Newsletter

June Newsletter 2026

Catch up on the latest Townsville Bushwalking Club news, with May trip reports, Castle Hill walks, Paluma rainforest adventures, Mt Stuart fitness, upcoming June and July walks, club history, and a Paradise Beach clean-up with Ocean Crusaders.

Cover photo by Adrian Tuck

G'day all,

It has been a varied month for the Club, with a great mix of after-work and very early morning social events, creek exploring, trail maintenance, bikepacking, waterfalls, swims, and plenty of good stories and laughter along the way. There is a fair bit packed into this edition, so feel free to jump ahead to the sections that interest you most - especially the 🔗 Upcoming Walks - and keep an eye on the Events Calendar as more trips are added.

Previous walks trip reports

Hilltop Happy Hour was a lovely way to spend a Friday (1st May) evening on Castle Hill, with 9 of us heading up the Blue Spot / White Arrow Track for sunset views, a shared picnic, and good chats about all things life. There were dips, cheese, biscuits, and all kinds of treats spread out on the rock, with a music concert playing and Townsville lighting up below us as the evening settled in.

Molly led eight walkers, including two visitors/new members, on a relaxed half-day Cockatoo Creek walk on Saturday, 2 May 2026. Starting from Alligator Creek, the group followed Cockatoo Creek upstream before doubling back, enjoying cool sunny weather, easy creek walking, plenty of chats, and several short nature talks from Molly along the way. A few creek crossings meant wet feet for some, and three walkers finished with a swim at Alligator Creek. The most memorable moment was everyone realising they had no idea where they were - except Molly, who had it all under control.

On Saturday, 9th May, Luen led three other walkers on a rugged off-track circuit from Jourama Falls to explore Frances Creek Gorge, Flagstone Creek, and a newly nicknamed Golden Orb Creek. The route included an overgrown firebreak approach, creek walking, swimming, scrambling over granite slabs, waterfalls, a sighting of a scrub python, and a tough climb through head-high grass before the group picked up wild cattle tracks along the ridge. The return down Golden Orb Creek provided beautiful sloping rock terraces and thousands of golden orb spiders, giving the creek its unofficial name. It was a great return to the area after Luen's first visit 11 years earlier, when he reached the creek by riding his motorbike along Jacobsen's Track, which was still clear and open at that time.

Three walkers joined Wilfred's regular pre-dawn Mt Stuart Road fitness walk Tuesday 12th May, meeting early for a steady climb up the bitumen road towards the 584 m summit. With head torches on and the mountain still dark, enjoying good chats along the way. One of the highlights of the morning was spotting a tawny frogmouth beside the road. The group also passed a runner coming down the mountain in the dark. As usual, Wilfred brought a bag and picked up rubbish along the way, giving the mountain a bit of care.

A little over ten walkers joined us on Friday evening for a relaxed Wander and Wine walk on the 15th of May up Castle Hill via the historic Ladies' Track. Starting from the Cutheringa Trailhead at 5:30 pm, the group came together nicely along the way, with a few walkers taking slightly different routes or meeting us near the top. At the summit, we enjoyed golden-hour views and sunset over Townsville, shared a quiet drink, and chatted about adventures, outdoor clubs, sea kayaking, and plenty more before putting on head torches and strolling back down the road after dark. Everyone seemed to love the format: a short climb, good company, sunset views, and a relaxed Friday evening atmosphere. Thanks to everyone who came along, and extra thanks to those who brought snacks to share, even though they were not on the list!

Cherry led 10 walkers through the Paluma rainforest adventure on Sunday, 17 May, with the original plan to explore Echo Creek adjusted to Forgotten Falls on the other side of the ridge via the historic K-Traverse. Paluma delivered all the atmosphere, with misty drizzle, cool 17-degree weather, lush rainforest, muddy boots, creek crossings, rocky scrambling, and a very enthusiastic leech population that made sure no one escaped unscathed. The group paused at William Creek, already sparking ideas for a future return, before continuing on to Forgotten Falls, where the sun appeared at just the right moment, and the waterfall was flowing beautifully. With swims, food, photos, laughter, and a relaxed small-group pace, it was a brilliant day out in Paluma.

Wilfred led 14 walkers on a classic Hidden Valley adventure through Running River and Puzzle Creek on Sunday, 24 May, with Brent C taking on Tail End Charlie duties. The day included rock hopping, river crossings, ridge climbs, Saint Peter's Gate, freezing pack swims, granite gorges, drone drama, a briefly misplaced GoPro, and plenty of laughs along the way. Despite the rugged terrain, the walk had a relaxed, good-humoured pace, with lunch and swims at Saint Peter's Gate, dramatic blue-and-orange granite downstream, and a chilly but memorable pack swim through Puzzle Creek & Running River.

