Carnarvon Gorge QLD: A Pilgrimage

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Walking part or all of Carnarvon Gorge seems to be a pilgrimage for Grey Nomads, aged between 50 and 80, travelling mostly in pairs with water, a packed lunch, a broad brimmed hat and a stick. Only occasionally a single male or female was spotted. (It was rare to find young back packers on the track.) You could hear their mental chatter, "We've finished working our butts off and now, here we are". With a constant trail of us folk who are in our 3rd trimester of life, all smiling and happy to be alive, we forged ahead (at least on the way in, fatigue quelled our excitement by the end of each day). I personally preferred the whole place to myself but luckily the gorge lost none of it's charm and has not been spoilt in any way by the hordes of pilgrims making the journey.

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Photos

Carnarvon Gorge Section
This popular section is actually part of the greater Carnarvon National Park. There are 3 other sections, Ka Ka Mundi, Salvator Rosa and Mt Moffat that we'll need to investigate later in our journey. This Carnarvon Gorge Section is the major tourist attraction and is 16000ha in itself.

Creek Crossings
It is actually a wide gorge, with Carnarvon Creek winding along the base. There were many creek crossings, but walking along the base was quite easy.

In My Element
My favourite form of tourism is "Geo-Tourism". I love being up close and personal with Australian Geography and Geology. My love of rock formations and landforms developed when travelling with my parents as a wide eyed kid. I still can't get enough.

Carnavon Creek
Apart from creating a gallery of natural sandstone sculptures, the creek is pure and permanent. It is spring fed and a haven for plants and animals.

King Parrot
So bright and clean, feeding by the edge of the creek. His Mrs. was more dull in colour but so beautifully camouflaged I couldn't get a decent shot.

Tracks
Tracks taking you to the magic features by the side of the gorge. They were often steep but worth the effort.

Overhangs
Baloon Cave

Baloon Cave Aboriginal Art
Named after the stencil art found in the cave of a stone axe called Baloon.

Sheer Sandstone Cliffs
Towering white sandstone cliffs were featured either side of the gorge.

Dave's Ready with His Stick
Dave saves his walking stick for the next trek. He picked his up this time last year when we were exploring Cania Gorge.

Pick One
This is the dump off and pick up spot if you don't have a walking stick. A very important accessory to your trekking out fit.

Contemplation
The sticks help us to think, to lean, to balance. They are suppose to help with posture as well.

Kangaroo Head (named by Dave)
The base of the cliffs, tracks and creek bed are full of fallen boulders. Hope this one lasts a while longer.

Heading off the main track
Side tracks take you to the features of the gorge.

Steps and More Steps
The steps and climbing were fine until the last 4 kms on the way back. Honestly I neither of us wanted to see another step in a long while.

Art Gallery
Traditional owners of the gorge are the Bidjara and Karingbal Tribes. Their ancestors tell stories of their ceremonies and landscape on the white face of the cliff.

Stencil Paintings
The freehand nets tell us this was also a burial ground and we were asked to treat the area with respect.
Paintings were either made from ochre blown from the artists mouth or a crude twig brush. Hands, animal tracks, tools used for hunting were represented.

Engravings
Carved out with a hard stone are kangaroo and emu tracks, emu eggs and the rainbow serpent.