Trip Report - Hermit Falls

Nine adventurers from the Townsville Bushwalking Club set out on Sunday morning for the long drive to Hermit Creek at Hidden Valley. The road to the State Forest gate is even more weather-damaged than usual, so we left our vehicles on the road and walked for the last couple of hundred metres to the gate.

Just inside the State Forest gate, we turned right and followed an almost track through thick bush down to the creek.

Because it had been a reasonably wet season, the creek was flowing well, despite being in September; however, it was not so high as to make crossing the creek difficult, so we crossed to the southeast side and made our way upstream to the falls from there. We were delighted to surprise a lovely black headed python along the way; however, it was clearly not as delighted to see us.

After a few bends, we arrived at the base of the falls, which offered the best view of the walk and also provided an opportunity for a swim in the chilly water for four of us brave walkers. After a break, we continued upstream, climbing either side of the falls, then following the stream on the south side again until we had a long break at a pretty spot on a rock beside the creek.

After a brief walk further upstream, during which we encountered another snake, we decided to head back by crossing the creek and scrub bashing back to the road. The scrub bashing was slow and difficult through less open and more heavily wooded forest, but once we found the road, it was an easy but long walk south back to the cars, ready for the long drive home, after a stop at the Frosty Mango, of course.

We certainly did Hermit Falls the hard way, but I think the most interesting way. The easy way is to follow the road from the gate north to a low ridge, then follow some cow tracks to the right, which go southeast to the top of the falls.

- Ian