The Leap | A natural wonder with an ugly history

The Leap is a small township just 20 minute north of Mackay, Queensland. A place that has a dark history.  During the winter school holidays, with my 7yo, we decided to hike and climb The Leap, whilst providing a history lesson.

DISCLAIMER: We are active and fit, I would strongly recommend only using this track unless you have suitable fitness and balance, including your child.

Our adventure of The Leap

We started the hike by parking the car at The Leap Hotel.  With only a short 900m bitchumen walk to the start of the track, it was a great warm up. Also served as a good warm down and to see if the young fella was going to be ok. He was very excited! The trail currently is well used and clearly flagged and marked. You can see 4-5 flags ahead. The track quickly turned to rocks in the dry creek bed. It weaves up and around with a handful of big trees down to squat under. The young fella happily took the lead skipping from rock to rock and weaves among the trees. We were making good time until he saw a wait-a-while – a nightmare from our Eungella hike. So he slowed down keeping a vigil eye for them. We only saw the one and once we got to the sheer rock face he picked up pace to the top. I didn’t mind slowing down to catch my breath. 

I lost track of time, around 50 mins we saw our first caution sign on the top and headed along the path well travelled – kept following the flags. Through the Xanthorrhoea (Balga Grass Tree) “Forrest”. The grass trees were huge, some the largest I have ever seen. 

Once at the top. We found a few more markers that led to various viewing area giving almost 360 degree views. After something to eat we started to descend. On the decent we found another viewing area overlooking the hotel (where we had parked). The track down was slippery. The young fella took a tumble, but we were able to get on our way again quite quickly. Back at the first caution sign he noticed another track off to the side so we ventured on it to another extreme view looking north. 

It was on the way down I began to tell him about the leap story and its dark history. 

We made good time down and once back out on the road, it served as good warm down. The young fella just shy of 7, loved every minute of it. Back at the hotel we used the toilet, ordered some lunch and read up on The Leap Story. 

Approx times: 10am from the hotel, at the top around 30mins. Back at road 12:20, and easy warm down walk back to the pub. 

About The Leap story

Where an aboriginal mother and her baby were, depending on the tale you choose to believe, was thrown off the cliff or jumped herself with her baby. Miraculously the baby lived. She was found by and taken to the family raised with their family. This awful tragedy could have been avoided if white man allowed and trusted the tribes to follow through on their own legal system.

The Leap was a fantastic hike with my son. I think he was the perfect age/fitness ability.

I’m a Mackay mum and photographer who loves exploring our local area.  Find more Mackay things to do here, and if you are in need of a good coffee you’ll want to check this post out. Enjoy!