In the summer months the humidity conspires with the deadly jelly fish to keep many north Queenslanders out of the ocean. The stinger nets are only marginally successful in reducing marine stings and therefore there is still a risk of a painful end to your day of swimming. That is unless you take to the hills and locate some of the amazing waterfalls that meander down from the Great Dividing Range. One such spot is the area known as “Little Crystal Creek”. However, getting there has some minor challenges.
I don’t think the spindly trees would have prevented my vehicle from rolling off the edge. I had braked coming into the corner and slowed down to a crawl as I couldn’t see the road exit when all of a sudden a giant white four wheel drive came about the corner at speed on my side of the road. I could feel my front tyres slide slightly as I brought my vehicle to a stop on the small bit of gravel. His towing mirrors passing within centimetres of my mirrors. Thankfully he had the good sense to leave his van behind.
This is the Paluma Range National Park and I’m travelling up the Mt Spec road to have a look at “Little Crystal Creek”. A feature of this area is the Arch Bridge made of stone and joining the two sections of road over the Crystal Creek.
It is remarkable and an awesome piece of 1930’s architecture, especially considering the shear difficulty the builders went through just to build it. This road is the access way to the Paluma Village and further down to Hidden Valley (see my story The story of tin mining and the discovery of the Hidden Valley.)
Little Crystal Creek in an oasis for families wanting to get away from the North Queensland heat and humidity during the warmer months.
The water comes from the Paluma Dam and is normally naturally fed, but because of the dam there is the potential to stop flow when the water level drops. However, flow is guaranteed via a pumping stations to ensure a constant water flow down this important ecosystem.
The rock areas in and around the Arch Bridge provide pools of all levels of depth and it is a popular spot all times of the year.
There is a toilet block and park area opposite the carpark, before you desend down a narrow stone stepped pathway to the rock pools below.
The road began as a proposal to open up the Eastern access of the wet tropics area for tourism and as an alternative and cheaper route to get tin ore to the port of Townsville. However, with the drop in tin ore prices and the censation of mining by 1917 it was not considered viable. In 1922 geologists working with the Townsville City Council surveyed the area for its ability to deliver water to Townsville (there seems to be a theme here).
This was coupled with the rise in both tourism and timber getting, as well as a strong lobby from the automotive association in Townsville. The council re-evaluated its original proposal and work began on the Mount Spec road in 1931. It was completed in 1934, with labour for the road coming from a work for the dole type program to support employment during the great depression.
The whole area has significant history from mining exploration, to timber getting to tourism that it makes for an excellent day out from both Townsville and Ingham. There is an area for camping at the Big Crystal Creek camp site, which can be booked through the council web site. For those wishing more adventure the Paluma Lake and Hidden Valley areas are well worth a trip. If you’re going to the dam make sure you book ahead as there are only about 28 camp sites and they are popular.
The dam is great for all sorts of water based activities and for exploring the old tin mining sites on foot, not to mention the many interesting tracks and look outs at the top of the range that branch out from the Paluma Village. Don’t forget to read my stories on Hidden Valley and the Paluma Wet Tropics area for more thoughts on this interesting area.
Wishing you safe travels and exciting adventures.
Digital Swaggie🙂
Hi Gary
Like your journal…
Send me an email 🙂
Thanks John
Really appreciate your comments, will do:)