Cassowary Coast National Parks

Frequent rainfall provides Tully Gorge National Park with sumptuous tropical vegetation and white-water experiences on the Tully River. Follow the scenic Tully Falls Road to the spectacular Tully Gorge Lookout. The falls only run in a big wet season, but the dramatic walls of raw rock and rainforest plunging 300m (984 feet) down to the Tully River are still well worth a visit. Take the 800m track to the Tully River above the falls, but do not venture onto the rocks at the top of the falls as they are slippery and dangerous.

For the Indiana Jones wannabe, jump on an organised white-water rafting tour. The thrilling journey will give you a unique perspective of beauty of the National Park.

From September to February, take the Rainforest Butterfly Walk to see clouds of colourful butterflies.

 

Despite its name, Alligator's Nest does not have any alligators. It is actually a great spot for swimming. Enjoy a relaxing time in this pretty rainforest creek. Barbecue facilities and tables are available for picnics.

Enter the majestic forest of Licuala. The forest boasts the unusual Licuala Fan Palm, which is native to the area. Immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty and look for the Ulysses butterfly, cassowaries and green tree frogs.

Admire the sunlight shining through the beautiful palm leaves and discover one or more of the several walking tracks. The walks vary in length, but are usually flat and easy.

Kids will love the children's walk, where they can follow cassowary footprints to a nest full of eggs!

Climb the highest freestanding natural pyramid in the world. The pyramid is shaped so perfectly that it's hard to believe it's not manmade!

Hiking the pyramid is only recommended for the fit and healthy, as 922 metres of steep trail will take you to the top. Because of the warm weather, it is advisable to leave early in the morning. Expect to spend around 3-4 hours for a return trip, and probably a bit more if you are walking with kids. Ensure that you are carrying enough water. The vegetation of the mountain is quite heavy and you will have to walk on rocks at times, so be careful not to slip during or soon after rain.

Once you reach the top, all the effort will feel worthwhile when you see the spectacular 360-degree panorama.

Fanatical hikers can compete in the 'Pyramid Race'. Held every August, the race sees hundreds of crazy fit people run up the hill and back again. If you are unsure of your ability, you can also watch. The winner of the race is usually well rewarded.

Wooroonooran National Park is one of many very scenic places in the Wet Tropics World Heritage area, and features both lowland and upland rainforests. More than 500 rainforest trees occur here, including blackbean, milky pine, water gum and red tulip oak. Many species of wildlife also live in this part of the park, including the tiny musky rat-kangaroo, double-eyed fig-parrot, and chowchilla.

Here are the highlights of the Wooroonooran National Park:

 

At the base of Mt Bartle Frere, the waters of Josephine Creek tumble over granite boulders, forming the picturesque Josephine Falls. Take a 30 minute walk to the waterfalls and discover a mesophyll vine forest, the most complex rainforest type in Australia. Listen to the singing birds and watch for colourful king parrots. The viewing platform offers an excellent opportunity to take photos of the scenery.

How or whether the Noongyanbudda Ngadjon-jii Aboriginal people used Josephine Falls remains a mystery. However, it is known that early European settlers visited and enjoyed this area, and people continue to do so today.

Walk to the summit of Queensland's highest peak (1662 metres) and enjoy spectacular views extending from the Coral Sea to the Tablelands. The whole trail can only be completed by fit and well prepared bushwalkers!

Stop by Devil's Pool, where the gentle waters become a deadly fall. This is the setting of Yidiny Aboriginal legend that tells a sad tale of forbidden love.

Palmerston is one of the most accessible parts of this scenic National Park. Visit the ancient rainforest, and stop at Crawford's Lookout for views down the North Johnstone River gorge. You can take a steep winding trail to get closer to the wild river. You might even witness a daring group of rafters.

Palmerston offers several tracks to many waterfalls. Have a look at Nandroya, Tchupala and Wallicher Falls and relax by the creek at Goolagan's picnic area. Don't forget to look for the tiny musky rat-kangaroo, double-eyed fig-parrot, and chowchilla.

Anecdote:
The indigenous Wari and Dulgubara people who lived in and near the Palmerston area have a special connection to this place. In 1882, explorer and bushman Christie Palmerston walked from Innisfail to Herberton with Aboriginal guides in 12 days - an incredible feat for the time. The highway follows the route he took and the park section and highway are named in his memory.

Picturesque waterfalls, lush rainforest, crystal clear creeks and panoramic views feature in this 130km network of walking trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The Jirrbal and Ma:mu Aboriginal people are the traditional owners of the Misty Mountains, and several of the walking tracks follow the ridgelines traditionally used by these peoples to connect 'yabulmbara', the coastal plain, to 'gambilbara', the rocky country of the tablelands.

Highlights of the Misty Mountains include stunning views of Elizabeth Grant Falls and Cannabullen Falls. Enjoy a trek to the Walter's Waterhole, where a series of waterfalls drops into the wide, calm pools of Koolmoon Creek. The Millaa Millaa area features isolated pockets of bunya pines - relics of the 'dinosaur' conifers - and unique king ferns, epiphytes and giant strangler fig trees.

Eubenangee Swamp National Park is one of the most important wetland areas between Ingham and Cooktown. Jump on a 1km track, explore the wetland along the edge of the Alice River, and see a number of rare plant species. Spot assorted birdlife, like jabiru, herons, egrets, spoonbills and ducks, in the swamp.

Still on the walking track, rise to the top of a grassy hill and admire Mt Bartle Frere, Queensland's highest mountain.

Caution: Beware of estuarine crocodiles in the waterways. Never swim or wade through the water. Always stay on the boardwalks.

