Carnarvon Gorge has certainly lived up to expectations!!
The drive from Emerald to Carnavon Gorge was beautiful with rolling hills then as we got closer the sandstone cliffs. We arrived at Takarakka Bush Resort at lunchtime which was great as it meant we had the rest of the day. The campgrounds were great, huge space and heaps of shade from all the gum trees, and so it should with how much it cost for a powered site at $44/night. A bit pricey but was well worth it in the end with what we got to see. The first day we spent tidying up and doing washing and stuff while the girls played. In the arvo we went for a drive to get our map for the walks in the gorge at the visitor info place down the road and also had a swim at the rock pool. It was a tad hot this day a so was hoping a swim would cool us off but the water was warm. The only cool water was on the floor of the swimming hole which Marty found bringing your legs up quick brought the cooler water up, refreshing enough. Beautiful place, we were the only ones there.
The next day we woke early and got ready for our 14km return hike. I had planned to try and get up to the Aboriginal art gallery then in our way back we would veer off to the other sights. So off we went all geared up, starting our walk at 8am. We got to our first creek crossing and made our way across the rock steps, Marty carried Meg while Boo gave it a go herself and ended up coming off and got her shows wet. We contained on after the tears were wiped away, wet shoes and all. The walk wasn't too bad to the art gallery, usual bush walk with heaps of creek crossings which slowed us down a bit. The weather was good for walking, cooler and it also rained a little at the start of our walk. We got to the art gallery at around 11am, the girls were going well but we sat for a while and took in the artwork on the rocks whilst the girls had a bite to eat. The walk was taking longer than expected and l had only packed snacks, thinking we would be back for lunch.....
We made our way back down the track veering off to Wards Canyon, totally spectacular! It was this little place with a small creek running through and high sandstone cliffs covered with moss and beautiful plants surrounding the area. After Boo had a tantrum, probably due to bring a tad tired, we made our way down the track to the Amphitheatre. We had to climb this huge ladder to get there, the girls did well. We walked thru this narrow path with huge sandstone walls on each side of us that we could touch them with our arms out. We then arrived at this awesome Amphitheatre were the sandstone had been eroded away from water to create this hole were plantlife thrived. It was awesome and was cool looking up at the huge sandstone walls that had spider webs stretching across from one side of the wall to the other. We fed up on shape biscuits and water and then made our way carefully down the ladders. Next stop was the last before heading out and Marty and the girls were tiring, well me too but l couldn't tell them that!! We made our way to Moss garden which was the hardest of our walks l thought. It had heaps of steps and climbing thru rock boulders...Meg had had enough at this stage and had to be carried a little. When we got to the Moss garden we were all tiring and sweating and hungry. It was a beautiful place with a little waterfall and swimming hole, that you weren't allowed to swim in though but it was full of dirty stinking crows and their bird s***! We conjured up our strength and made our way down all the steps onto the main track with Marty carrying Meg on his shoulders now. We walked the last 3kms and it felt like the length of the 11kms we had just done. Boo was amazing and ended up being a pro at the creek crossings by the end of the walk. We were all dragging our feet and got so excited when we saw the last creek crossing. We finished our walk at 3:30pm, only a measly 7.5 hours later!!! All l could think about was Dusk and what she would think making those girls walk that distance....lol!! Marty was even thanking god he was so happy to be finished, well we both were lol!! We drove back to the park were we sat for the rest of the day!!!!
We woke the next morning being a little stiff and legs tight, but bit too bad really. The girls were fine and running around. It was going to be a lazy day until l spoke to this lady Christina who had been here before and she talked up this walk to Boolimba Bluff. Well l just had to go! Marty didn't so l asked the girls and they said they wanted to go. I was happy to take them myself but Marty didn't think l could do it, so he reluctantly got his walking shoes on. I made sure l packed lunch and we were back on the walking path again by 10am, luckily the weather not too hot but warmer than the day before. We headed of on our 6.4km return hike not really knowing what was in store. OMG!! It was full of steps and that wasn't the worst of it, besides Marty cursing me and the girls whinging a little we then got to this step climb of ladders and steps. It was soooooo hard, our legs burnt. What seemed like a lifetime, we finally made it to the bluff lookout and it was spectacular!!!! Totally worth it, but whilst admiring the beauty l couldn't stop thinking about the walk back down. We sat for a while and had lunch, with Boo having to intercept a bloody bird from taking her sandwich. We took some pics and then a deep breath in before heading back down. At least Marty was smiling at me again, even though still cursing me!! Meg had to be carried a far bit of the way and l don't know how Marty did it down the steps and steep descent, l tried but my legs just shook. He felt so bad for Boo who always missed out in the shoulder rides that he gave her a go. She was so happy which made it worth it. Anyhow, long story short, after a hefty climb down and distracting the kids with singing we got back to the car all b*****ed at 2pm.
Now you would think we would just go back and chill out....not so. We got in our swimmers then went back to the rock pool for a dip but it was too cold for us. We then stopped of for a small 1 return walk to Baloon cave, which was disappointing, not even a cave! For the rest of the day we rested while the girls played with a group of girls they'd made friends with earlier. Marty and l sat around listening to music and having a well deserve drink! After tea Christina and her husband Paul came over for a beer and chat which was nice. That night we all slept like babies!!
The next day we packed up and headed off to make our way to Boof and Nikki's, which would be a two day drive....all excited!!!
Bell Xxx