Frances Creek Gorge and Golden Orb Creek circuit - Trip Report

Date: Saturday, 9 May 2026
Leader: Luen
Location: Jourama Falls, Paluma Range National Park area
Participants: 4
Grade: 5 - medium, off-track

Four of us met at Jourama Falls for a full-day off-track circuit exploring Frances Creek Gorge, Flagstone Creek, and a lesser-known, unnamed creek system on the return. The day started with a small logistical challenge when one participant realised they had forgotten their backpack, meaning their gear and water bottle had to be carried in a shopping bag instead. Not ideal for an off-track walk, but it did the job and added a bit of humour to the morning. We also couldn't gain access via the private property on this walk, so we took an alternative route.

We began by following the Frances Creek firebreak road along the boundary between private property and the national park, staying within the national park. The road was overgrown, with plenty of weeds and long grass, making the approach feel a little worse than expected. Once we reached the creek, a couple of people changed into more comfortable creek-walking gear, and one person decided to take their shoes off for the rock hopping & scrambling.

From there, we rock hopped upstream towards the start of Frances Creek Gorge. The creek soon became more interesting, with granite, pools, small cascades, and sections that required a bit of scrambling. There were also a few places where wading and swimming were involved, which made it a fun and refreshing little adventure - and a little cold in the shade of the gorge. Frances Creek Gorge is not a huge gorge, but it has plenty of character, and the combination of water, rock, and scrambling made for a very enjoyable section. Just below the junction, at the twin falls, we had our morning tea and a good rest break to have a chat.

At the junction of Frances Creek and Flagstone Creek, we explored further up Flagstone Creek towards the Jacobsen's Track, wandering across the granite slabs to the next pool and cascade. Among the rocks, we spotted a scrub python, which was a great wildlife sighting and a reminder to keep an eye on where our hands and feet were going as we scrambled over the boulders.

After returning to the junction, we headed up Frances Creek. This section featured a very long, beautiful granite slab, which made for excellent walking and exploring. We also used this opportunity to refill water before leaving the creek and beginning the off-track climb up the spur.

The climb out was harder than expected. The lower part of the spur was covered in very long grass, at times over our heads, and the blades of the grass were sharp, cutting our hands. Hidden beneath the grass were decent-sized rocks, which made progress slower and more awkward because foot placement was difficult to see and the holes between the rocks. Once we gained more height, the vegetation became more manageable, and as we approached the ridgeline, we began to pick up faint wild cattle tracks.

These cattle tracks became better defined as we continued, eventually turning into what felt like a highway through the bush. After the slower going in the long grass, this section was surprisingly pleasant to walk through. Every now and then, we were treated to a cool, almost wintry breeze, which was very welcome. We also came across a water seep where it was obvious the cattle were getting water from high on the ridge.

Atop the ridge near the highest point, we sat on some rocks and enjoyed the views and the shade under the trees for our lunch break. Water was running low for some, and Madoc happily shared his with others.

As we descended the spur on the other side, the cattle tracks gradually faded. The descent was straightforward enough, with low vegetation, but there were plenty of small rocks underfoot, so care was still needed. We also had a great view of the large landslip next to the Jourama Falls Track. The spur itself was not particularly obvious, so we carefully made our way down towards the next creek system.

This unnamed creek quickly became a highlight of the return route. It had beautifully sloped rock terraces that made for fun and relatively easy walking. Madoc nicknamed it "Golden Orb Creek" because of the extraordinary number of golden orb spiders strung across the creek and surrounding vegetation. There were thousands of them, and the name felt very appropriate.

After losing some elevation, the creek began to level out for the final section. Near the lower end, we noticed an old rope tied low around two trees. It looked like it may have been there for a long time, possibly from an old scout camp or some earlier use of the area, although we could only speculate. We eventually crossed Waterview Creek near the Jourama Falls campground, then finished with a short road walk back to the cars.

Frances Creek Gorge and Flagstone Creek made for a fun little adventure, with a mix of creek walking, swimming, scrambling, granite slabs, wildlife, and cattle tracks. "Golden Orb Creek" turned out to be an unexpected and memorable way to finish the loop.

- Luen