City Scene - Townsville

Where to Stay

Bike Riding on the Strand

Things to See
& Do

 

Paluma and Northern Beaches

For a relaxing day out or a long secluded walk on the beach, Townsville’s five northern beaches 60 kilometres north of the city are the ideal getaway. Bushland, Saunders, Toolakea, Toomulla and Balgal are spectacular beaches. They combine the rugged bush with necessary amenities and beachside hideaways, where swimming, fishing, picnicking and bird watching are ideal.

For a pleasant change of climate and scenery, travel a little further north along the Bruce Highway and turn left to Crystal Creek and Paluma. Two popular swimming holes offer the perfect place to cool off on a warm tropical day. Big Crystal Creek at the base of the Paluma range features a large swimming hole and picnicking area, perfect for families and larger groups.

Little Crystal Creek, located 11km up the winding road to Paluma Village, is well known for its historic stone arch bridge built in the 1930’s, and cascading waterfalls that feed into one of the best freshwater swimming holes in the north.

Continue up the winding road to Paluma Village , nestled amongst the misty clouds. Located within the Mount Spec National Park , it is the southernmost point in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. At 1000 metres above sea level, Paluma is a cool mountain retreat with a convenient lack of mobile phone coverage. With cosy accommodation, cafes, arts and craft, bird watching and a large network of rainforest walks, Paluma promises the perfect getaway for a quiet, romantic weekend, or place to unwind.

In the heart of the Paluma Village is McClelland’s Lookout, with views across the range that will simply take your breath away. The rainforest is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as the northern barred frog, white tailed rat, northern bettong, the rare green ringtail possum and Herbert River ringtail possum. You may also see a golden bower bird, bird of paradise, chowchilla, macleay’s honeyeater, or, if you are lucky, an endangered southern cassowary.

Paluma is also as rich in history as it is in nature. Tin-mining in the late 1800’s, along with an involvement in WWII, made Paluma a hive of activity and this is captured throughout the village on interpretive heritage signage. For the more adventurous, you can continue a further 30 kilometres north along the Bruce Highway to Jourama Falls .

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
• Step into a different world to an ancient rainforest with Kookaburra Tours
• Take a walk on one of the many local rainforest tracks
• Watch in awe as the Victoria ’s rifl e bird dances for its mate
• Cool off with a swim in the clear waters of Little or Big Crystal Creeks
• Walk through the rainforest from McClelland’s Lookout to Witt’s Lookout
• Enjoy bird watching at Paluma, Lake Ross or any of the Northern Beaches, all sites are renowned for their diversity of birdlife
• Take a pleasant walk through to the falls at Jourama Falls
• Try your hand at creek or beach fishing
• Launch your boat from one of Townsville’s six boat ramps
• Take a day trip to Northern Beaches and swim at Balgal Beach (Stinger net and patrolled beach)