Paluma Range National Park

Getting there

From Cape Tribulation in the Daintree Rainforest, we traveled south to Cairns to stock up on supplies and collect Tim’s new phone (his old one died of old age). We passed many sugar cane farms and banana plantations.

After Cairns, we continued south. Cardwell is a beautiful spot to stop for a coffee and stretch our legs. The views are stunning across to Hinchinbrook Island and the surrounding smaller islands.

Paluma Range National Park

Big Crystal Creek and Little Crystal Creek had been recommended by friends. However the Parks & Forest website advised against caravans going into Big Crystal Creek camp ground as the access is tight, so we booked Jourama Falls Camp Ground instead. A beautiful, peaceful spot beside the creek, not deep enough for swimming but with local turtles that would start arriving as soon as they heard voices on the bank.

Jourama Falls Lookout Walk

The start of the walking track is not far from the camp ground. Due to the extraordinary amount of rain during February 2025 wet season, North Queensland suffered wide spread flooding and many landslides. The start of the Jourama Falls Lookout walk was closed off due to a particularly large landslide. Our photos don’t capture the enormity of the area impacted. A temporary walking track has been made through the more stable area of the landslide, until the old track appears on the other side.

Landslide

Old Track

Pink markers have been placed along the route, with the old track appearing from time to time through the rubble.

Big Crystal Creek

Big Crystal Creek Camp Ground is about 30km from where we camped. There were lots of roadside stalls along the road in, selling fresh produce and home made preserves. They have honesty boxes and in some cases self-serve EFTPOS for payment.

Driving through the Big Crystal Creek Camp area we found a number of large vans there, and could certainly have got our van in. Will definitely camp there next time, as it has fire pits and is a next to a large deep swimming hole.

Due to other landslides, the road into Little Crystal Creek was closed. Also the road from Big Crystal Creek camp and day use areas to Crystal Creek Rock Slides was closed.

The Parks & Forest website have clear instructions on how to get to the Rockslides—a series of waterholes and cascades. We were told it was wonderful and lots of fun.

However we loved the clear, fresh, invigorating water of Paradise Waterhole near the camp ground & day use area, and will return to experience the rock slides another time.