Bullocky Toms Creek/Bambaroo Track Hike

Thomas Edward Andrews, born in 1848 in Wicklow, Ireland, was known as “Bullocky Tom”. He was a mail contractor in 1887, then a butcher and fresh meat packer. Bullocky Tom realised the potential of numerous prospectors heading to the rich alluvial tin fields near Mount Spec, Hidden Valley and Kangaroo Hills. He cut a pack track up the southern slopes of Mount Leach from his property at the junction of Big and Little Saltwater Creeks (now known as Crystal Creeks) to the top of the Paluma Range. “Bullocky Tom” became a figure of local folklore and his legacy lives on through the numerous points of interest named after him in the Paluma Range National Park, one of which is Bullocky Tom’s Track which the Townsville Hike and Explore Group visits regularly, the other “Bullocky Tom’s” Creek, one of the lesser known and visited creek lines in the National Park.

Townsville Hike and Explore loves a good creek line hiking, exploring and rock-hopping adventure all year round, and on a warm and humid Saturday in February, that’s exactly what we were in for!

This adventure is a “Townsville Hike and Explore First” as this hike has not been documented in its entirety, and as 2020 progresses, keep an eye out for similar group adventures and hikes that have not been documented previously as we hike and explore new areas and design trails and adventures in remote and rarely visited locations.

Walking in to the creek line from the starting point, I was eager to see the water level after the recent deluge and had been told that the creek may be too high to safely make our way into the upper reaches. We were pleasantly surprised to see a good flow in the creek; however, the level had clearly dropped considerably in the recent days so we set off!

I’m a sucker for a beautiful creek line and let me assure you, Bullocky Tom’s Creek is one of the best.