Cardwell Forest Drive

The forest drive, through the state forest in the foothills behind Cardwell, gives access to a number of local scenic attractions on a good gravel road. A waterfall, numerous swimming holes, walking tracks and a lookout are all within 8km of the town.

3km from Cardwell is a lookout with panoramic coastal views. The Northerly aspect can be viewed from the car park, but the 300m walk up to the Southern vantage point is well worth the effort as it yields views of the magnificent Hinchinbrook Channel.

Continue along the forest drive, through pine plantations to Attie Creek. At the car park, there are excellent picnic facilities and barbecues. Close by is a small, shady swimming hole, suitable for younger children and the less agile, but big enough for anyone to cool off.

A steep 500m walk to the Falls is well worth the effort. Here, Attie creek drops 25m into an excellent swimming hole - big, deep and cold!

Next stop from Attie Creek is Dead Horse Creek, also with a shady picnic area and barbecue setting close to the creek. The real beauty of this unfortunately named creek lies upstream. Just a few minutes walking up the creek bed brings you to the first of many pools, most of them deep and perfect for swimming.

As you venture further up toward the headwaters, the creek bed becomes steeper and more spectacular. At some points the creek cuts through narrow gorges, where the only way through is to swim The walk up Dead Horse Creek takes you into the rainforest of the Cardwell Range, great for exploring and definitely for the more adventurous. If you decide to go up the creek for a look, you'll be better off without any extra gear, just wear your swimming togs and some light shoes or sandals, and be prepared to swim!

The Spa Pool is the last of the picnic spots and allows easy access to an inviting pool. The picnic area is on the main forest drive circuit, with the spa pool adjacent to the barbecues. The "spa" itself is a natural depression in the creek bed which couses the water to bubble and swirl like a jacuzzi. The cold refreshing water then flows into an adjoining swimming hole. The spa pool is at its best during the rainy season, as the stream does not flow all year round.

The Cardwell Forest Drive return trip, including all stops, is 26 km, yet there is more than enough to see and experience for a leisurely full day outing. All of the swimming holes are free of crocodiles, sharks and marine stingers, but submerged and/or slippery rocks may be hazardous.