Black Mountain Road

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Overview

This 43km road is mostly unsealed. It runs from the Kennedy Highway just east of Kuranda to the Mossman-Mount Molloy Road near Julatten. The road traverses both the Kuranda and Mowbray National Parks as well as state forest and private land. This can be a very rewarding area for visiting birders.

Birds

Notable Species

Many of the Wet Tropics species can be found here, including several of the endemics. Species typically encountered here include: Southern Cassowary, Australian Brush Turkey, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Red-necked Crake, Grey Goshawk, Topknot Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Superb Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Emerald Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Pacific Koel, Papuan Frogmouth, Large-tailed Nightjar, Australian Swiftlet, Forest Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Noisy Pitta, White-throated Treecreeper, Lovely Fairywren, Fernwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Fairy Gerygone, Brown Gerygone, Helmeted Friarbird, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Graceful Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Macleay's Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Pale Yellow Robin, Chowchilla, Golden Whistler, Grey Whistler, Little Shrike Thrush, Spectacled Monarch, Pied Monarch, White-eared Monarch, Black-faced Monarch, Leaden Flycatcher, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Barred Cuckooshrike, Cicadabird, Varied Triller, Australasian Figbird, Black Butcherbird, Spotted Catbird, Victoria's Riflebird, Red-browed Firetail, Olive-backed Sunbird, Mistletoebird and Silvereye.

A small population of Southern Cassowary lives in the area. Although this species can be encountered along the road by casual birders, this can be very hit and miss. Many birders typically stay at Cassowary House (signposted off the road near the Kuranda end) to take advantage of the fact that the birds regularly come into the grounds of the guest house giving incredible close encounters to visiting birders.

There have been a number of recent records of Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo along this road, typically near the Julatten end. These records effectively extend the known range of this species south from Cape York. This is by far and away the best place to look for this species in the region.

Rarities

To do

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

To do

Other Wildlife

As with all rainforest regions of the Tablelands, this area is rich in wildlife. Many of these species can be encountered in the grounds of the Cassowary House guest house.

Mammals: Musky Rat Kangaroo and Red-legged Pademelon are common in the area. Other mammals include Striped Possum, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Giant White-tailed Rat, Fawn-footed Melomys and Prehensile-tailed Rat. Platypus occurs in the surrounding creeks.

Amphibians: a number of frog species occur in the region. This includes the recently described Kuranda Tree Frog with a tiny global range centred on the township of nearly Kuranda.

Site Information

Areas of Interest

Birders can find something of interest all along this road. Also worthy of exploration are any side tracks and footpaths. Be mindful however that these side tracks have public access however, as some are on private land.

Access and Facilities

Julatten can be accessed from the coast by heading inland on the Mossman-Mt Molloy Road signposted between Port Douglas and Mossman. Look for signs for Euluma Creek Road which gives access to the Black Mountain Road after several kilometres.

From Cairns, head north past the International Airport as far as Smithfield. Turn inland onto the Kennedy Highway which is signposted here for Kuranda and Mareeba. At the top of the switchback road just before the township of Kuranda, the Black Mountain Road is signposted on your right. Cassowary House is a short distance up the road from this end.

Most of the road is unsealed. Whilst a normal vehicle can be used to access the areas near either end of the road, the main central section should really only be attempted using a four-wheel drive, especially during the rainy season. Give way to logging trucks along this road. Sections of the road are often closed during wet weather.

Cassowary House. This is a guest house located a short distance off the Kennedy Highway up the road itself. The great thing about staying here is that it specialises in catering for visiting birders. Details of what a stay here offers can be found at the website by following the link.

Contact Details

Cassowary House; +61 (0)7 4093 7318.

External Links

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