Paluma Photo Tour

$399.00

Paluma Range National Park, located in the lush Wet Tropics of Queensland, offers a perfect combination of stunning rainforests, pristine waterfalls, scenic lookouts, and tranquil creeks, making it an ideal location for nature and landscape photography. This photo tour will guide you through the park’s most photogenic spots while providing tips and tricks to enhance your photography skills.

Categories: Central Queensland Photo Tours, North Queensland Photo Tours

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This two-day photo tour will allow you to experience and capture Paluma’s natural beauty through your lens, from its hidden waterfalls to its panoramic lookouts. Each location offers unique photographic opportunities, ensuring that you leave with a collection of stunning images.

Nestled within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of North Queensland, Paluma National Park is a hidden gem offering a diverse range of photography opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Spanning tropical rainforests, tranquil creeks, dramatic waterfalls, and scenic lookouts, the park is an oasis of natural beauty that beckons photographers to explore its rich landscapes and wildlife.

Situated approximately an hour’s drive north of Townsville, Paluma National Park is divided into two sections: the Paluma Range and Crystal Creek. Both areas provide unique backdrops for landscape, macro, and wildlife photography. The park’s high elevation offers cooler temperatures and often shrouds the rainforest in mist, creating an ethereal atmosphere perfect for moody and dramatic shots.

As you ascend the winding roads into the park, you’ll notice the shift from dry eucalypt woodlands to lush tropical rainforests. This transition opens up a world of photographic opportunities—everything from capturing wide vistas over coastal plains to focusing on the intricate details of the rainforest floor.

Key Features of Paluma National Park:

Waterfalls and Creeks:

Paluma is renowned for its cascading waterfalls and crystal-clear creeks, which are perfect for long-exposure photography. Spots like Little Crystal Creek, Birthday Creek Falls, and the lesser-known Cloudy Creek Falls allow photographers to experiment with the dynamics of flowing water. These locations are often framed by thick ferns, moss-covered rocks, and overhanging trees, giving your photos a true rainforest feel. The historic stone bridge over Little Crystal Creek also adds an element of human history to your shots, blending man-made architecture with natural beauty.

Lookouts and Panoramic Views:

For those interested in landscape photography, the park’s lookouts provide breathtaking vistas. The McClelland’s Lookout offers a commanding view of the rainforest canopy that stretches to the coast, with dramatic cloud formations often hanging over the horizon. On clear days, you can capture sweeping shots of the coastline, islands, and distant mountain ranges. Early morning and late afternoon are ideal times to shoot, as the light enhances the depth and detail of the landscape.

Paluma Dam:

One of the park’s more tranquil spots, Paluma Dam is a serene location perfect for reflective photography. The still waters mirror the surrounding rainforest, creating stunning compositions with a balance of symmetry and contrast. Here, photographers can also capture wildlife, including birds, as the dam attracts a variety of species. Sunrise and sunset provide the best lighting conditions for this location, with golden tones reflecting off the water.

Rainforest Trails:

The dense, evergreen rainforests in Paluma National Park are a haven for macro photography. The forest floor is alive with small details—vibrant fungi, colorful insects, and dew-covered leaves—that allow photographers to zoom in and capture the intricate beauty of the rainforest ecosystem. The walking trails, like the Paluma Rainforest Walk and the Witts Lookout Track, meander through these lush environments, offering countless opportunities to capture everything from wide forest scenes to close-up shots of flora and fauna.

Wildlife and Birdlife:

Paluma is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 200 species recorded in the area. Bird photographers will find opportunities to capture shots of bowerbirds, riflebirds, kingfishers, and rainbow lorikeets, among others. The dense rainforest is also home to mammals like tree kangaroos and possums, which can be spotted during early morning or dusk, offering unique wildlife photography opportunities.

Why Paluma National Park is Ideal for Photography:

Diverse Landscapes: The park’s variety of environments—from waterfalls and creeks to rainforests and mountain lookouts—provides an incredible range of subjects to photograph.
Accessible Photo Spots: Many of the park’s key locations are easily accessible via short hikes, allowing photographers to cover multiple sites in a single day.
Changing Light Conditions: The park’s misty mornings, vibrant midday light, and soft evening glow offer dynamic lighting conditions that enhance the drama and mood of your images.
Wildlife and Plant Life: Paluma’s rich biodiversity allows photographers to capture not only the grand vistas but also the smaller, intimate details of nature.

