September 2021
By now we had been in Townsville for nearly two weeks and had exhausted all the town had to offer in a 10km radius of the boat, which led to our exploration of the Paluma National Park. The Paluma National Park offers a multitude of different walks but was about 70km out of Townsville and so normally out of our range especially since no buses visit it. However when Hugo’s sister heard we were taking a break from painting due to some rain she offered to take us there for the day. This was an incredible offer and so we jumped at the opportunity, grateful for the offer as since leaving Tasmania we hadn’t left the coastline.
The day we went we were forecast for rain however since it wasn’t due until the afternoon we met Holly early in the morning to make the most of the day. Out of everything to do in the Paluma Range we decided to visit Little Crystal Creek as this offered a waterfall, waterhole and wasn’t too far into the range. For most of the drive out to Little Crystal Creek we were on the highway passing farmland and houses however as soon as we entered the national park the scenery out our window became green and luscious. To get to Little Crystal Creek we also had to ascend the mountain range a bit and we quickly noticed that the higher we went the wetter and cooler the air became. After nearly two hours of driving we finally made it to Little Crystal Creek just after mid morning and after so much sitting were ready to stretch our legs.
The main attraction at Little Crystal creek was a pretty little waterfall which fed a small creek. When we arrived we were quite surprised to see so much water as it hadn’t rained in months due to being the middle of the dry season. Since there was still plenty of water around we couldn’t resist going for a quick swim. The water was icy but given how far we’d had to come to reach the creek none of us were complaining and jumped in swimming in the little lagoon and sitting under the waterfall. We spent the better part of an hour here talking to other adventurers and swimming in the various lagoons. However with the water being so chilly we couldn’t swim for too long for fear of Hypothermia.
After drying off we retreated back to the car in search of what to do next. Everyone agreed that since it was only midday that we couldn’t head back to Townsville just yet. So instead we decided to continue further into the mountains hoping that there was somewhere in the Paluma Village, 10km ahead, to buy lunch. The drive through the mountains were amazing as somehow the forest around us became even greener, more tropical and wetter. The Paluma Village sits at about 1000m above sea level which was something we well and truly felt as we entered the clouds several K’s from the village . The day we visited we were expecting a change in weather and it seemed that the little mountain village was already experiencing the change. We could barely see 100m ahead of us and at 50m people disappeared into the mist completely. It had been a long time since Hugo and I had been at such an altitude and we were awed by our surrounds.
After arriving in the village we made our first stop at McClellands Lookout which required a short walk through a rainforest from the car park. However once we reached the lookout we quickly realised that with the mist that day we weren’t going to be seeing anything but clouds, although the lack of view didn’t leave us too disappointed. We spent some time at the lookout just marvelling at the clouds before us which rushed and swirled past where we sat at the areas picnic table. Although eventually we had to drag ourselves back to the car as by this point we were definitely starting to feel the hunger pains. Once back at the car we headed back to Palluma Village in hopes to find a cafe for lunch. However we quickly realised after a full lap through the town that everything was closed. So after our lap down the main street we decided to head back to McClellands lookout to make an impromptu lunch out of the camping food and gear in the back of Holly’s car. Although instead of making it in the car park we decided to pack everything up and take it back to the picnic area at the lookout. This ended up being the perfect spot to have lunch as we continued watching the clouds race by while we made a delicious pasta lentil dish.
Following lunch we headed back into town in search of a short walk as we were keen to stretch our legs a little before the long drive back to Townsville. In the end the track we chose was a fairly short walk called the ‘sensory trail’ which wound its way through a dripping wet rainforest. The rainforest here was stunning and since the trail was only 100m long we were left wanting more once we finished it. However this desire was very short lived as while examining a map of the town and its walks Holly made a horrifying discovery. There was a leech and although it hadn’t attached itself to her yet none of us wanted to stick around to see if there were any more. So with that in mind we decided to call it a day and all piled back into the car and headed back to Townsville where we arrived just in time for the rain.
Following our little out of town adventure we threw ourselves back into finishing the deck once the rain had passed and the deck had dried. All that was left was to add the final coat of paint and once that was done Allagai was looking exceptionally smart with new paint covering the entire deck. Once the deck was painted the only thing holding us in Townsville was the new sail we were waiting on. Which conveniently arrived only the next week and was in fact a week earlier then expected. When the sail arrived we couldn’t have been more pleased by the workmanship. The sail was to the exact specifications we’d asked for and set perfectly although in our excitement we forgot to take any pictures.
All that we had to do before leaving Townsville now was restock Allagai, ready her for sea and finish off a few little jobs. However before leaving we were given a second opportunity to take Holly’s car for an adventure. With the offer to use the car for a weekend we couldn’t resist on going on a second trip out to Paluma National Park. For this second trip we visited Big Crystal Creek and enjoyed a lovely swim in a cool freshwater swim hole. Once again I was awed by the change from dry to wet as we passed the borders of Townsville and entered the range. This was a lovely day out and left us feeling quite refreshed following our swim in the water and ready to get sailing.
After two trips inland we were ready for some sailing and so decided on a trip out to Magnetic Island so we could test the new main sail out before we left the area for good. The test sail couldn’t have gone better and although the wind that day was fairly light the sail proved it would work for us.
While at Magnetic Island we also made the most of our short visit by completing the Forts walk which we made 4km longer by walking to it rather the catching the bus. Once we arrived this was a lovely short walk through a dry eucalypt forest to Magnetic Islands war encampment. The Forts walk offered us another insight into the history of the regions war time activities and left me feeling even more grateful for what our soldiers of the past went through to protect us. Following our short stay at Magnetic Island we then returned to Townsville for what we hoped would be the last time. By now we had been in the Townsville area for an entire month and so were more then ready to move on aiming for Cairns but hoping to visit as many of the islands in between along the way.
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