CARNARVON GORGE

Carnarvon Gorge in Carnarvon National Park (since 1932) is an unspoiled habitat in the Queensland's Central Highlands.  Towering white sandstone cliffs form a steep sided gorge with lush narrow side gorges. Boulder strewn Carnarvon creek winds through the gorge. There is a wealth of cultural and natural heritage here.

There are 25k of walking tracks.

Aboriginal art site. Baloon Cave

We climbed into this crevice which opened into an "amphitheatre".

The sun shimmers on the palm fronds.

INTO THE WIDERNESS

We were lucky. The rain stopped and the road opened into Carnarvon Gorge. It is in Central Queensland in a remote area without phone, TV or internet connection. We stayed at The Carnarvon Widerness Resort. 

It is a walker's paradise. There are many walks, long, short, difficult and easy. We chose a fairly easy walk to the Moss Garden and Amphitheatre. We took a provided cut lunch with us.

We walked along the floor of the Gorge and hugged the big trees.

We crossed the streams and looked up at the tall walls of the gorge.

Then we entered a side gorge and climbed many steps and stairs.

At the end of the walk was the Moss Garden, an area where water is continuously dripping through the porous rocks.

There was a pretty little waterfall, which I found difficult to capture due to the strong contrast of bright sunlight and dark caves.

We sat and had lunch at the lookout under the rainforest canopy. Then we continued on to the next side gorge.

At the end we had to climb a staircase to enter the Amphitheatre through a narrow space between the rock walls.

Inside was dark and eerie but awe inspiring. The walk took us most of the day and we knew it would be too much for Birthday Bear so we left her in the cabin to rest up for the long journey tomorrow, wherever that may be. Our friend Ann who organised our tour keeps it a secret until the morning we leave.