Bushwalking in Paluma

The tranquil township of Paluma is nestled amonst World Heritage Listed rainforest at the top of Paluma Range Road, approximately 65km north of Thuringowa Central. This tiny village is often described as an eco-tourism paradise, and is the bushwalking hub of Thuringowa.

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• The Paluma Rainforest Walk
• McClelland's Lookout
• The "H" Track
• Whitt's Lookout
• The Cloudy Creek Track
• Birthday Creek Falls Track

Paluma Rainforest Walk

The Paluma Rainforest Walk is a 580m circuit through the Forest Reserve in Paluma Village. This walk takes just under half an hour and features strangler figs, king ferns, buttress roots, animal and bird life, and a stone-pitched channel made by miners called a tin race. The creek and the steps above the tin race are a good spot to view glowing fungi at night. Paluma's Village Green is an excellent venue for a family picnic and is located at the eastern end of the track.

McClelland's Lookout

McClelland's Lookout forms part of the Paluma Range National Park (Mt Spec Section), located 100m before Paluma village. The lookout commemorates the Main Roads Commission overseer who built Paluma Road and Little Crystal Creek Bridge during the 1930s depression. The lookout itself provides a panoramic view of Halifax Bay and the Palm Island Group, and was formerly the site of the US Army's radar station during the Second World War.

The "H" Track

The "H" Track Loop is a circuit walk through the Forest Reserve south of Paluma Village. The eastern end of the track departs from the rear of Lennox Crescent, with the western end departing from the back of Whalley Crescent. The "H" Track runs along the alignment of a former logging road, or 'snig track', used by the Whalley family of timber cutters. You will see evidence of Paluma's former softwood timber plantations and tin mining industries.

Witt's Lookout Track

Witt's Lookout Track leads to two adjacent lookouts at the end of a 1.5km walk in the Paluma Range National Park. This is not a circuit walk, so allow about 45 minutes. A car park is provided at McClelland's Lookout, a short walk from the track. The Witt's Lookout Track is a self guided walk with interpretive signs drawing attention to some significant ecological features.

Cloudy Creek Track

Cloudy Creek Track is an extension of the Witt's Lookout Track, forking to the left about 350 metres from the lookouts. The track is quite steep from the fork down to the creek, so the walk back up is more strenuous than any other track around Paluma. Allow about two hours for a return trip.

Birthday Creek Falls Track

Birthday Creek Falls Track is a short walk located in the Paluma State Forest Reserve. While all the walking tracks around Paluma offer excellent opportunities for serious or casual bird watching, the Birthday Creek Falls Track is favoured by those keen to see the Golden Bowerbird. As the track is quite steep to the base of the falls, allow 15 minutes to walk to the falls, with care taken on wet rocks.