Dick Creek Falls (Stoney Creek tributary), Mt Stuart - Trip Report

Date: Saturday 7 March 2026
Leaders: Luen & Wilfred
Participants: 10

After a few people cancelled their attendance due to rain, this walk went ahead in classic North Queensland fashion; the weather behaved just enough to make the day interesting. The forecast called for showers, but it ended up being mostly warm and humid, with a little steam under the clouds.

Our group set off from the Mt Stuart foothills near Roseneath/Wulguru and quickly left the road behind, heading off into the bush towards Dick Creek, one of the many intermittent tributaries feeding into Stoney Creek. Early on, Wilfred paused to show the group some biocontrol agents working away on invasive plants - a reminder that even on a bushwalk, there is always something interesting happening in the ecosystem around us.

When we reached the creek, there was a lot of water, and it was running faster than expected. Rather than pushing directly up the creek, we made our way up the bush to the side of the stream, weaving through weeds, woodland, and granite outcrops. Along the way, we encountered patches of lively green ants and a few short but steep rocky sections that required careful footing.

The water looked fantastic - pools, flowing slabs, and plenty of inviting spots where you could easily imagine lingering for a swim (or lilo/paddle Dick Creek). A small gorge-like waterfall appeared on a left-hand tributary. We stopped to enjoy and to take some photos.

We then crossed the creek to explore the falls on the right-hand tributary.

From there, the route climbed sharply up the ridge on the left side of the creek. At one of the waterfalls, we crossed back over the flowing water, which added a little extra excitement and kept the adventure feeling properly off-track.

The climb that followed was steep. Very steep. There were several pauses on the ridge as everyone caught their breath. At one point, someone was heard muttering that they were "definitely no longer in zone 2" and "Luen keeps finding the steepest possible route upward".

As we climbed higher, views opened across the valley, including a glimpse of another small waterfall tucked just below Mt Stuart Road. Wilfred had been hoping to stop for morning tea at Dick Falls earlier, then suggested we wait until the top, but the upward momentum kept us moving.

After several short breaks, we eventually reached the top. The terrain was rocky and uneven, with thick grass hiding many of the stones underfoot. A few slips and minor falls on their butts kept everyone attentive. We began contouring around the hillside. After crossing a small gully, the group followed a pleasant grassy ridgeline heading down towards Stoney Creek.

Near the bottom, the scrub thickened considerably. In true off-track fashion, Luen and Ayeesha took the lead, walking backwards and pushing the vegetation down so the rest of the group could follow through the dense section. When Wilfred caught up to the lead, he asked, "Was there a track there?" Wilfred was tail-end Charlie at the time, and after 10 people had walked through the scrub, it appeared there was some sort of track.

When we finally arrived back at the creek, we stepped out onto a wide, flat granite slab that seemed like the perfect place for morning tea. Just as everyone started unpacking snacks, the sky suddenly opened, and a heavy burst of rain came crashing down. Though it was just teasing and only lasted about one minute. Had we stopped earlier, we might have missed the downpour entirely - but then again, that would not have been nearly as memorable.

With the rain gone as quickly as it arrived, we ate the rest of our snacks and then continued downstream, navigating around two waterfalls before following the creek into Florence's Gorge/Chasm, a narrow granite slot in the east fork of Stoney Creek (sometimes called Stuart Creek). The cool water and shaded rock walls made it the perfect place for a quick swim and a short break.

From there, the route climbed out onto the ridge, then on road before descending towards "the Church", where Wilfred had thoughtfully left his troop carrier earlier for a shuttle back to the start.

A decent half-day bushwalk - steep ridges, hidden waterfalls, thick scrub, a splash of rain, and a refreshing swim to finish. Another great morning exploration of one of Mt Stuart's underrated creek systems. Note that the Club walks this area yearly.

- Luen