Early morning at Stony Creek, Bellthorpe National Park

Soar above the untouched beauty of Stony Creek, Bellthorpe National Park, Australia, in this breathtaking drone journey captured during the magical transition from morning twilight to golden post-sunrise light.

There was not much stream flow in the creeks as the weather had been dry for a few weeks.

Here you'll find a rugged landscape containing open forest and rainforest with many creek cascades and rock pools. Quietly hidden at the southern end of the Bellthorpe Forest Reserve on the Conondale Ranges, is one of the Moreton Bay Region’s most spectacular natural swimming holes, Stony Creek.

True to its name, Stony Creek is a boulder hopping paradise. With water cascading and trickling through pebbles and stone of every colour down into a large natural swimming hole, which flows towards Somerset Dam via Stanley River. The creek is surrounded by native bushlands and can be accessed from the Stony Creek Day-Use Area on Fletcher Road, west from Woodford.

Swimming is the most obvious choice of activity when visiting Stony Creek. The main swimming hole is located approximately 20 meters south of the car park area, down a flat dirt walking track.

Aside from swimming, visitors can enjoy a day of exploration and bushwalking along the creek bed and into the Bellthorpe National Park. Bellthorpe’s forests are beautiful and varied. There are many forest tracks for walking.

Stony Creek day-use area is home to a wide selection of birds, insects and Australian wildlife. If you listen carefully during your visit, you might just hear the male whipbird’s high pitched ‘whip and crack’ call, followed by a sharp ‘choo-choo’ from the female. Or you might just spot one of the many species of frogs that live in the rainforest canopy.

Stony Creek's location is west of the Glass House Mountains, between Woodford & Kilcoy at the southern end of the Conondale Range, about 85km (or 90min drive) north-west of Brisbane.

🕒 Time of Flight: Morning Twilight: Soft, ethereal hues paint the sky as the forest awakens.

Post-Sunrise: Golden light floods the landscape, revealing vibrant greens and the dynamic textures of the Australian bush.

🚁 Drone & Tech Specs:

Drone/Camera: Autel Lite & Feiyu Pocket 3 (4K capture)

Settings: 30fps, auto exposure for seamless adaptation to changing light. 

Editing: Filmora 14 for smooth transitions, color grading, and cinematic pacing.

Music: Ambient, uplifting tracks from Audio.com (https://www.audio.com) enhance the serene atmosphere.

Music licensed via Audio.com. No copyright infringement intended.

📍 Location Highlights:

Stony Creek: Pristine freshwater flows over smooth rocks, creating tranquil pools perfect for reflection shots.

Rainforest Trails: Dense canopies of hoop pines and strangler figs, draped in vines and moss.

Wildlife: Keep an eye out for wallabies, lace monitors, and rare bird species like the glossy black cockatoo.

🌿 Preserving Nature: Please respect this fragile ecosystem. Take only memories, leave no trace, and follow all park guidelines to protect its wild beauty.

Filmed responsibly with respect for wildlife and environment.

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