Bushwalkers Explore St Helen’s Creek

Ken Fihelly. Photo supplied

‍

Last Sunday a small number of club members enjoyed an outing to St Helen’s Creek, situated about a 50 minute drive northwest of Mackay. This is a beautiful rain forest water course in a National Park, and within a few kms of Mt Dalrymple itself. 

‍
The creek has been visited many times over the decades by the Bushwalkers’ Club and offers several inviting swimming holes which are particularly popular during the summer months, but on this occasion the water was too cold for any of the participants to enjoy a dip.

‍

‍

However, there were lots of other attractions to be found in the rich rain forest lining the banks, including butterflies and birds such as forest kingfishers and cormorants, and small black snakes, as well as the remnants of a pineapple patch, and lots of convenient slab rocks to facilitate progress along the creek.  

‍

The walkers covered several kilometres before reaching the first junction after numerous creek crossings approximately every 500 metres. The walk was led by local resident and long-term member of the club, Kate Brunner.

This Sunday, current members of the club will be able to choose between climbing Mt Jukes with club president Peter Bennett leading the troops, or walking the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail,  starting out from Gargett, under the leadership of Mandy Nimmo.

‍
Future outings on offer include Cascade Creek, a spectacular waterfall in the Finch Hatton Gorge area, and Mt Ossa. To become involved, phone 0429 363 929.

‍

Contributed by Carole Weekes

‍