Manning Gorge

---

It was not far from Mount Elizabeth station to Manning Gorge so it was an easy days drive.

A stop at the roadhouse first to pay your entry fee to Manning Gorge, it is also well stocked so a great opportunity to stock up on some fresh produce. It is 7 km to the camping ground, the road in although unmade is very good. We found the camping area very good and much to our surprise not as busy as we had expected. The camp ground features a lot of big Boab trees and there was plenty of shade. You can be miles from home and the next thing you know you meet up with someone you know. Jenny and Pete who are friends of Rod and Jeanette’s set up camp not far from us.

One of the great things about travelling is the people you meet and what interesting stories they have to tell. We spoke with a young Frenchman who we had passed on the road. He was riding a bike (push bike with trailer in tow) down the dusty Gibb River Road and was headed for Melbourne. He had actually ridden his bike all the way across Europe , though Asia then by freighter to Australia. He had been working in Darwin and was on his way to Melbourne where he would get another freighter to New Zealand. He left home 2 years ago. He told us he liked to average 110 km a day! One very fit young man.

Next morning we set off on the 2 km walk into the gorge. The walk is interesting, as you leave the camping area you have to cross the Manning River. There are two options swim or put yourself in the small dingy that is provided and pull yourself across . We chose option two. The walk is easy and you just follow the rock cairns and other assorted track markers, you are walking through fairly open country and you get some great views.

The gorge is huge and there are two main swimming areas, we were lucky that there is still water flowing so we could appreciate the falls as well. We spent a couple of hours swimming and lazing around, it was quite hot on the walk back so when we got to the Manning River we decided to swim across after putting backpacks and cameras in the boat for someone else to pull across for us.

Another wonderful day and our next stop is Charnley Station.

---

Photos

The Walk

Manning River
boat crossing

Manning Gorge
Top of the gorge

Gorge Walls
Bob drying off

Manning Gorge
Swimming hole

Manning Gorge
Wonderful rock shelves for sunbathing

Manning Gorge
swimming in with Jenny, Peter and friends

Comments

[Erica and Ron]

Our favourite place too........
It was one our best spots too, and we all helped Jenny celebrate her birthday.