Climb the 4km rainforest circuit walk to Bicton Hill's summit. The rainforest canopy is dominated by swamp mahogany and brush box, set among Alexander palms, epiphytes and buttressed tress.

The area is a great place for wildlife watching. Look for echidnas, cassowaries, rainforest skinks and lace monitors (lizards) along the track. In summer months you can also see long-tailed buff-breasted paradise kingfishers nesting in termite mounds. At night, go spotlighting for striped possums feeding on beetle larvae, flowers, fruit or the honey of native bees. And from May to June, watch giant white-tailed rats feeding on the red seeds of the palm cycad.

Clump Mountain National Park is the traditional land of the Dyiru Aboriginal people. The Dyiru used the rainforest plants of nearby Bingil Bay to make fish nets, shelters, tools, weapons and medicines.

Take a walk through coastal rainforest, open forests and woodland before eventually reaching the beach. Stop for lunch or a barbecue at the picnic area on the foreshore at Rockingham Bay.

Here, much of the wildlife is nocturnal, but keep your eyes open for birds and reptiles. Orioles, sunbirds, black butcherbirds and honeyeaters are commonly seen. Watch for nesting mounds of orange-footed scrubfowls along the edge of the walking tracks. And observe small, colourful mangrove crabs emerging from below the boardwalks. You might even catch a glimpse of crocodiles, as estuarine crocodiles reign in the creek of the park. (So take care to stay on the walking tracks, don't cross the creek and of course don't swim!)

Edmund Kennedy National Park is also home to a highly endangered possum: the mahogany glider. For more than 100 years the mahogany glider was thought to be extinct, before it was unexpectedly rediscovered 1989.

For those who wonder how the park was named, Edmund Kennedy was an explorer who headed inland from this area on an ill-fated expedition to Cape York. He was killed there by Aborigines just short of his appointment with a supply ship in 1848.

Discover picturesque waterfalls with a 30 metre drop, beautiful sculptured rocks and crystal clear rock pools. Murray Falls are among the prettiest in Queensland and have a somewhat magical atmosphere about them.

Walk to the top platform for great views, but stay on the track as it can be incredibly slippery. Here, you can spend hours bushwalking, swimming and relaxing. Excellent picnic facilities, including barbecues, are available.

Though not strictly part of the Cassowary Coast, the beautiful Blencoe Falls region - featured on the US version of Survivor - is still well worth exploring.

The Blencoe Falls are located in the Girringun National Park, about 84km north-west of Cardwell. They can only be reached on a dry-weather road, which takes you to the top of the falls and provides spectacular views of the Herbert River Gorge. Watch the water plunging 90m to a pool, before cascading a further 230m to the base of the gorge.

A stunning open forest dominates the escarpments of the falls and boasts an array of plants and animals. Look out for emus and whiptail wallabies. In the river and creeks, spot freshwater turtles peering through the surface.

Blencoe Falls is a sacred place and part of the traditional lands of the Warungnu Aboriginal people. You are more than welcome to visit as the Warungnu trust you will respect their site.

Well, if you want to travel to the setting of Survivor, you can only expect some form of safety rules! There is no reason to be alarmed, however - the following guidlines are more about common sense and precaution.

• It is recommended that you advise someone of your intentions before you go.
• Never jump or dive into water.
• Take care around cliffs, steep slopes and rock faces along tracks and at lookouts.
• Supervise children closely.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat and a long-sleeved shirt, even on overcast days.
• Carry adequate drinking water. Be sure to carry enough water for a day's walk.
• Treat water collected from creeks and rivers.
• Estuarine crocodiles live in the Herbert River Gorge. Please remember to be croc wise in croc country.
• Pack a basic first aid kit including a space blanket. Know how to use it.
• Take adequate clothing to accommodate all temperature extremes. Be prepared for all weather conditions, including rain.
• Wear sturdy, reliable footwear
• Carry insect repellent.
• Take at least one form of communication equipment. Be aware that mobile phone coverage is limited. In case of an emergency, if network access is available, dial 000 with a CDMA mobile phone or 112 with a normal digital mobile phone.
• Take rubbish bags and don't leave your rubbish behind.
• You can take your own firewood.

The following points offer essential information to anyone planning to visit Far North Queensland's National parks. Please note that the list is just a guideline and is not exhaustive.

• Carry at least one form of communication equipment. Be aware that mobile phone coverage is limited. In case of an emergency, if network access is available, dial 000 with a CDMA mobile phone or 112 with a normal digital mobile phone.
• Never walk alone.
• Always stay on the track. Do not cut corners or create new tracks.
• Never jump or dive into water.
• Take care around steep slopes and rock faces along the track, and at lookouts.
• Supervise children closely.
• Carry adequate drinking water. Treat water collected from creeks.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved shirt, even on overcast days.
• Wear insect repellent, clothing and shoes to protect yourself from stings, scratches and bites.
• Be prepared for very cold and wet conditions and wear adequate clothing.
• Wear sturdy, reliable footwear.
• Stinging trees are found alongside some of the tracks. Never touch this plant as it may result in a painful sting.
• Littering in the National Park is prohibited, as litter is unsightly and harmful to wildlife. Please take your rubbish with you. Remember that cigarette butts are rubbish too and can contaminate streams or start bushfires.
• Everything in the parks, living or dead, is protected. Please leave everything as you found it and do not disturb native plants or animals.
• Do not chase or intentionally scare the native wildlife.
• Feeding of wildlife is prohibited as it can affect the health of animals and alter the natural population balance. Food scraps can contaminate streams.
• Avoid crocodiles. Do not wade or swim in the creeks and never try to cross them at high tide.
• Stay out of coastal waters from October to May. Dangerous jellyfish are present during this time. In case of stings, vinegar should be applied immediately and medical help sought urgently.