Stinson Wreck Site and up to Point Lookout - Lamington National Park
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 11.45 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,084 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Very difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,084 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,575 ft
- TrailRank
- 32
- Min elevation
- 1,029 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 6 hours 35 minutes
- Coordinates
- 7042
- Uploaded
- May 7, 2022
- Recorded
- May 2022
near Darlington, Queensland (Australia)
Viewed 716 times, downloaded 17 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
THIS IS AN ULTIMATE HIKER'S GUIDE VIDEO ON MY YOUTUBE/JELBUILDER CHANNEL: https://youtu.be/zePHi_tN2q0
(Was a big project for me putting this production together... the film crew were exhausted, especially hair and makeup department😁.... Hope you find this helpful to get you there safely.)
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE HELPFUL EPIC VISUAL HIKING GUIDES:
Hiker's Guide to Larapinta Falls, Christmas Creek - https://youtu.be/-BDMHVfT7Y0
Guide to Thunder and Lightning Falls, Black Canyon - https://youtu.be/Txv1IAAIcKs
Epic Trek to Rat-a-Tat Hut, Lamington National Park - https://youtu.be/tRpHqgUMQAM
Tooloona Bithongabel Silent Running Film - https://youtu.be/WNrX-rLYnmE
Buchanan's Fort, Christmas Creek: https://youtu.be/7_cRYEfaO34
VISIT YOUTUBE/JELBUILDER FOR THESE AND LOADS MORE. Keep exploring and happy hiking!
............................................................
TRAIL NOTES FOR STINSON HIKE:
Did this trail again (my 10th time hiking to the wreck) from Christmas Creek side. Purpose was to film this as a Hiker's Guide as I've been doing recently on numerous trails to help others. New parking site 500m away from the entry gate. Guess the neighbours didn't like cars always parked there!
Very wet conditions, I was fully expecting rain, however the wet stuff held off the entire time! But the trail was a mud fest! Started this one late today (as I couldn't be bothered waking up early, lol) so left the carpark at 9.10am.
Took just over an hour to get to the usual Stinson Wreck turnoff (sign and blue arrow pointing up on a tree here) and I was filming and fluffing around. Also passed some hiking group quite a distance beforehand....7 of them in total.
Didn't bother visiting Westray's Grave on this visit - I have covered this numerous times especially on my Larapinta Treks. Once I kissed the sign, up I went. Holding every root you can as this was a slippery mud slide, this route is still an extremely tough segment and you will be spent (wet or dry). As you get higher, the foliage begins to change to beautiful ferns. I love these. Came up to the cliff line and then you head right which goes down and up.
Be aware.... this part is probably the trickiest segment every time as the trail disappears at times, but just keep your eyes peeled for what may appear trail-ish. You will come to a steep ascent up to the face of a large black cliff face - despite what your gut tells you, YOU GO RIGHT HERE! Not left. Follow it around as it continues up and then it will begin to distinctly turn left as you follow a small trail that feels like it is treacherously close to an edge on your left.
Keep following and you'll soon come to a sheer rocky, rooty cliff that has a climbing rope with knots. This has been here for years and was still strong today! Climb up using a combination of rope and root, or alternatively you can ascend to the top here on the left side of the rope - will take a bit longer.
At the top further up is an open landing, which might be perfect for a rest. Took me 40 mins from the Stinson sign/arrow turn-off to get here. Then keep heading RIGHT - up through the rocky chute. This segment is beautiful indeed and you will pass some giant trees, both standing and fallen, often going underneath these. Keep following the trail, which is a steady incline all the way (no rest for the weary), and in 30mins I finally arrived at the remote Stinson open campsite, which is pleasant but at an angle.
I stopped for 20mins morning tea. To get to the Stinson Wreck from here, you head left from the entry point. Tree falls had blocked the beginning of the pathway so it didn't look like a trail at all. Push through and you'll soon see the trail descending down. Take it carefully on this trail which is small and tight and is right on a sharp drop the whole way. Keep following, I saw some old climbing rope put up along one section as a "handrail" which was pretty useless really. It only takes about 5 minutes to get to the site of the wreck from the Stinson Campsite. I noticed someone had pulled all the remains of the plane wreck from where it always was (behind the four memorial plaques of plane crew and passengers that perished), to right in front of the main memorial plaque on the track. Strange.