Tour Objectives:

The goal of this photography tour is to immerse photographers in the natural beauty of Paluma, offering guidance and support to improve their skills while capturing the park’s most photogenic locations. From perfecting long-exposure shots of waterfalls to learning how to frame panoramic vistas, this tour provides a comprehensive photography experience in one of Queensland’s most picturesque settings.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to explore new techniques or an experienced photographer seeking fresh inspiration, Paluma National Park promises to deliver an unforgettable photographic adventure.

If you are interested in attending this 2 day/1 night photo tour to Paluma National Park, but can’t make it along to the set tour date, please send me a message so I can keep you up to date with all the information about upcoming Cape Hillsborough photo tours

Tour Details

Tour Dates

Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 November 2024

Itinerary

Day 1: Waterfalls and Rainforest Photography

7:00 AM – Departure from Townsville

Begin your journey from Townsville, taking the Bruce Highway north towards Paluma National Park. It’s roughly a 1.5-hour drive (90 km), with scenic views along the way as you leave the dry tropics and head towards the lush rainforest.

8:30 AM – Arrive at Little Crystal Creek

Photography Focus: Long-exposure waterfall shots, reflections, and wide-angle compositions of the iconic stone bridge.
Start the day with a visit to Little Crystal Creek, one of the park’s most photographed spots. The old stone bridge spanning the creek makes for a beautiful scene, with crystal-clear water cascading over smooth rocks. Arrive early to take advantage of the soft morning light.
Tips: Use a tripod for long-exposure shots and neutral density (ND) filters to achieve silky smooth water effects. Capture both the waterfall and bridge in your compositions.

11:00 AM – Drive to McClelland’s Lookout

Photography Focus: Wide landscape panoramas and distant coastline views.
Take the winding road up to McClelland’s Lookout, which offers a sweeping view of the rainforest canopy stretching out to the distant coast and islands. This lookout is an excellent spot for landscape photography.
Tips: Use a wide-angle lens and experiment with panoramic shots to capture the full scale of the vista. Consider using a polarizing filter to enhance the sky and contrast in your images.

1:00 PM – Lunch at Paluma Village

Photography Focus: Village scenes and birdlife.
Stop at the quaint Paluma Village for a relaxed lunch. You can explore the village and take photos of its rustic charm, including old cottages and tropical plants.
Tips: Capture candid street photography-style shots or focus on birdlife, as the village is home to many tropical bird species. A telephoto lens will be handy for this.

2:30 PM – Birthday Creek Falls

Photography Focus: Waterfalls framed by lush greenery.
After lunch, head to Birthday Creek Falls, a hidden gem tucked away within the rainforest. This waterfall is ideal for close-up waterfall photography and experimenting with different compositions.
Tips: Use different shutter speeds to capture the motion of the water, and explore different angles by getting close to the water for intimate, detailed shots.

3:30 PM – Paluma Rainforest Walk

Photography Focus: Macro photography of rainforest flora, fungi, and insects.
Take a short rainforest walk around Paluma, exploring the lush undergrowth and unique plant life. This is a perfect opportunity to focus on macro photography.
Tips: Bring a macro lens or zoom in on intricate details like fern leaves, mushrooms, and moss. Look for interesting light filtering through the canopy.

5:00 PM – Check-In and Rest at Accommodation

Photography Focus: Evening wildlife and dusk shots.
Settle in at one of the nearby guesthouses or eco-lodges within Paluma Village. You’ll have some time to relax before heading out for an evening photography session.
Tips: Keep your camera ready for wildlife and birdlife, especially at dusk. Early evening is a good time to spot tree kangaroos and other nocturnal creatures.

Day 2: Paluma Dam and Lookouts

6:00 AM – Sunrise Photography at Paluma Dam

Photography Focus: Reflections, landscape compositions, and early morning mist.
Start the day early with a visit to Paluma Dam. The calm waters are perfect for capturing beautiful reflection shots as the first light of the day illuminates the landscape.
Tips: Use a tripod to get sharp, clear reflections of the surrounding rainforest. Early morning mist rising from the water will add an ethereal quality to your shots.

8:00 AM – Breakfast in Paluma Village

Enjoy breakfast in Paluma Village, allowing some downtime to review your morning shots and prepare for the rest of the day.

9:30 AM – Cloudy Creek Falls

Photography Focus: Cascading water, rainforest surroundings, and long-exposure photography.
After breakfast, venture out to the secluded Cloudy Creek Falls. This spot is lesser-known, which means you’ll likely have the area to yourself to explore and take photographs of the falls in peace.
Tips: Use wide-angle lenses to capture the full cascade and play with different exposure settings to emphasize the movement of the water.

