Paluma Range National Park, QLD: Walks, swimming holes and camping
Top things to do in Paluma Range National Park, Queensland, include walks around McClellands Lookout, swimming at Birthday Creek Falls and camping at Big Crystal Creek.
Paluma Range National Park flanks much of the drive from Townsville to Ingham, Queensland. Thus it makes a perfect stop if driving up Australia’s east coast from Townsville to Cairns.
There are two main sections to Paluma Range National Park. The turn-off for Mount Spec section is about 61km north of Townsville and the access road to the Jourama Falls section is about 91km north. This guide covers the Mount Spec section. Australia Travel Questions has a separate guide to the Jourama Falls section.
This North Queensland national park is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Indeed, it’s the most southern section of that World Heritage Area. Consider it your introduction to Queensland’s incredible rainforests.
Paluma Range National Park walks: McClellands Lookout
The Mount Spec section of Paluma Range National Park offers several different walking tracks. Three of them are around McClellands Lookout. The 150m track from the car park to the lookout itself is the easiest, and offers delightful views of the Palm Islands and Halifax Bay.
A bit longer is the 3km return Witts Lookout track, which starts 200 metres beyond McClellands Lookout. Signs along the way explain the rainforest plants and animals before the track climbs steeply towards two rocky outcrops. Again, expect excellent Halifax Bay views.
Cloudy Creek walk and Birthday Creek Falls
The longest Paluma Range National Park walk is the Cloudy Creek walk. This follows the Witts Lookout track, but tags on a few small waterfalls on Cloudy Creek. The walk is 4km return, and should take around two-and-a-half hours. Expect some steep sections and boulder hopping.
Elsewhere in the Mount Spec section of Paluma Range National Park, you can try the Rockslides walking track. This 800m return walk is easy-going, and leads to a series of water holes and cascades.
You can swim at the Rockslides on Big Crystal Creek, but Queensland Parks and Forests strongly advises against jumping or diving off the rocks. Serious injuries have occurred in the past.
Another place you can swim is the small pool at the bottom of Birthday Creek Falls. Get there via a moderate 1km return walk.
Swimming in Paluma Range National Park
The other key swimming spot in the Mount Spec section of Paluma Range National Park is Little Crystal Creek. Again, you need to be very careful on the slippery rocks and not dive in.
If you want to go camping in this Queensland national park, there is a camping area at Big Crystal Creek.
More Queensland travel
How long is the drive from Cairns to Ravenshoe?
What to see on the drive from Toowoomba to Miles?
Plan a Noosa to Rockhampton road trip.
Are there any crocodiles on Moreton Island?
How long is the Buderim to Mooloolaba drive?