Trip Report - North Creek: The Accidental Adventure
A mix-up led to magic. What began as a cancelled Terraces walk turned into an off-track adventure up North Creek in Bowling Green Bay National Park. Hidden waterfalls, cool rainforest pools, and laughter turned this “Plan B” into the perfect Townsville bushwalking day.
Trip date: 27th September, 2025
Location: Bowling Green Bay National Park
Trip Leader(s): Cherry Judge & Ian Wallace
Walkers: 10
Every great bushwalk starts with a plan - and sometimes, the best ones start with no plan at all.
The Townsville Bushwalking Club’s end-of-September walk was originally destined for the famed Terraces route, a series of stunning cascades tucked deep within the Bowling Green Bay National Park.
Spirits were high as ten walkers gathered at the meeting point, boots laced, snacks packed, and expectations of waterfalls ahead.
And then came the twist.
A moment of mutual realisation swept the group when it emerged that both leaders - in a fine display of synchronised optimism, had assumed the other had organised permission to cross the private property required to access the Terraces.
But bushwalkers are nothing if not adaptable. After a few minutes of lively discussion, map-pointing, and the ritualistic “what about this creek instead?” debate, the group pivoted.
North Creek - another route within Bowling Green Bay National Park, and one that leads toward Mount Elliot’s summit, became the destination of the day.
The walk began in typically North Queensland fashion: warm, dry, and a little scrubby underfoot. The early section was thick with paperbarks and wait-a-while vines testing patience and navigation skills alike. But soon the landscape transformed. The vegetation grew lush, the air cooler, and the sound of trickling water lured the group onward.
When the first little waterfall along North Creek finally revealed itself, it was worth every scratch and bead of sweat. Crystal-clear pools lay framed by smooth granite and rainforest ferns. One section in particular stopped everyone in their tracks, a natural infinity pool reflecting the forest canopy above.
It didn’t take long for boots to be shaken off. Swimmers splashed into the cool water while others stretched out on warm rocks, soaking in the view and, perhaps, the irony of a “Plan B” turning out far better than expected.
After a leisurely hour of swimming, lunching, and laughter echoing through the gorge, the group retraced their steps. The return leg was a gentle meander compared to the adventurous start of the day, with the early-afternoon sun painting the hills gold.
By the time the cars came into view, the consensus was clear: North Creek might not have been the plan, but it was a perfect adventure all the same. Sometimes, the best days in the bush are the ones that find you.
By Cherry Judge
