Barron Gorge National Park Tropical North Queensland

Douglas track passes through dense vegetation linking the coast with the tablelands. Photo credit: © HolidayTravelTV.com

Barron Falls, Jodie Cross © Queensland Government

Douglas track from Kamerunga to Speewah

This undulating historic track through dense vegetation links Kamerunga on the coast with Speewah on the tablelands.

Journey type: Walk
Distance: 8.5km one way one way A path where the start point is different to the finish point
Time suggested: Allow 3hr walking time
Grade: Moderate (walk)

Accessible by

Conventional vehicle

Journey facilities

Lookout (natural)
Walking

These track notes refer to sections of tracks between the numbered map locations indicated on the Barron Gorge National Park map (PDF, 596.2KB) .

Map location 1 to 2

From the Stoney Creek/Douglas trailhead, the first section of track climbs steadily through rainforest, joining an historic railway construction track that traverses the face of Stoney Creek Gorge up to the rail crossing. Along the way, look for native nutmeg Myristica insipida with two-toned leaves and brown oval seeds which, when fresh, are enmeshed in a red aril, and bird’s nest ferns Asplenium nidus growing among the moist rocky outcrops.

A large strangler fig Ficus sp. embracing an impressive granite boulder and its victim alongside, a milky pine Alstonia scholaris, marks the location of an historic railway construction camp. Remains of stone-pitched walls and old mango trees indicate the main camp sites along this section of the track.

Further on, tall wattles Acacia spp. mark the edge of the rainforest and several large mango trees indicate the site of another historic railway construction camp. The forest then opens up—large pink bloodwoods Corymbia intermedia and red mahoganies Eucalyptus pellita form a high canopy with a sparse rainforest understorey. Pink bloodwoods have distinctive spotted, barrel- or urn-shaped seed capsules, often found scattered along the track. The track winds up a steep switchback towards the ridge top and another railway camp site indicated by a single mango tree. Enjoy views of the coast, Lake Placid and the Barron River along the way.

The track crosses the Kuranda–Cairns railway line on an overpass. The distinctive landmark of Red Bluff can be seen above the railway line. Note the change in soil to red clay. In 1888 during the construction of the railway line, a huge navvy camp boasting three hotels was located between here and Glacier Rock. Much of the track between the railway line and Red Bluff is unstable so take care through this area. The track ascends steeply via a series of stairs and switchbacks then continues underneath the power lines to the junction of the McDonald and Douglas tracks (2). This section of track provides views to the east over Cairns and the Barron River delta and to the west over the rainforest-clad Barron River gorge.

Option – connect to McDonald track (2 to 12)

From (2), continue along Douglas track to Speewah camping area (13), or follow McDonald track to Wrights lookout (12).

Map location 2 to 3

The track now descends into multi-layered rainforest. As you enter the forest, notice the woody oval-shaped seeds of the Kuranda quandong Elaeocarpus bancroftii on the ground. Many seeds contain holes made by the white-tailed rat feeding on the enclosed seed. As the track undulates through the rainforest, look for two types of lawyer cane—the vicious hairy Mary Calamus radicalis with hairy spines and Calamus moti with large yellow-green spines.

Further along where the forest opens out, she-oaks Casuarina sp. with needle-like leaves and large-fruited red mahoganies Eucalyptus pellita are dominant. As the track nears the top of the hill, harder metamorphic rocks become more obvious. Stone-pitched remains of the original dray road can also be seen just before (3), the turn off to Glacier Rock (Bunda Bulurru).

Glacier Rock (Bunda Bulurru)

This short climb to the highest point on Douglas track is rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view of the coastal lowlands and surrounding ranges. Notice the quartz veins on the side of the rocks. This rock type is more resistant to erosion than the surrounding rocks so forms a high point in the landscape—Glacier Rock. Bunda Bulurru is a significant cultural site and was an important meeting place for the local Djabuganydji Bama. Take extreme care at this site and supervise children at all times to keep them away from the cliff edge.

Map location 3 to 4

From (3), the track again follows the original Douglas track. Stone retaining walls from the original formed dray track can be seen in places. Old draught horse shoes, picks and chain links have been found here. As the track descends, low woodland changes to patches of remnant wet eucalypt forest which quickly gives way to rainforest. Look for smooth green bark of the elegant cadagi trees Corymbia torelliana usually found growing on the margin of rainforest.

At the entrance to the gullies, the temperature drops. Look for the smooth, flaky bark of kauri pines Agathis robusta and whip vines Flagellaria indica with cane-like stems and curved tendrils at the leaf tips, used for climbing. The track crosses a large footbridge across a seasonal creek and continues to wind through rainforest. Young pandanus trees with long, radiating, serrated leaves grow in the wetter gullies. In the higher, slightly more exposed areas, large pink bloodwoods, eucalypts and wattles emerge above the rainforest canopy. After crossing several small creeks, the track winds through slightly undulating terrain. Look for climbing pandanus Freycinetia excelsa, with serrated, pencil-like leaves, scrambling over smaller trees.

Option

At (4), continue along Douglas track or turn left onto Gandal wandun track (4 to 8) to join Smith track. The Gandal wandun track is an easy, undulating 1.4km rainforest walk that links the Smith and Douglas tracks, providing shorter return walk options from both Kamerunga and Speewah trailheads.

Map location 4 to 5

The track continues through rainforest, undulating in places, and then runs along a creek bank before entering some deep gullies with dense rainforest and thick lawyer cane. Tall wattles emerge above the rainforest canopy on the higher ridges, regrowth from previous clearing for logging and grazing.

The track winds into rainforest with large buttressed trees, lawyer cane and pandanus. Look for large black bean trees Castanospermum australe with orange-red flowers and long, boat-shaped seed-pods littering the ground from March to November.

Map location 5 to 13

From (5), continue to Speewah Conservation Park (13) along Djina-Wu track.

Getting there and getting around

Barron Gorge National Park map (PDF, 596.2KB)

This walk starts from the car park at the end of Stoney Creek Road (the Stoney Creek trailhead) in the lower (coastal) section of Barron Gorge National Park.