Somewhere here I planted a special custom-designed Jelbuilder "Coaster with Attitude" ready for someone to locate when they watch my video. It's actually a great coaster, one of my favourite designs for someone worthy of coming all the way here and then going the extra mile to get my special gift. If that's you, let me know you found it with a picture or video as proof! Good luck.
I headed back up the the campsite and then decided to checkout somewhere I've not yet visited - Point Lookout. From the Stinson Campsite, you continue upward on the trail. Somewhere here before the Point Lookout campsite is a track that leads off to the right, that is Stretcher Track of Bernard O'Reilly fame. A moss covered Rocky Cairn indicates where this is but the trail didn't look clear. I arrived at Point Lookout remote campsite in about 18 minutes to what I think is definitely a great little spot to camp - and it has a massive moss covered log here too as a seat. From here you have two options: (1) Go left upon the McPherson Range Walking Track and this will take you up to the Rat-A-Tat Camp site, or (2) keep going straight and you'll come to Point Lookout (3 minutes further). Clouds were everywhere so all I saw was white.
I enjoyed my additional trip to this point and then basically backtracked all the way to my car. I finally got back at 3.45pm, so that should give you an idea of total time. Heavens opened up and rain began as I started to drive. Hope you found these notes helpful, you will find the video way more helpful so stay tuned for it.
Couple of things:
1. Coming back down the section after the rope on the cliff mentioned earlier, this segment of the mountain is still the most treacherous part, most easiest to lose your trail, and the darkest part of the trail. I still lost my trail twice on this part but regained it quick enough.
2. The last part coming down this section, through the ferns, and down to the turn-off sign was extremely slippery and dangerous today in wet conditions. Hold every tree, branch, and root you can. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS SEGMENT BOTH UP OR DOWN. It is extremely difficult.
3. DO NOT DO THIS TREK AT NIGHT.... either of three things will happen - (1) You will fall off a cliff edge, (2) you will get lost, or (3) the resident Yowie in these parts will find you and will have a long overdue feed. Low light is for sleeping, daylight is for exploring.
(Was a big project for me putting this production together... the film crew were exhausted, especially hair and makeup department😁.... Hope you find this helpful to get you there safely.)
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE HELPFUL EPIC VISUAL HIKING GUIDES:
Hiker's Guide to Larapinta Falls, Christmas Creek - https://youtu.be/-BDMHVfT7Y0
Guide to Thunder and Lightning Falls, Black Canyon - https://youtu.be/Txv1IAAIcKs
Epic Trek to Rat-a-Tat Hut, Lamington National Park - https://youtu.be/tRpHqgUMQAM
Tooloona Bithongabel Silent Running Film - https://youtu.be/WNrX-rLYnmE
Buchanan's Fort, Christmas Creek: https://youtu.be/7_cRYEfaO34
VISIT YOUTUBE/JELBUILDER FOR THESE AND LOADS MORE. Keep exploring and happy hiking!
............................................................
TRAIL NOTES FOR STINSON HIKE:
Did this trail again (my 10th time hiking to the wreck) from Christmas Creek side. Purpose was to film this as a Hiker's Guide as I've been doing recently on numerous trails to help others. New parking site 500m away from the entry gate. Guess the neighbours didn't like cars always parked there!
Very wet conditions, I was fully expecting rain, however the wet stuff held off the entire time! But the trail was a mud fest! Started this one late today (as I couldn't be bothered waking up early, lol) so left the carpark at 9.10am.
Took just over an hour to get to the usual Stinson Wreck turnoff (sign and blue arrow pointing up on a tree here) and I was filming and fluffing around. Also passed some hiking group quite a distance beforehand....7 of them in total.
