A challenging rainforest trek from Paluma village to Bambaroo via Mt Spec and the Bambaroo Track. Highlights include Crystal Falls, Wilfred’s hut, golden bowerbird bowers, giant strangler figs, leeches, snakes, and a Frosty Mango ice cream finish.
Lost (North) Creek bushwalk: A navigational detour turned into an off-track adventure—bush-bashing past dry creeks and cycads before popping out on Alligator Creek. Rock-hopped to the falls for lunch with views, then returned via the NP track. Unplanned, unforgettable.
Seven walkers set out to find a memorial plaque near Mt Cook on Magnetic Island, honouring two canoeists lost in 1962. After a hot, hilly trek through gullies, stinging trees, and ridgelines, they found it overlooking Pallarenda—before pushing on to Horseshoe Bay and, finally, the pub.
Explore Five Mile Creek near Cardwell with the Townsville Bushwalking Club. A two-day hike of rock hopping, gorges, boulder scrambles, swimming holes and a 70 m waterfall, offering rugged terrain and scenic rainforest adventure north of Townsville.
Twelve hikers tackled the steep climb to the WW2 B-24 Liberator Texas Terror wreck on Mt Straloch, Hinchinbrook Island. After a long day of rock-hopping, rope climbs, stinging trees, and close calls, the group reached the memorial cross before descending to meet the boat—tired but elated.
Paluma to Bambaroo via Waterfall Creek (2012): A tough 2-day through-walk with spectacular cascades, sheer drops, and 800 m descent. Rain turned granite slick, forcing bush-bashing through lantana and vines before finally emerging at Bambaroo farm after dark – tired, soaked, but triumphant.
Mt Elliot summit (2012): A tough two-day adventure via North Creek to the summit, with rainforest climbs, dry saddles, thick wait-a-while, and shredded legs. Camped high, then descended Alligator Creek past cascades and falls. Hard, scenic, and a real club achievement.
Townsville Bushwalking Club’s 2012 Kokoda Track trek (Kokoda → Owers Corner) marked the 70th anniversary: a 9-day, 96 km crossing of the Owen Stanley Range with ~6,000 m ascent/descent, village camps, powerful WWII history, and outstanding PNG porter support.
December walks saw the club tackling a stormy Many Peaks Range, cactus control at Walkers Creek, and a wet weekend at DCK Shelter. Jourama Falls hosted the lively break-up weekend, complete with swimming, Santa, and a Frosty Mango stop. Next up: Crystal Creek or North Creek, weather permitting.
Despite rain, three walkers reached Alligator Creek Falls and spotted snakes. A modified Cloudy Creek walk ended with a BBQ at Paradise Waterhole. Next up: cactus control at Walkers Creek, the Jourama Falls break-up weekend, and dinner at the Dalrymple Hotel to close the season.
Hidden in Thunderbolt Creek is a cave with an unlikely past. In the 1940s it housed a secret Communist printing press producing The Spark. Today, bushwalkers find relics, rusted tins, and faded ochre art—reminders of a time when politics and wilderness converged in North Queensland.
Escape Xmas 1991: Townsville Bushwalkers magazine with bird-watching tips for hikers, Eungella National Park camping, Blue Mountains spring walks, Kashmir’s Thajiwas Glacier and Vashisht hot springs, plus mango recipes. Trip reports, gear notes and club news for North Queensland bushwalkers.