A Five Star Route to Keelbottom and Little Star - Trip Report
A remote two-day Paluma Range adventure linking Keelbottom Creek and Little Star River, with easy walking through recently burnt country, rock hopping, scrambling, side gorge exploration, swims, and beautiful gum-lined creeks in wild national park country.
Date: 20-21 March 2021
Leader: Luen
Luen led this rewarding two-day trip through the Keelbottom Creek and Little Star River country, covering plenty of ground through one of the more remote and memorable parts of the Paluma Range. This route has long been spoken of fondly by Club members as a "five-star route", and it is easy to see why - reliable water, a flat camp, good firewood, impressive creek scenery, and plenty of engaging terrain all wrapped into one solid overnight adventure.
The section between Keelbottom Creek and Little Star River looked to have been fairly recently burnt, with fresh regrowth coming through. While it gave the landscape a different feel, it also made for relatively easy walking compared with what this country can sometimes offer. In earlier years, the Club would at times drive further in when road access and conditions allowed, but on this trip, we covered the country on foot and made the most of the full journey. The Club would also take a rope and abseil a cliff nearby.
Over the two days, we moved through beautiful country, with both Keelbottom Creek and Little Star River proving to be real highlights. There were stretches lined with handsome gums, clear flowing water, cascades, and rocky creek scenery that constantly rewarded the effort. The walking itself had a bit of everything - rock hopping, scrambling, and a couple of easy low-grade climbs to keep things interesting without ever losing the enjoyable rhythm of the trip.
One of the standout parts of the walk was exploring a side gorge tributary off Little Star River. Here, the trip turned from a strong overnight walk into something even more memorable, with a swim, some fun gorge exploration, and a climb further up through the rocky watercourse. It was the sort of side adventure that makes a route like this linger in the memory long after the trip is over.
Although we were at times fairly close to the national park boundary and Defence land, the route remained within QPWS-managed national park country. The sense of remoteness was part of the appeal - not many people venture out this far, and combined with the quality of the camp and the beauty of both creeks, it made for a very satisfying overnight.
- Luen
