UNIQUE AND INTERESTING

PALUMA – RAINFOREST RETREAT

Paluma Range National Park is at the southern end of the World Heritage Wet Tropics. Although this area was settled approximately 120 years ago, its scenic beauty ensured its national park status. Today, Paluma Range National Park and the mountain settlements of Paluma are popular retreats which have never been exploited or overdeveloped. I have visited Paluma twice and the journey was absolutely fantastic. Paluma is situated about 60 Km North of Townsville, the Mt Spec Road leaves the Bruce Highway and turns inland towards the beautiful mountains of the Paluma Ranges. Separating the National Park from the Mt Spec State Forest, this scenic road is a monument to human effort as it was built mostly by hand during the 1930’s Great Depression.

Along the winding mountain road can be found examples of original stonework and ingenuity, the most popular of which is the photogenic stone bridge over Little Crystal Creek 7 Km from the bottom of the range. This historical arch was the first of its kind in Queensland and spans the icy cold crystal clear water rushing down the gorge. It is a very cool, calm and quiet place and the best place to relax. The clear pools, huge granite boulders and lush rainforest vegetation makes Little Crystal Creek the best swimming hole in Townsville and a popular stopover on the way up to the village of Paluma. Walking tracks, some of which provide stunning views, wind through the National Park and State Forest surrounding Paluma.

A municipal 24 hours rest area exists in Paluma, with extended camping available at Lake Paluma. Lake Paluma is a unique water storage facility situated near Mt Spec, high above the Paluma Range National Park. The Lake is a drinking water storage owned by North Queensland Water and offers unique opportunities for day visitors and campers to spend time in a biologically diverse environment.


Continuing west from Paluma, magnificent stands of eucalypts gradually replace the rainforest. The ecotone contains habitat types and species of animals that are now considered uncommon. As the elevation drops into Hidden Valley, the climate becomes warmer and drier, with the vegetation changing to what is traditionally thought of as the Australian ‘bush’.

I stayed in both Mt Spec Cottage and Fatima Cottage, a comfortable home style, fully self-contained accommodation. The picturesque gardens merge beautifully with the surrounding Rainforest and the quaint atmosphere of the Historical Cottage and large verandah added a serene ambience to the fresh, healthy home-made food. Staying in the lovely cottages was a special experience in harmony with the magnificent environment and birdlife.

The four types of seasons can be experienced in Paluma Rainforest where summer temperatures may be ten degrees cooler than Townsville.

Paluma Rainforest is a very beautiful place and visiting once will not be enough I am sure. I enjoyed very much and it was a wonderful trip.