Along the rugged Clarke Range behind the Whitsunday coast is Cathu State Forest. Forests and woodlands range from distinctive poplar gum Eucalyptus platyphylla woodlands and exotic Caribbean pine plantations on the creek flats to dense rainforest, hoop pine plantations and tall wet eucalypt forest along the range. The rainforests were selectively logged during the 1960s and 70s.
Following Tropical Cyclone Ului in March 2010, HQPlantations have undertaken extensive harvesting operations to recover the Caribbean pine devastated by this cyclonic event.
Location
Cathu State Forest is 4km west of the Bruce Highway, 72km or one hour north of Mackay or 51km south of Proserpine.
Park facilities
- Campfires allowed (conditions apply)
- Lookout
- Picnic tables
- Toilets
- Tent camping
- Caravan camping
- Camper trailer camping
- Cycling
- Horseriding
- Trail bike riding
- Dogs permitted (on leash)
- Cathu State Forest Access Road 15 May to 15 July 2023