Native Species

Bald Rock Trail is accessed by entering the Town Common Environmental Park and driving to the farthest car park at the foot of Bald Rock.  From there, the trail winds up 1.5 kms to the peak of Mt Marlow where panoramic views of the Town Common and the coastline of Cape Cleveland may be seen.

The trail passes through a variety of habitats including open woodland and vine thickets on the hill slopes.  The following list is representative of the native species that may be found along the way, and those that are underlined will link to full descriptions 

 Bald Rock Trail

Mt Stuart

Just 10kms from the Townsville CBD Mt Stuart rises to 584 metres, and after Castle Hill is easily Townsville's most prominent landmark.  Although the entire area is a Military Training Area, access to the peak is gained from the Flinders Highway. 

(Details here)

Paluma

Paluma Range National Park is on the southern most tip of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA). Proclaimed in 1988, the WTWHA extends for about 450km between Cooktown and Townsville, and consists of nearly 900,000ha, which is primarily tropical rainforest. 

The WTWHA meets all four natural criteria for World Heritage listing. These criteria recognise the area’s exceptional natural beauty and the importance of its biological diversity and evolutionary history, including habitats for numerous threatened species. The WTWHA also has cultural significance for Aboriginal people who have traditional links with the area and its surrounds.

Burra Range

The Burra Range is a white sandstone formation which rises between Pentland and Torrens Creek, some 270 kms south-west of Townsville, on the Flinders Highway.  The National Park which straddles the highway derives its name from the pure white colouring of the sandstone, and encloses over 100,000 hectares.

Botanically, the Burra Range is one of the most diverse areas of inland Queensland, and during the winter months the park is transformed by a magnificent display of native flowers. Further details about the park, and access to it, can be found here:

White Mountains National Park

SGAP Townsville have had a long association with the area having organised trips since the 1970's, when the area was first being described by Botanists from JCU.