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Major city · Australia

Paluma

Go for one night, or as a half-day cool-off from Townsville: the village sits at about 1,000 m, 60 km (37 mi) north, roughly 1 h 15 min by car.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Paluma is a tiny Wet Tropics village on the Mount Spec range, about 1,000 m above sea level and 60 km north of Townsville. People come for the cool air, rainforest walks, Little Crystal Creek and the birdlife. There is very little here beyond a handful of places to sleep and eat, so one night or a day trip covers it.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–Sep (drier, cooler)
avoid Jan–Mar (wet season; the range road can be cut by rain)
Airport
TSV
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Paluma000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Paluma, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedBackpacker dorm bed, a night, per personA$40 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedSelf-contained unit or cottage, a night, per roomA$190 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedSelf-contained unit or cottage, a night, per roomA$320 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$80 (≈ US$55) · Mid A$150 (≈ US$100) · High A$260 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Little Crystal Creek gorge and swimming holesPaluma DamRainforest and historical town walksPaluma Important Bird AreaPaluma Pottery
Airports
TSV Townsville Airport (Drive time to Paluma check; hire a car in Townsville, public transport up the range check.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    27°C (81°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    26°C (79°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    25°C (77°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  5. May

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    24°C (75°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    26°C (79°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    27°C (81°F)

Best: Apr–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (27°C (81°F)), coolest Jul (10°C (50°F) low), wettest Jan (16 rain days), driest Jul (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Paluma: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

16 rd

Feb

26°C (79°F)

18°C (64°F)

16 rd

Mar

25°C (77°F)

17°C (63°F)

15 rd

Apr

23°C (73°F)

15°C (59°F)

12 rd

May

21°C (70°F)

13°C (55°F)

10 rd

Jun

19°C (66°F)

11°C (52°F)

8 rd

Jul

18°C (64°F)

10°C (50°F)

7 rd

Aug

20°C (68°F)

11°C (52°F)

7 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

13°C (55°F)

7 rd

Oct

24°C (75°F)

15°C (59°F)

9 rd

Nov

26°C (79°F)

17°C (63°F)

11 rd

Dec

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

14 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Car is the practical way in: from the Bruce Highway up the bitumen Mount Spec road. Public transport to Paluma: check. Once in the village you can walk to the walks and the creek, but Little Crystal Creek, the dam and Hidden Valley all need the car.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Little Crystal Creek

go

Door to door: Drive time check

Drive down the Mount Spec road from the village

Waterfalls and pools with toilets and change rooms; go early, the car park is small.

Paluma Dam

go

Door to door: Drive time check

Drive south of the village on the dam road

Picnic and birdwatching spot; the last stretch is unsealed.

Townsville

go

Door to door: Drive time check

Mount Spec road to the Bruce Highway, then south

The practical base for flights, car hire and supplies.

Hidden Valley Cabins

overnight

Door to door: Drive time check

Drive north past Paluma

Cabins, a bar and mountain-bike trails; worth a night if you want more bush.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Paluma village

The only real base: a few units, cottages and a lodge within walking distance of the walks.

Hidden Valley

About 25 km (16 mi) further on, cabins in bush; needs a car for everything.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$80–130 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)
Mid
A$130–220 (≈ US$90–150) excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)
High
A$220 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed (2026 estimate, check)

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Self-contained unit or cottage1 × 1 night × A$190A$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$150A$300
Fuel, Townsville return (about 130 km)1 × A$35 · checkA$35
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Café or pub meal2 × A$30 · checkA$60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$64
Trip total≈ A$350 per person per day, bed includedA$699≈ US$500

check

2026 estimate in Australian dollars, check; fuel and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Pub or café mainA$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Fuel, per litre (Townsville)checkA$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2)
Pottery from Paluma PotterycheckA$20–120 (≈ US$14–80)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are the winding range road, wet-season landslides, cold and fast-rising creek water, and having no fuel or phone signal. Tell someone your plan before driving up.
  • Fuel, supermarket and pharmacy in the village: check before you rely on them; fill up and shop in Townsville or Ingham.
  • Mobile coverage on the range road and in the village: check your network's map.
  • The Mount Spec road is winding; wet-season closures (landslides, fallen trees): check road conditions before you set off.
  • Creek and dam water is cold and can rise after rain; check conditions before swimming.
  • Book beds ahead: there are only a handful of rooms and they fill in the dry season and school holidays.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PalumaPaluma

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Embassy

No consulates in Paluma; the nearest are in Townsville, with embassies in Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Townsville → Paluma by car: about 60 km (37 mi), drive time check, public transport check
  • Little Crystal Creek from the village: drive time check
  • Fuel, Townsville return: about A$35 (≈ US$25) (check)

Say or show

  • Where's the creek? — Where is the creek?
  • Is the road open? — Is the road open?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Print this card: fuel, shops and phone signal in the village are all check.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Paluma. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Sep (drier, cooler) · avoid Jan–Mar (wet season; the range road can be cut by rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for TSV: last hire-car desk times, drive time up the range, wet-season road closure fallback.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: village walks, Little Crystal Creek, Paluma Dam.
  3. Place pages with verified access notes (creek, dam, bird area) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wet-season and road-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Paluma

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