by Rachel Timmins (
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I am a freelance copywriter and photojournalist based in Toowoomba. I have had poetry, blogs, devotionals, fiction, reviews and articles published and have been an editor for a poetry magazine.
Bald Hills Creek attracts beautiful bird life and provides a restful picnic spot.
in the town of Crows Nest is a wonderful place to go bushwalking in the fresh air, about a forty minute drive north of Toowoomba on the New England Highway. There are different walking tracks to choose from. Beside Bald Hills Creek and at other places, you will find a map to orient yourself and select a route.
Beside Bald Hills Creek and at other places you will find a map to orient yourself and select a route.
To get there, from Centenary Park in Crows Nest, turn right into William Street and follow it to the end where you will find ample bitumen parking. Alternately turn right into Dale Street onto the dirt road and park at the end (would be boggy in wet weather).
Hartmann Park track winds around a hill on a sandy surface.
Once in the park, to your right the walk beside the Bald Hills Creek links with the Applegum Walk, a delightful and easy level surface walk along a dirt trail (which can be quite slippery when wet). The creek is flowing beautifully after the recent downpours so it's at its best right now. There is a small but picturesque cascade near the park entrance.
Taking the grille-walk over the creek to the left takes you into Hartmann Park proper. The grille is a great place to take photos of the creek. It's a steep incline to begin, with a flight of stone stairs and then steadily climbs along sandy tracks to a large hilltop. It's a Grade 3 walking track, six hundred metres return, approximately a twenty-minute walk. Various routes include the Bottlebrush Walk and the Montivaga walking circuit.
There is a small but picturesque cascade near Hartmann Park trail head.
Bald Hills Creek attracts beautiful bird life and provides a restful picnic spot. Bird life includes yellow-bellied wrens and red-backed wrens. It's easy to see them close up as they are curious and friendly, so have your camera ready. Vegetation in Hartmann Park differs from the Applegum Walk, with mature Black Boys, Twiggy Myrtles, Little Hakeas, Shaggy-Barked Tea Trees plus a variety of eucalyptus trees. Spring sees wildflowers blooming when these shrubs will be more prominent, though one or two were out early.
Spring sees wildflowers blooming.
Hartmann Park was donated to the council by Hubert Hartmann in the 1970s. Some of the area is on private property which is signed. The park is not pet-friendly and also is not suitable for bicycles or horses. Facilities are at the entrance from William St, as well as a picnic table. Wear a hat and walking shoes and take water and a picnic lunch.
There are many Black Boys along the Hartmann Park track.
