We were up early as we had a huge walk ahead of us today. What a great place at Carnarvon Gorge National Park. It is 593 km north west of Brisbane, 30km long, 600m deep at the mouth. They have all these designated walks. Twelve in all and we only did three today plus the two we did yesterday. So this should tell you how big the Gorge is. Our three took us nearly six hours today, 13 kms and 20,000 steps. Fortunately we started at 7.00am when it was still a little cool. But just as well as by late morning it was getting much hotter. What an experience so glad we did at least some of it. This is how it works there is one long path, starting at the entrance to the park, which Criss-crossed Carnarvon Creek as it winds 9.7kms, ( 19.4Kms return. ) you have to return no pick ups to drive you back at the end. Ends at the waters of Big Bend. You can Explore sidetracks leading to narrow, hidden gorges and timeless rock art sites. This track is mostly flat but they seem to throw in many up and down steps along the way. Also you have to step from rock to rock across the creek and some side tracks are quite steep. The individual side walks are graded 1 to 5 on difficulty. Our two big walks were graded 3. At Big Bend the graded track system ends and the remote hiking trail of the Carnarvon Great Walk begins. This walk is graded 3/4/5 is 87kms long and takes 6 to 7 days. Phew!!
So basically you choose what side walks you want to do then turn round at the furthest walk you want to stop at then walk all the way back to where you started doing each individual side walk of your choice. I will explain our three walks, third one was very short, under the below photos
This was our first and biggest crossing right at the beginning of the walk. These big boulders went right across the creek so we had to step from one boulder to the next. We were told that it makes it much easier if we could bring walking poles. This helps with the balance getting across.
When we started our walk at 7.00am the sun was just coming up over the high cliffs on the other side of the gorge. The sunrise or sunset is always the best time to bring the colour out on the sandstone as you will see the change of colour later in the morning. The sun shining reflecting on the cliff face makes it look like gold especially in the photos.
At the start of the walk this is what we saw really beautiful. But once the sun got up higher it changed to its normal daytime colour.
Amphitheatre
After walking about 3.5kms up the main path we turned off to do our first side track about 750m into what they call the Amphitheatre which was magnificent. Hidden inside the gorge walls is a 60m deep chamber gouged from the rock by running water. The towering stone walls and natural skylight create a wonderful atmosphere. In the above photo we have now left the main track and more or less walking over uneven boulders to the entrance of the Amphitheatre. Photos just can’t show the real feel about a place. I took a video inside this enclosed area which makes it more real but unfortunately the blog won’t accept videos.
Now approaching the entrance.
We had to climb these stairs to enter through a narrow entrance. That’s me at the top. Easy to climb as narrow and could hold both railings. Coming down you came down backwards like coming down a ladder.
I went up first and took this photo as PT made it to the top to walk into this entrance
Looking further up through the entrance not knowing what we were going to see.
This big open enclosure is the Amphitheatre.
Once inside we looked up to a big opening up high across the top. Just amazing.
Looking up the side of the wall to the sky.
If you can imagine these two top photos joined together you will see from the bottom to the top. Too high to take it all in one photo. Unfortunately I got too much of the left side wall in. I should have moved along more to get the whole space in to give the look of it being a lot wider. Like the bottom half in the photo below.
Unfortunately I didn’t take the top half as a pano.
Looking at the slim entrance we came through with the sun shining through.
Walking out through the narrow entrance.
PT ahead nearly at the entrance. I am about to go down these short steps then have to cross over a small pool stepping over boulders
PT just going down the big steps
Half way down
Outside
Looking up to the top of the entrance as we were leaving
Now leaving the Amphitheatre for 1.5km along a creek walk over an uneven boulder track back to the main track.
This Kangaroo was wandering around the creek bed.
He is now ready to leap away never to be seen again.
Now back on the main track. This is the furthest that we are going on the main track so heading back down to our 2nd side track.
One of the many crossings over the main creek. We were told before we came that it would be wise to have walking poles. But when you are only here for one big walking day wasn’t going to buy poles. Someone gave us this wooden pole as they had finished their walk and we found another one for me. They worked a treat. Amazing the difference to help balance. If you don’t have a pole you automatically feel wobbly.
Continuing along the main track. Some of the sandstone gorge wall.
Walking, walking along the main track.
Now have turn off the main track to walk 700m along a not so formed track to see the Moss Garden.
MOSS GARDEN
We have entered the Moss Garden, beneath tree ferns straining for sunlight. A small waterfall flows over a rock ledge into a pool of reflections. Here water is dripping constantly from the sandstone walls and it sustains a lush, green carpet of mosses and ferns.
The little specs in this photo is the water dripping from the moss.
All these rocks are covered in moss due to lack of sunlight.
This is the the platform we walked up to sit and enjoy the cool surroundings. Looking down the little creek where the water flows.
This gap between the two rock walls is all that lets the sun shine through.
We have left the moss pool and taking the side path beside the small creek, back to the main path.
Another crossing. I found another stick to try but realised you only really need one. So threw one away.
Still walking out on the fairly rough path and lots of up and down stairs, which made it quite a hard walk.
Back out on the main path looking back up at the stone walls of the gorge.
These are their natural colour during the day but the photos we took at the beginning of the blog is in the early morning just as the sun hits them making them that bright gold colour. That’s why it’s so good to get in early to catch the sun on the stone.
Still walking alone the main track which seemed to take for ever to get back to where we started from after nearly six hours of walking.
The midday sun is still catching some of the brightness on the walls.
As we were leaving the main walks, these two were playing around in the park.
That’s the end of the two big walks so managed to get back to the van exhausted to drive a little down the road to our last little walk.
ROCK POOL
Just a small 200m walk from the car park. But after our big walk it was hard to get out of the van to do this 400 metre return walk.
Driving through the ford at the entrance of our camp ground called the Breeze
Camp, just as the sun was going down. Beautiful place to stay. Although exhausted we had a great day and enjoyed ever step. Really pleased we didn’t miss it due to bad weather which we haven’t had any yet. It was a brilliant day to do our 13km walks 😀
This blog has been posted a day late due to some hiccup with the Telstra connection last night, due to the remoteness of the Carnarvon Gorge. It’s now the 27th so no blog for today, have just been driving down to Roma for two nights.
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