Mowbray Falls - The Bump Track
January 2023
Mowbray Falls on this visit, 2nd of January 2023.
Back in August 2021 I walked the Bump Track into Mowbray Falls near Port Douglas for the first time and have been meaning to return ever since.
Both my boys were home for Christmas and they offered to go on a walk with me so the Bump Track it was. To give you some idea of the scale of these falls I have circled my son in red at the top.
My boys taking up the lead.
The Bump Track was an escape route during World War II for the residents of Mossman and Port Douglas in the case of invasion. It is about a 4 kilometre walk uphill along the track to the turn off into the bush track to Mowbray Falls.
The first 2 to 3 kilometres are extremely steep. Keep an eye out for a section marked as “Slatey Pinch” which is the steepest section.
Snake resting on the track.
The main track is quite busy early morning and late afternoon with locals using that steep gradient as exercise. With 20 kilos of camera gear on my back I certainly get exercise when I do this hike.
Mountain bike rider flying down the track, August 2021.
Whilst on the track keep your wits about you because mountain bike riders love flying down it and they don’t make that much noise as they approach. I think according to a sign on the track the location is also popular with horse riders but I am yet to see one there.
After 2-3 kilometres the track flattens out a bit at The Landing.
If you survive the first 2-3 kilometres and make it to “The Landing” (signage present) you will be greeted to some flatter walking.
Robbins Creek, August 2021.
Not long after you pass Robbins Creek on the track keep an eye out on the right for a pink ribbon. That is the marker for a very narrow and rough track diagonally off the Bump Track into the rainforest and to Mowbray Falls.
The track into Mowbray Falls, January 2023.
On this visit the track into the falls had a lot of dead fall over it. It was also wet and extremely slippery in places. Take care and wear appropriate clothing, which my boys did not.
It is a track to avoid doing in the dark at the moment with so much deadfall hiding the path. It would be almost impossible to not get lost in the dark without torches.
A pink mushroom on the track.
I am very much at home in the rainforest so the walk to the falls is the most enjoyable part of the trip for me. My boys walked in front for most of the day and they were stunned to look back at one point to find me lying on the ground in the rainforest. I had to take a photo of this pink mushroom at the base of a tree :)
Mowbray Falls August 2021.
If you are really careful you can make your way down the side of the falls but……… be really really really careful especially in the rain, people have died there and the signs let you know it.