The relatively new Mount Louisa walking track is a worthwhile addition to Townsville’s outdoor recreational spaces. The council’s announcement of its opening (October 2020) is quite clear about its intentions – taking some of the pressure off Castle Hill walking tracks was a priority.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the trail – which extends from the end of Bayswater Road to the landmark’s new lookout – has been highly anticipated by the community. … “Unlocking Mount Louisa’s potential has been a priority for Council and will help keep our city active and reduce pedestrian traffic on Castle Hill during peak hours.”
The track was quite busy when we walked it this morning. When we started about 8.00 we met lots of younger adults, alone or in pairs, coming down the track after a pre-work workout. By the time we finished around 10.00 (we didn’t hurry!), most of the other walkers were family groups.
The landscape is very dry at this time of year, and there were signs of a fairly recent fire near the lower part of the track, but the open bushland was pleasantly varied. Wattles, grevilleas and poplar gums were all flowering, and some kapoks had both flowers and fruit. Not much bird life, however, and even less insect life: too dry.
There are good views from all parts of the track, not just the summit – northern beaches, Palm Island, the Town Common, Magnetic Island, Castle Hill (and Cape Cleveland behind it), Mount Stuart and Hervey’s Range. Put them all together and it’s a 360 degree panorama.
The track rises from the end of Bayswater Road, forking a few hundred metres later to form a long loop around the ridge. Veering left at the fork gives walkers a gentler climb and a steeper descent but it’s not particularly hard either way. The peak is 160 metres above sea level, according to the marker, which makes it about 140 above the starting point – a respectable climb but much less than Castle Hill (286 m).
