrow road with lose-your-lunch twists (unsuitable for caravans) that weaves its way up the mountains to the village of Paluma. After 7km you will come to Little Crystal Creek, a great swimming spot with ­waterfalls, a couple of deep rock pools and a small picnic area. You’ll also pass McClelland’s Lookout, with three good walking trails.

The Jourama Falls area of the park is 6km along good unsealed road off the highway. The signpost is 90km north of Townsville (25km south of Ingham). Waterview Creek is walking distance from the falls (600m) and has good swimming holes with loads of cute turtles, lookouts, a picnic area and a self-registration QPWS camping ground (per person/family $4.50/18) with barbecues. Look out for nocturnal brown bandicoots and Ulysses butterflies.

Accommodation is available at Paluma Dreaming (07-4770 8616; d incl cooked breakfast $80) in rainforest-fringed motel-style rooms run by a friendly husband and wife team (elephants welcome on Sunday afternoons apparently!) and at the delightful, adults-only Forest Mist Cottage B&B (07-4770 8578; d incl breakfast $85) with one cosy room with its own rainforest balcony, complete with singing whip birds. Rainforest Inn (07-4770 8688; www.rainforestinnpaluma.com; d from $145; ) has spacious new motel-style accommodation and a licensed restaurant. Stand-by rates ($125) are available.

On the road to Ingham, Crystal Creek Caravan Park (07-4770 8140; Spiegelhauer Rd, Mutarnee; unpowered/powered sites $20/25, on-site vans/cabins $40/55) sits in the heart of fruit-growing country.

Make sure you stop at Frosty Mango (07-4770 8184; www.frostymango.com.au; Bruce Hwy; light meals $5-10; 9am-5pm) at Mutarnee. It’s a roadside ice-creamery serving 33 flavours including jaboticaba (a tree grape) and mango, of course.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009