Day 80 Sunday Aug 24th 2014 Carnarvon Gorge
We’re up bright and early in preparation for our walk through the gorge. We leave Woody behind to have a quiet day. The campground at the park is no longer in use but is now a lovely grassy picnic area shaded by palms and gums.
At 9:20 light of step and with great excitement we set off on what the guide describes as an easy 14km walk. Our aim is to walk to the farthest of the ‘best attractions’ then visit each of the other ‘best attractions’ on our return. It is a very, long walk to the first attraction then we pass each of the others in quick succession. The scenery is nothing short of stunning and we crisscross the Carnarvon Creek many times, becoming more adept at sprinting across the steppingstones with each crossing.
With plenty of energy in reserve we reach the Art Gallery (the furthest of the best). Oh, it is well worth the walk. We climb through a split rock and up to a sheer white sandstone cliff face that is covered in Aboriginal art, drawings, stencils and carvings as high as the artists could reach. There are ochre stencils of hands and boomerangs and drawings of nets.
On the return Ward’s Canyon is a steep climb into a narrow canyon that is cool and dark. There is a broad overhang where we have lunch and I feel that we are not the first to have found shelter at this spot. A small stream runs through the canyon on a base of bright red rock, so red that it looks like a trickle of blood. The stream then drops many metres as a dainty waterfall.
Down we clamber and back along the trail to the Amphitheatre. It is here that the climbing gets the better of me. I rest on a log to catch my breath and watch the wildlife while the others scale the vertical ladders to the top.
Once more we take to the trail but our joints are now complaining and the feet aren’t happy either. We climb up to the Moss Garden where water drip drip drips through the sandstone then trickles over a shale ledge to form a perfect waterfall.
With all of the ‘best attractions’ ticked off we start the long trudge back. We are surrounded by views that one would expect in a National Geographic magazine. There are grasslands, fern gullies, thousands of majestic palms and tall silver gums. Gums so tall that we strain to see their tops. We see kangaroos and wallabies with tiny brown paws the colour of a Siamese cat’s ears. We even meet an echidna.
Eventually we reach the car at 5:20pm tired and sore after 8 hours of hiking. Thankfully, Woody has a big pot of Corned Beef cooking on the stove for dinner.
Towing Kms: 0
Dinner: 10/10
itchingforhitching 
That walk is a real achievement and worth the effort involved. Magic place. We encountered birds chucking pandanus nuts down at us as we passed!
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It nearly did me in, but I’m so glad we did it. It surprises me that it doesn’t get publicity down in Vic.
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There are so many great places that are little publicized or known in Vic, we found.
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Yes, always the same old places that get the marketing budget. That’s why it’s best to chat to the locals and fellow travellers.
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What a spectacular and memorable day: one that makes me understand the hold your nomadic lifestyle has on you.
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It was a spectacular place. And yes, I’m sure you too know the feeling of needing to see what is over the next hill and tiring of looking at the same scene.
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Indeed. Especailly now.
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Oh yes, hang in there and stay safe.
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And read blogs like ours……….!
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😉
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One of the best walks in Australia but no platypus? They are there, just got to be lucky in the right place at the right time I guess. Well done on the walk it wiped me out when we did it, the walk out feels so much longer than the walk in but it is so worth it.
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A great walk indeed and sadly still trying to tick off a platypus and a camel in the wild.
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Thanks for letting us tag along. Very enjoyable, and my legs held up well!
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You will need a cuppa and a good lie down after that!
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I might need a wee dram!
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You are doing well introducing us to Aboriginal art
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You know Derrick we haven’t seen enough of it. I broke my ankle up in the Northern Territory just as we were embarking on their magnificent National Parks. Although before we started this caravanning caper we did visit Uluru (Ayers Rock) and toured the rock art around the base, it was an unforgettable experience.
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I’ll bet – especially given where it is
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