Didn't bother visiting Westray's Grave on this visit - I have covered this numerous times especially on my Larapinta Treks. Once I kissed the sign, up I went. Holding every root you can as this was a slippery mud slide, this route is still an extremely tough segment and you will be spent (wet or dry). As you get higher, the foliage begins to change to beautiful ferns. I love these. Came up to the cliff line and then you head right which goes down and up.
Be aware.... this part is probably the trickiest segment every time as the trail disappears at times, but just keep your eyes peeled for what may appear trail-ish. You will come to a steep ascent up to the face of a large black cliff face - despite what your gut tells you, YOU GO RIGHT HERE! Not left. Follow it around as it continues up and then it will begin to distinctly turn left as you follow a small trail that feels like it is treacherously close to an edge on your left.
Keep following and you'll soon come to a sheer rocky, rooty cliff that has a climbing rope with knots. This has been here for years and was still strong today! Climb up using a combination of rope and root, or alternatively you can ascend to the top here on the left side of the rope - will take a bit longer.
At the top further up is an open landing, which might be perfect for a rest. Took me 40 mins from the Stinson sign/arrow turn-off to get here. Then keep heading RIGHT - up through the rocky chute. This segment is beautiful indeed and you will pass some giant trees, both standing and fallen, often going underneath these. Keep following the trail, which is a steady incline all the way (no rest for the weary), and in 30mins I finally arrived at the remote Stinson open campsite, which is pleasant but at an angle.
I stopped for 20mins morning tea. To get to the Stinson Wreck from here, you head left from the entry point. Tree falls had blocked the beginning of the pathway so it didn't look like a trail at all. Push through and you'll soon see the trail descending down. Take it carefully on this trail which is small and tight and is right on a sharp drop the whole way. Keep following, I saw some old climbing rope put up along one section as a "handrail" which was pretty useless really. It only takes about 5 minutes to get to the site of the wreck from the Stinson Campsite. I noticed someone had pulled all the remains of the plane wreck from where it always was (behind the four memorial plaques of plane crew and passengers that perished), to right in front of the main memorial plaque on the track. Strange.
Somewhere here I planted a special custom-designed Jelbuilder "Coaster with Attitude" ready for someone to locate when they watch my video. It's actually a great coaster, one of my favourite designs for someone worthy of coming all the way here and then going the extra mile to get my special gift. If that's you, let me know you found it with a picture or video as proof! Good luck.
I headed back up the the campsite and then decided to checkout somewhere I've not yet visited - Point Lookout. From the Stinson Campsite, you continue upward on the trail. Somewhere here before the Point Lookout campsite is a track that leads off to the right, that is Stretcher Track of Bernard O'Reilly fame. A moss covered Rocky Cairn indicates where this is but the trail didn't look clear. I arrived at Point Lookout remote campsite in about 18 minutes to what I think is definitely a great little spot to camp - and it has a massive moss covered log here too as a seat. From here you have two options: (1) Go left upon the McPherson Range Walking Track and this will take you up to the Rat-A-Tat Camp site, or (2) keep going straight and you'll come to Point Lookout (3 minutes further). Clouds were everywhere so all I saw was white.
I enjoyed my additional trip to this point and then basically backtracked all the way to my car. I finally got back at 3.45pm, so that should give you an idea of total time. Heavens opened up and rain began as I started to drive. Hope you found these notes helpful, you will find the video way more helpful so stay tuned for it.
Couple of things:
1. Coming back down the section after the rope on the cliff mentioned earlier, this segment of the mountain is still the most treacherous part, most easiest to lose your trail, and the darkest part of the trail. I still lost my trail twice on this part but regained it quick enough.
2. The last part coming down this section, through the ferns, and down to the turn-off sign was extremely slippery and dangerous today in wet conditions. Hold every tree, branch, and root you can. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS SEGMENT BOTH UP OR DOWN. It is extremely difficult.
3. DO NOT DO THIS TREK AT NIGHT.... either of three things will happen - (1) You will fall off a cliff edge, (2) you will get lost, or (3) the resident Yowie in these parts will find you and will have a long overdue feed. Low light is for sleeping, daylight is for exploring.
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