November Newsletter 2025
Join us for November’s walks and events, including the Christmas Party on 22 Nov and the Harveys Marbles hike on 29 Nov, plus trip reports from Tully Gorge, The Terraces, and Blue Gum Circuit.
Welcome to the November edition of the Townsville Bushwalking Club newsletter. The build-up is well and truly here, and our recent walks have taken full advantage of the creeks, gullies, ridgelines, and rainforest shade North Queensland does best. We’ve also got a couple of great social events coming up as we roll towards the end of the year — including our Christmas Party and a classic granite wander through Harveys Marbles.
Read on for what’s ahead and what we’ve been up to.
Upcoming Events
🎄 TBWC Christmas Party — Saturday 22 November
Our annual C party will be at a different location this year, as we continue to have access issues with Paluma Range Road. Wilfred and Suzanne are kindly opening their home at Alligator Creek for our end-of-year pool party, which we are very grateful for.
Details:
• When: Saturday 22 November, from 6 pm
• Where: Alligator Creek — address will be provided to attendees (email us)
• What: Food, swimming, relaxing, catching up, and celebrating another excellent year of walking
• Camping: There’s an option to camp overnight on their private property. There is plenty of room.
• RSVP: Wilfred and Suzanne at [email protected]
The party will be a 'bring a plate' affair as usual, and, as is traditional, we will also have the game of bad Santa, so please bring a gift valued up to $20. Also, bring your swimmers.
Please reply with an RSVP and let me know what you're bringing a plate of, and whether you are camping.
🎄 Combined Christmas Breakfast Picnic — Saturday 6 December
A casual joint gathering with Let’s Walk TSV, Townsville Kayak Club, and TBWC.
• When: Saturday 6 December
• Where: Pallarenda, near the stinger nets
• What: Bring-a-plate breakfast picnic
• RSVP: Cherry at [email protected]
A great way to catch up with the wider outdoor community before the wet season settles in.
🪨 Harvey's Marbles Bushwalk — Saturday 29 November
Leader: Luen Warneke
Start: 6.00 am
Distance: ~8 km circuit
Elevation: ~250 m
Grade: Easy–moderate (heat exposure + uneven rocky ground)
Duration: 3–4 hours
RSVP: [email protected]
“I may have lost my marbles doing this walk now that it’s hot… but Harveys Marbles is too good not to wander through, even in late November.”
We’re heading up onto Hervey Range for a relaxed morning circuit through the boulder fields, eucalypt woodland, and granite slabs of this quirky landscape. The area has recently been burnt, which makes walking easier but does mean the heat builds quickly — so an early start, good hydration, and sun protection are essential.
We’ll visit The Three Brothers, the towering granite blocks on the escarpment, with an optional scramble onto “Big Brother” for superb views. Expect rock-hopping, gentle scrambly bits, open understory, and plenty to explore. A brilliant way to spend a morning before the day warms up.
Recent Trip Reports
The last few weeks have been packed with variety — rainforest circuits, waterfalls, historical sites, and big rivers. Here’s a snapshot.
🌿 Blue Gum Circuit — Paluma
An 11 km rainforest loop from Paluma Village, weaving through Triple Falls, Blue Gum Creek, and old wolfram mining relics. Low water levels meant easy creek crossings and great opportunities to explore the old mining history. A classic day in cool canopy with rope-free rock-hopping and plenty of photo stops.
Townsville Bushwalking Club
🏞 The Terraces — Bowling Green National Park
Eleven walkers tackled the rocky, creeky, and delightfully wet route to The Terraces. After climbing Black Rock and cooling off at Princess Pools, changing weather made the track slippery, and some walkers sensibly turned back. Five continued on to the falls for swims, a natural “shower”, and lunch beside the cascading pools. A day of teamwork, tropical rainforest, and great company.
Townsville Bushwalking Club
🏔 Tully Falls Area
Originally planned as an exploratory off-track gorge mission, conditions led to a scenic and historical tour instead — and it turned out to be a gem.
The long-abandoned Eyrie Lookout with its rusted fencing and huge gorge views. Tully Falls Lookout, dramatic even without flowing water. As well as Crawfords Lookout, Tchupala Falls, and the historic Jordan Goldfield relics in the Palmerston region. A rewarding detour filled with history, vistas, and ideas for future trips.
Townsville Bushwalking Club
Looking Ahead
The build-up won’t stop us — we’ll keep scheduling short & early-morning walks and shorter local adventures as conditions allow. Keep an eye on the events page and Facebook group for updates.
If you’d like to lead a walk, or have a route in mind you’d like to explore with others, let the committee know — new ideas and leaders are always welcome.
Stay hydrated, stay sun-smart, and see you on the trails.
Luen,
The Townsville Bushwalking Club
Hikes, adventures, and friendships on and off the trails of North Queensland.