11:30 AM – Witts Lookout Track

Photography Focus: Panoramic rainforest views, close-ups of plants and wildlife.
After visiting Cloudy Creek, hike up the Witts Lookout Track. The hike offers incredible views of the Paluma Range and allows you to photograph the lush rainforest from above.
Tips: Capture wide shots of the landscape, but also look for interesting foreground elements like twisted vines or vibrant tropical plants to include in your compositions.

1:30 PM – Lunch and Relaxation at Paluma Village

Return to Paluma Village for lunch and enjoy some free time to explore or rest.

3:00 PM – Departure to Townsville via Big Crystal Creek

Photography Focus: Creek-side landscapes and swimming holes.
On your way back to Townsville, stop by Big Crystal Creek, where you can take final landscape shots of the flowing water and serene natural pools.
Tips: This spot is also popular for a swim, so you might want to include candid shots of swimmers or focus on the contrast between the smooth rocks and flowing water.

5:00 PM – Return to Townsville

Arrive back in Townsville by early evening, having completed a full two-day photography adventure in Paluma National Park.

Please note that the itinerary may change depending on different factors such as weather etc

Facilities

Paluma has all the necessary facilities you require including beds, kitchen, shower and toilet facilities, cafe for food etc

Departure Times And Location

We will be meeting at the BP service station at Deeragun from 7:00am and arrive at Paluma k at approximately 12:00pm

Need To Know

Accommodation: 1 night in shared accommodation (2 people per bungalow). Cost per person is twin share. There is a surcharge for single accommodation in a double bed of $125 per night

Our Paluma photo tour provides delicious and nutritious food and can cater for the following dietary requirements:

Gluten-free
Dairy-free
Vegetarian
Vegan

Please advise in the comments section at check out or call our sales team on 0420 275 575, no later than 48 hour prior departure and where possible we will endeavor to meet your request.

For any further dietary preferences or food allergies, you’re welcome to bring your own food, in addition to what is supplied.

Travelling with children and infants

Infants ( 0-4 years old) travel free of charge and must be included in the booking. Please note children must be supervised by at one of their parents at all times.

Parking

Onsite car parking is free at the venues

If you are unsure or you need further assistance, please contact our sales team on 0420 275 575.

What To Bring

refillable water bottle
camera gear, including spare batteries and tripod, wide angle lenses and filters
appropriate clothing (hat, polarized sunglasses, light jacket/jumper during winter months)
reef safe sunscreen

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the stay at Paaluma National Park?

The photo tour to Paluma is a 2 day/1 night tour

What do I bring?

We recommend you bring

a refillable water bottle
camera gear, including spare batteries and tripod, wide angle lenses and filters
appropriate clothing (hat, polarized sunglasses, light jacket/jumper during winter months)
reef safe sunscreen
a small amount of cash for purchases not included in the tour

What food is included?

All meals are included from dinner on Saturday evening when we arrive at Paluma until lunch on Sunday for each guest. If you have food allergies or specific dietary requirements, please advise me at least 48 hours prior to departure and where possible I will endeavour to meet your request

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Access to most areas visited on the photo tour are wheelchair accessible.

What else is included in the cost?

Overnight accommodation

I don’t have a vehicle to get to Paluma. Can I get a lift there?

Please let us know in advance if you don’t have a way to get to Paluma National Park and we will organise transport for you. Please remember to chip in for petrol with your driver

Bookings and Cancellations

1. Cancellation by the Traveller

If you cancel your booking the following fees apply:

Between 14 days and 48 hours before departure: 20% of total cost
Between 24 hours and 48 hours before departure: 50% of total cost
Within 24 hours of departure: 100% of total cost

A ‘no show’ will incur 100% penalty. No refunds are given on unused tickets.

2. Booking changes

PhotoTours Australia will accept travel date changes or changes to another PhotoTours Australia North Queensland Tour (subject to availability) up to 48 hours before departure for a $20 p/person administration fee – any difference in tour price is payable by the passenger. Please note cancellation fees apply for any changes within 48 hours – please refer to the above Cancellation Policy.

4. Change of Itinerary

Tours and itineraries are subject to prevailing weather conditions including tides, wind, swell and rain. The leader will determine the most appropriate course on the day of travel.

5. Travel Insurance

Holiday plans can be disrupted and cancellation fees can be costly. I highly recommend that you have your own travel insurance. Please note that Travel Insurance may not cover disruptions caused by mechanical breakdowns or adverse weather conditions.

Click here for a full list of PhotoTours Australia Terms and Conditions.