Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
PALUMA RANGE NATIONAL PARK
As the southern gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, Paluma Range National Park and the little vil-
lage of Paluma offer a leafy respite from the tedium of the Bruce Hwy. Running almost all the way from Ingham
to Townsville, the park is divided in two parts, the Mt Spec section and the northern Jourama Falls section.
Mt Spec
The Mt Spec part of the park (61km north of Townsville or 40km south of Ingham) is a misty Eden of rainforest
and eucalypt trees crisscrossed by a variety of walking tracks. This range of habitats houses an incredibly diverse
population of birds, from golden bowerbirds to black cockatoos.
From the northern access route of the Bruce Hwy, take the 4km-long partially-sealed Spiegelhauer Rd to
Big
Crystal Creek
; from there, it's an easy 100m walk from the car park to
Paradise Waterhole
, a popular spot with
a sandy beach and lofty mountain views. There's an
NPRSR camping ground
(
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
; per per-
son/family $5.45/ 21.80) here with gas barbecues, toilets and drinking water; be quick, as sites get snapped up
quickly.
The southern access route (Mt Spec Rd) is a sealed, albeit twisty, road that writhes up the mountains to
Paluma village
. Beware: though you may have come up here 'just for a drive', the village's cool air and warm
populace may change your mind. Stay overnight at the
Paluma Rainforest Inn
(
07-4770 8688;
www.rainforestinnpaluma.com
; 1 Mt Spec Rd; d $125;
), a true rainforest haven that sports 50 varieties of
rhododendrons in its gardens.
En route to Paluma, be sure to stop off at
Little Crystal Creek
, a picturesque swimming hole with a cute stone
bridge, picnic area and waterfalls.
Jourama Falls
Waterview Creek
tumbles down these eponymous falls and other cascades past palms and umbrella trees, mak-
ing this section a fine place for a picnic and a perambulation. It's a steep climb to the lookout; keep your eyes
peeled for kingfishers, freshwater turtles and endangered mahogany gliders on the way up. The
NPRSR camping
ground
(
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au
;
per person/family $5.45/ 21.80) has cold showers, gas barbecues, water (treat be-
fore drinking) and composting toilets.
This part of the park is reached via a 6km sealed road (though the creek at the entrance can be impassable in
the Wet), 91km north of Townsville and 24km south of Ingham. Be sure to fuel up before veering off the high-
way.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Cardwell & Around
POP 1250
Most of the Bruce Hwy runs several kilo- metres inland from the coast, so it comes as
something of a shock to see the sea lapping right next to the road as you pull into the
small town of Cardwell - the closest access point to Hinchinbrook Island. Poor Cardwell
took a beating from Cyclone Yasi, with many of the town's older homes smashed and the
new marina switched to spin cycle.
