Crystal Creek
Encyclopedia
Crystal Creek is a picturesque creek that runs for 17.5 km, beginning just below Paluma
, Queensland
, flowing through the township of Mutarnee
and emptying into the Coral Sea
. It forms part of the Paluma Range National Park
and is known for its division into two popular tourist destinations, namely Little Crystal Creek and Big Crystal Creek.
Little Crystal Creek is situated approximately two thirds of the way along Mt Spec Road, heading towards the village of Paluma. This location consists of a number of small crystal clear swimming holes and waterfalls, as well as the Little Crystal Creek Bridge
, an historical arch bridge of which construction began in 1932. Facilities here include a wheelchair accessible picnic area, barbecues and toilets.
Big Crystal Creek is located a few kilometres downstream from Little Crystal Creek, at the end of Spiegelhauer Road. Facilities at Big Crystal Creek also include a wheelchair accessible picnic area, barbecues, toilets, as well as a designated camping ground. The most popular of the swimming holes at Big Crystal Creek is Paradise Waterhole, which is substantially larger than that of the Little Crystal Creek waterholes, and can be accessed by a short walk from the picnic area along a bush track. Further down the road from the picnic area, the Big Crystal Creek Rockslides can be found, which is another popular swimming destination known for its natural waterslide formed by mossy rocks.
Paluma, Queensland
Paluma is a township of around 25 permanent residents in the Mount Spec ranges of Townsville's heritage-listed Wet Tropics. Paluma developed from a mining and forestry background. The first people to arrive here were tin prospectors in the 1870s after an abundance of tin in the mountains. The area...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, flowing through the township of Mutarnee
Mutarnee, Queensland
Mutarnee is a small rural/residential township approximately 67 kilometres north-east of Townsville, Queensland, Australia and 44 kilometres south-east of Ingham...
and emptying into the Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
. It forms part of the Paluma Range National Park
Paluma Range National Park
Paluma Range is a national park located between Ingham and Townsville, in north Queensland, Australia. The park is 1188 km north of Brisbane. The park contains the Jourama Falls, Crystal Creek and Lake Paluma...
and is known for its division into two popular tourist destinations, namely Little Crystal Creek and Big Crystal Creek.
Little Crystal Creek is situated approximately two thirds of the way along Mt Spec Road, heading towards the village of Paluma. This location consists of a number of small crystal clear swimming holes and waterfalls, as well as the Little Crystal Creek Bridge
Little Crystal Creek Bridge
The Little Crystal Creek Bridge is an arch bridge over Little Crystal Creek, on Mount Spec Road to Paluma, North Queensland, Australia. The bridge situated 61 km north of Townsville provides access to the Paluma Range National Park....
, an historical arch bridge of which construction began in 1932. Facilities here include a wheelchair accessible picnic area, barbecues and toilets.
Big Crystal Creek is located a few kilometres downstream from Little Crystal Creek, at the end of Spiegelhauer Road. Facilities at Big Crystal Creek also include a wheelchair accessible picnic area, barbecues, toilets, as well as a designated camping ground. The most popular of the swimming holes at Big Crystal Creek is Paradise Waterhole, which is substantially larger than that of the Little Crystal Creek waterholes, and can be accessed by a short walk from the picnic area along a bush track. Further down the road from the picnic area, the Big Crystal Creek Rockslides can be found, which is another popular swimming destination known for its natural waterslide formed by mossy rocks.