Quotes of the Month

"The trail teaches you that the world is larger than your plans."
A backcountry saying

That is the quiet truth of bushwalking. You plan routes. The landscape negotiates.
There is something philosophically beautiful about walking. Humans evolved as endurance wanderers - persistence explorers crossing landscapes kilometre by kilometre. When someone disappears into a rainforest creek line or climbs a granite spur in North Queensland, they are inadvertently reenacting a behaviour that is millions of years old. The body & mind recognises it even if the calendar says 2026.

Other quotes from club members this month:

"We had no idea where we were, except Molly"
- Peter, Cockatoo Creek

"The leeches!"
- Cherry, Forgotten Falls

"I'm a bit like a toothache, just when you think it's getting better, it gets worse."
- Wes, Running River

Appreciation of the past members

Did you know that Alan Watson is one of the four Club members to have been awarded lifetime membership? Alan has contributed enormously to the Club over the years, helping to shape the vibrant walking culture we enjoy today and pioneering many of the routes that remain on our calendar. Even now, Alan is still sharing ideas and knowledge - calling Luen (and others) with suggestions for walks we should run and the beta on how best to tackle them. Thank you, Alan, for everything you have done for the Club, and for continuing to inspire new generations of walkers.

On a side note, we are still using plenty of ex-President Keith D's photos on our website, so when you see Keith next, say thanks for sharing all his beautiful photos.

Upcoming Walks

Committee Meeting - June 2026

Monday, 1 June 2026 6:00 pm
Location: Clubhouse, Blessed Mary Mackillop Parish meeting room, 43 Ross River Road, Mundingburra
The Townsville Bushwalking Club's June Committee Meeting will be held at our usual clubhouse in Mundingburra. We will review recent walks, discuss upcoming events and leadership planning, and cover the operational matters that keep the Club running smoothly. Our outdoor community is also welcome to attend, member or not. Committee members are encouraged to circulate any agenda items or updates before the meeting - [email protected].

Sandals and Sundowners - Widowmaker Track

Friday, 5 June 2026
Leaders: Luen | Grade 3 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Luen for a relaxed Friday after-work wander up the Widowmaker Track on Castle Hill. This short but steeper route offers a good little climb, rocky sections, and great views over Townsville. The pace will be easy and social, with time to pause, catch your breath, and enjoy a quiet hilltop sip before strolling back down to the cars. Bring one drink of your choice, water, comfortable walking shoes with good grip, and a head torch for the walk back down.

Overnighter DCK Shelter Base Camp, Paluma

Saturday, 6 June to Sunday, 7 June 2026
Leader: Cherry | Grade 4 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Cherry for an adventurous overnight trip in Paluma Range National Park, using the DCK Shelter as a base camp. The group will walk in from Paluma Dam and spend the weekend exploring some of Paluma's rainforest tracks, creek systems, historic mining areas, rock gardens, lookouts, and waterfalls. Possible highlights include Crystal Falls, old mine sites, the Rock Garden, nearby lookouts, and, depending on the final route, Blue Lagoon and/or Junction Falls on the way out. The exact route is still being finalised, but the DCK Shelter has already been booked, so this trip is happening. Expect a classic Paluma weekend with rainforest walking, history, creek scenery, and good company.

Mt Stuart Road fitness walk

Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Leader: Wilfred | Grade 3 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Wilfred for his regular Tuesday morning Mt Stuart Road fitness walk. This pre-dawn session starts at 4:45 am and follows the bitumen road to the 584 m summit and back, covering about 15 km return. The walk is self-paced, with a steady uphill climb, a short rest at the top, and a controlled descent - great for building endurance and leg strength. Bring water and a head torch. As usual, the group will also carry a small bag and pick up rubbish along the way.

Canyoning Overnighter

Saturday, 13 June to Sunday, 14 June 2026
Leaders: Luen and Adrian | Grade TBA | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Luen and Adrian for a technical overnight canyoning trip, with the final location to be decided closer to the date based on weather, water levels, access, and conditions. This is an experienced-participants-only trip involving canyoning, abseiling/rappelling, wet rock, steep terrain, creek travel, and movement in remote areas. Participants must have previous canyoning and/or abseiling experience, good fitness, and be comfortable carrying overnight gear. Attendance will be at the leaders' discretion, and final details will be provided to approved participants after the RSVP.

Mt Halifax Summit

Sunday, 21 June 2026
Leader: Cherry | Grade 5 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Cherry for a challenging full-day walk to the summit of Mount Halifax in Paluma Range National Park. This strenuous Grade 5 walk is approximately 11 km return, with over 1,000 m of ascent and descent, rough terrain, creek travel, rock hopping, steep climbs, and rewarding views from the upper ridges and summit. This walk is suited to experienced bushwalkers with good fitness. Bring at least 3 L of water, lunch, snacks, sturdy footwear, sun protection, wet-weather gear, a warm layer, first aid kit, head torch, and insect repellent.

