Discover Killymoon Creek & the WWII Plane Crash

If you are looking to take advantage of the upcoming long weekends and public holidays, it is the perfect time to plan your next outdoor adventure in North Queensland. In this episode of the Take A Hike podcast, host Blair Woodcock sits down with the Townsville Bushwalking Club's Luen Warneke and Cherry Judge to talk about an exclusive local hike: Killymoon Creek and the hidden WWII plane crash on Saddle Mountain.

The Killymoon Creek Introductory Walk

Finding off-the-beaten-path trails is always a thrill, and Killymoon Creek is a very special one. What makes this walk so unique is that the creek is accessed via private property owned by a committee member of the Townsville Bushwalking Club. This makes it a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for locals who join the Club's guided treks.

The Killymoon Creek hike is often used as an introductory walk for the Club, giving newcomers a taste of what the group gets up to every weekend.

What to expect on the Killymoon walk:

• Distance: Approximately 4 to 5 kilometres return, taking roughly four hours including breaks.
• Terrain: It is an off-trail creek hike featuring sandy beds and some rock hopping (both small and large rocks).
• Difficulty: Rated around a Grade 4. While considered 'easy' for regular bushwalkers, you do need a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to try off-track hiking.
• Highlights: The turn-around point features a beautiful waterfall where hikers can take a well-deserved break, enjoy morning tea, and even go for a swim (though swimming is totally optional!).

Rediscovering the Saddle Mountain WWII Plane Crash

For the more experienced hikers, the area around Killymoon Creek serves as a gateway to some incredible local history. Sandwiched between Mount Storth and Saddle Mountain, the summit holds the wreckage of a World War II plane crash.

The crash site was lost to time until members of the Bushwalking Club rediscovered it using clues from the Club's logbook spanning generations. The only instruction they had was to "find a bent tree on the summit and follow it downhill slightly."

When you reach the site, you will find a truly humbling scene. Because the plane was mostly made of wood, much of it has rotted away, but the engine and other scattered parts remain. There is also a laminated memorial left by an RAAF member on Luen's trip to honour Frank Langford and Douglas, who lost their lives when poor weather and mountain cloud cover caused their plane to clip the summit.

Recommended Routes and Practical Tips

If you are planning to explore the Saddle Mountain summit and the crash site, planning your route is key:

• The Ascent: Walking up Killymoon Creek to the summit is one of the harder routes. A more recommended approach is to take the prominent ridgeline that transitions from grassland and bushland up into the rainforest at the summit. Other alternatives include walking up Emmett Creek or Mackenzie.
• The Descent: Killymoon Creek makes for a fantastic and relatively easy exit route once you have summited. The club has successfully completed this ridgeline-to-Killymoon circuit as a day trip.
• Safety First: If you are canyoning or doing multi-day hikes, know your limits with swimming and wet gear. As Blair points out, you do not have to swim mid-hike if you prefer to stay dry!

Ready to take a hike and discover the WWII plane crash for yourself? Get involved with the Townsville Bushwalking Club to safely access these private trails and historic sites.