Hiking to Westray’s Grave.
Stinson plane crash in February 1937 – it is a story full of courage, bravery and sacrifice, an iconic moment in Australian history.
We walked to the grave of Jim Westray, he had survived the crush (with two other men), but his hands and back were burned badly. On the morning after the crush and against advice of the other two survivors, he went in search of help. But he fell and died later beside a waterfall and rocks at Christmas creek.
Miraculously the crash site and two survivors were found by local bushman Bernard O’Reilly, also he found the body of Jim.
6th March 1937 Westray was buried near to where he died, in the peaceful palm grove next to creek.
It is 8km return walk to the grave. Path is not signposted, but there are some red and orange markers along the way. Basically it is walk along the creek after you enter the National Park at the end of Christmas road and cross the creek.
Note the red mark on the tree, shows the way.
There is possible to go further upstream along the rocky creek to the magnificent 50m Larapinta waterfall (hidden gem of Lamington NP) or much harder and longer hike to the Stinson plane crash.