Bowling Green Bay Exploratory Creek Walk

Saturday, 27 June 2026
Leader: Luen | Grade 4/5 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Luen for a half-day exploratory walk in the Alligator Creek area of Bowling Green Bay National Park. The plan is to explore one of the local creeks, with off-track walking, rock hopping, rough creek travel, and some contouring through the rainforest understory. The exact route will be reassessed closer to the date based on conditions, water levels, and access. Expect 4-5 hours and ~10 kilometres. Some waterfalls may be a little dry, but it should still be a fun morning of exploration. Bring water, snacks, sturdy footwear, sun protection, insect repellent, and clothing suitable for scrubby, rocky terrain.

The Ladies' Track, Castle Hill

Friday, 26 June 2026
Leader: Jodie | Grade 3 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Jodie for a relaxed Friday after-work walk up the historic Ladies' Track on Castle Hill. This short social walk starts from the Cutheringa Trailhead lower car park and follows the restored stone stairs, timber steps, and contoured track beneath the lower cliffs. The pace will be easy, with time to enjoy the late-afternoon light and views over Townsville before returning via the road. Bring water, comfortable walking shoes, and a head torch for the walk back down.

July events are also starting to trickle in:

Godwin's Peak, Paluma

Sunday, 19 July 2026
Leader: Cherry Judge | Grade 5 | RSVP: [email protected].
Join Cherry for a challenging day walk to Godwin's Peak, one of the most rewarding summits in the Paluma Range National Park and Clement State Forest area. This strenuous 16 km return walk follows forestry vehicle tracks before entering rougher bushwalking terrain, with creek crossings, rock-hopping, waterfalls, a long, steep climb, and spectacular 360-degree summit views across Mount Halifax, Townsville, the coastline, Mount Stuart, Castle Hill, Magnetic Island, and the surrounding ranges. This is a difficult walk suited to experienced bushwalkers with moderate to high fitness. Bring at least 3 L of water, lunch, snacks, sturdy footwear, sun protection, a warm layer, a raincoat, a first-aid kit, a head torch, insect repellent, and swimmers if you would like to swim in the creek.

Paradise Beach clean-up with Ocean Crusaders
day walk or overnighter

Saturday, 25 July to Sunday, 26 July 2026
Leaders: Brent and Cherry | Grade 4 | RSVP: Brent at [email protected] for the overnighter, or Cherry at [email protected] for the day walk.
Join the Townsville Bushwalking Club for a special Paradise Beach clean-up in support of Ocean Crusaders. Brent will lead the overnight group, hiking in on Saturday, helping with the beach clean-up, camping near the beach, and preparing the collected rubbish for pick-up early Sunday. Cherry will lead a day-walk option for those who would like to hike in on Saturday, help with the clean-up, and walk back out the same day. Participants should be prepared for remote coastal walking, beach work, and rough conditions, and should bring water, food, sturdy footwear, sun protection, work or gardening gloves, and clothing suitable for a beach clean-up.

Throwback to Our Club History

Under Keith's leadership and presidency, the Club rediscovered the plaque on Mount Cook on Sunday, 9th of November 2014. Armed with an old 1987 newsletter map, Nick Wood's notes, and a strong sense of purpose, the group set out from Nelly Bay on a hot, arduous mission to relocate the memorial plaque commemorating two early club members lost in a 1962 canoeing tragedy between Pallarenda and Magnetic Island. What followed was a classic Townsville Bushwalking Club day - steep ridgelines, gullies, grass trees, stinging trees, long carries with no water resupply, plenty of banter about "smoko", and Wilfred's trademark "GO GO" leadership up the hills. After reaching Mt Cook, pushing through lantana, and traversing to hill 479, the plaque was found exactly where hoped - on a rock aligned with the airport runway, looking back toward Pallarenda. The group held a minute's silence before continuing the epic descent to Horseshoe Bay and, eventually, the pub. A hard, memorable day that blended history, endurance, mateship, and the kind of mission that becomes club legend.

Doco of the month

This month's documentary pick is Eating Plants, available on SBS On Demand. The series travels around the world exploring plant-based food cultures, vegan cooking, and the entrepreneurs creating alternatives to animal products. A standout moment from the Australia episode is a Sunshine Coast mushroom farmer explaining that it is "a thousand times more land use efficient to grow mushrooms" than beef cattle, which gives the series a strong environmental angle. It is an easy, interesting watch for anyone curious about sustainability, health, culture, and the changing ways people think about what ends up on their plates.
Watch on SBS On Demand
Trailer on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Call for Trip Leaders and Ideas

Have a favourite route, hidden waterfall, or new ridge that you've been itching to share? Share your bush wanderings on our Facebook group or send us a photo for the next newsletter. We are always keen to support member-led walks and fresh ideas for the calendar. If you are interested in leading a trip, get in touch and help shape the season ahead. Please email the Club at [email protected].

Keep up to date with our trips via our newsletter, Facebook page or the Club's events calendar page.

Happy trails,
Luen Warneke
Townsville Bushwalking Club