Aussie
World - The Australia Holiday Resources Centre
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Aussie
World - The Australia Holiday Resources Centre
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CARNARVON
GORGE First Day FOLLOW THIS LINK TO GO BACK TO THE PARK INTRO PAGE
Do not forget to check with the rangers what kind of activity is planned during the evening. It could be a very interesting slide show (a good introductory to local flora and fauna, and also to the history of the region) well commented by a ranger, it can also be a guided walk at night, with a torch. An opportunity to discover possums, gliders, bandicoots, and kangoroos. In the morning, a good breakfast and for the most courageous (during the wintertime) a cold water shower. You are then ready to start. Do not forget to carry some water, fruits, and other stuff that are welcome during long walks. Time is needed to explore the park. We only spent two days and it is of course too short but at least we have enough souvenirs and photos to share this experience with you. The plan for the first day is to reach The Art Gallery and explore some of the side gorges. The map received from the ranger is very useful. Every crossing of the creek is labeled on the map as well as along the path. It is a good indication to know where your are.
Located at 3.6 km. from the camping area there is place you can not forget: The Moss Garden. The Moss Garden is situated in Violet Gorge. A small waterfall tumbles over a large rock overhang into an icy pool. The rock walls are dripping with water and support a prolific growth of ferns, mosses, liveworts and hornworts. It
is a wonderful place, very cool and quite were you will probably be very happy
to enjoy a short rest. If you want to take photos, be aware that it is quite
dark. Coming back at different moment of the day gives you also the opportunity
to discovered different facets of this place.
The next side walk after the Amphitheatre
is Wards Canyon located 4.8 km. from the camping area. A short steep climb leads
past Lower Aljion Falls to the small but beautiful Ward’s Canyon. At the
end of the canyon is a shaded pool fed by Upper Aljion Falls. Before going there
you should have asked to the ranger at what time the sun would be just in the
alignment of the canyon. It is a very short but special moment that you should
not miss. From time to time, in the canyon, you also have the opportunity to
see hundred of bats flying from one side of the canyon to the other. We finally arrive to the Art Gallery (5.6 km. from the camping ground). The date of the first Aboriginal presence in the area is not known but there are evidences that Aborigines were present at least 19500 years ago. The rock painting and stencils found at The Art Gallery and other sites found in the Carnarvon gorges prove it. These are among the largest sites in Central Queensland. The rock surface on which these paintings are inscribes erodes easily. To enable to view the art without damaging this fragile art, a boardwalk has been constructed.
Many suggestions have been made as to how and why the gorge was occupied but the true meaning of the gorge to the Aboriginal people is still a mystery.
It is now time to go back to the camping ground where you will be probably very happy to find some rest after this very busy walking day. |
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If
you just arrived at the main camping area and you still have one or two hours
before the dusk you can start to discover the surroundings by going for a short
walk. It is a short walk called ‘Nature Trail’. For few hundred meters
you follow the creek. The best time to do it is early in the morning or late
in the afternoon. If you are patient and quite you will be perhaps rewarded
by having the opportunity to see some Platypuses. These animals are very shy
and you will be very lucky to see one of them. We did not have this chance but
some of our friends who visited the park before us their presence.
