Paluma Range National Park, Nature reserve in Queensland, Australia
Paluma Range National Park is a nature reserve in northern Queensland featuring dense rainforest and diverse habitats across its protected area. The landscape ranges from Mount Spec to the Jourama Falls, offering multiple walking trails and viewpoints for exploration.
The region received its name from HMS Paluma, a British naval vessel that mapped the northern Queensland coast during the 1880s and 1890s. This naming reflects the period of European exploration and surveying of Australia's tropical regions.
Indigenous peoples have long used this land for hunting and gathering, leaving traces of their presence throughout the region. Their connections to these forests remain visible in how the landscape has been shaped and maintained over generations.
The park is easily accessible within an hour's drive north of Townsville and features multiple walking trails with varying difficulty levels and picnic areas. Visit during the dry season for the easiest walking conditions and clearest views through the forest.
The park shelters rare bird species including the southern cassowary, a large flightless bird that stands out from other forest inhabitants. It is recognized internationally as an Important Bird Area due to the concentration of endemic species found here.
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