Tableland Trails and Destinations
K O O M B O O L O O M B A
by Paul Curtis
W
hile there may be way too many
o’s in Koombooloomba, there are
also many ooh’s to be experienced by the
visitor wanting to explore this spectacular
area.
My first visit was in 1979 and it hasn't
changed much over the years. Some
of the wonderful places are no longer
accessible due to cyclones and safety
concerns, but there is still so much to see.
There are three main visitor nodes in
the Koombooloomba area. After driving
south along Tully Falls Road down the
bitumen ‘tunnel’ from Ravenshoe and
Koombooloomba Dam – like Sydney Harbour but without the houses and at an altitude of 746m.
Photo: Paul Curtis
you to a largely forgotten lookout over
the river and spillway, but you will have
to look around to find the short trail. If
you veer right as you come in, you end up
at the day-use and camping areas. There
are toilets and camping facilities at the
main grounds and boat access to the dam.
There is also a rougher bush-camping
area with no facilities. Book your permits
in advance and please keep the bush-
camping area tidy.
through beautiful high altitude rainforest,
you arrive at the first stop of Tully Gorge
Lookout. Tully Falls had been thundering
in late March—unfortunately I missed it—
but the view from the excellent lookout is
always stunning. The more adventurous
can walk a few hundred metres along
the track down to the river and rock-hop
to near the edge of the falls (only when
the rocks are dry) and I don't think there
is a more spectacular scene in North
Queensland.
Getting to Koombooloomba is a bit of a
drive so it is much quieter than the similar
Danbulla/Tinaroo visitor experience and
often no one there during the week. If you
like canoeing it's wonderful spot. If a little
4WD exploring is your thing, then there
are plenty of opportunities around the
area. The dam is full at the moment so it's
a good time to get down there. For much
more information on the area pick up a
copy of my book The Traveller's Guide to
North Queensland or
e
come on a tour!
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Further along the Tully Falls Road is the
next stop at the weir. This is where the
Tully River is turned off and the water
diverted to the hydro scheme. You're not
allowed to drive across the weir anymore
but there is some lovely river scenery to
be enjoyed.
Continue along the main road you reach
Koombooloomba Dam, the spillway and
camping and day-use areas. Veering left,
the road takes you to the crossing below
the spillway where you can look out over
the dam and dam wall. Water is always
being released for the hydro system (and
Tully River rafters) so the river scenery
here is usually spectacular. A few hundred
metres before you get to the river, there
are three mostly overgrown road tracks
heading off to the left that take you to
various points downstream. The last
turn-off before the river crossing brings
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View down the gorge from the top of the falls in
normal dry conditions. Photo: Paul Curtis
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Guide book available at
Malanda, Yungaburra
and Atherton Visitor
Information Centres,
Tableland Books in
Atherton, and Tolga
Woodworks.
www.nqwildscapes.com
June 2018 What’s On & Where To Go 11