Wards Canyon Carnarvon Gorge

The red lichen in this canyon staining the rocks a bright red.

There are many offshoots on the main gorge walk. Wards Canyon is a very dark narrow canyon with the King Palm growing here, one of only two places in the world I think where is has survived due to the dark moist environment.

An enchanted place.

Carnarvon Gorge - continued

Another view of those white sandstone cliffs towering above.

Some of the rock art at the Art Gallery.

More cliffs above the many crossing points of the Carnarvon Creek along the main gorge walk.

Another two cliffs.

Carnarvon Gorge

The approach to Carnarvon Gorge.

This is the lawn surrounding the visitors center at the gorge. The very tame kangaroos are grazing all around.

We stayed at the Takarakka Bush Resort which was very nice with a great camp kitchen. There is also the Wilderness Lodge which seems to be the ex-national park campground but there is no camping there now only cabins to rent.

The first crossing of Carnarvon Creek on one of the numerous walks.

Carnarvon Gorge is a very steep sided gorge flanked by white sandstone cliffs. There are over 20 walks through rainforest, waterfalls and caves. There is Aboriginal rock are at the Art Gallery and at Cathedral Cave.

We only got as far as the Art Gallery as the crossings after it to Cathedral Cave are very washed out after the floods. As it was, with all the side trips the walk was 15 kms so I was quite happy.

The view from Boolimba Bluff one of the shorter - 6 kms walk.

Just look at those cliffs.

Jericho, Qld

This is the Jordan River in Jericho where we camped last night at another idyllic and free campspot together with some interesting people.

A camper from further away.

Max and Priscilla enjoying the ambience.

A welcoming campfire with a heron in the background. Below is the heron again. There was a blue heron around also but I was unsuccessful in capturing it on camera. One of the other campers had a handsome dog which was half dingo, Mutt whom we took for a walk but I neglected to capture him on film too.

Lake Dunn continued

One of the lovely sunsets on the lake.

and again.

A fisherman in his rubber dinghy.

He is off.

Andrew lighting the fire.

Lake Dunn, Qld

Lake Dunn is quite a long way from anywhere, being 160 kms from Longrach and few, apart from local Queenslanders, seem to know about it. It is not listed as a campsite in any of the official camping books. We only came here following a personal recommendation by the lady owner of the Longreach Gallery/coffee shop who showed us some lovely photographs of the lake that she and her husband had taken and recommended it as a lovely spot. The gallery is full of their beautiful photography on sale. I succumbed, yet again, as I like having reminders of our trips. The fact that I am running out of wall space does not deter me.

How right she was. It is a lovely lovely place and we had 3 wonderful days here. The camping is right on the foreshore of this freshwater lake with a small jetty. It costs $5 a night with power and $2 without power. And there are hot showers. We are parked not 3ft from the lake with the gentle waves just about lapping at the steps. We have never camped nearer to water or received better value for money + the beauty. There are also a few cabins on stilts as well as people’s caravans, also on stilts, awaiting their owners’ whim to come to this lovely spot and spend a few days.

It is on private pastoral property and the lake has been declared a wildlife sanctuary with plenty of water birds. The fishing is also good here. We have decided to stay at least a couple of days, having come so far and the ambience being so welcoming.

The road from Ilfracomb was a dirt road but from Armarac the road was paved much to our surprise. We plan to take the dirt road to Jericho from here and also camp at Jericho which people have described as even lovelier than here.

Longreach Hospital - thank you

We have a lot to be grateful for the hospital. Andrew complained of soreness around his armpit and we looked at a couple of spots like bites. The spots had multiplied by the next morning and were looking more red and angry. Dr Mum diagnosed shingles and I had heard if treated promptly there is some medication available. Otherwise it is a long and painful condition. So, the second day of the spots appearing being a Sunday we trotted off to the Longreach hospital very early in the morning. A locum from Melbourne agreed with the diagnosis and as the symptoms had been within 72 hours of the spots appearing, prescribed some quite expensive anti-viral medication. Andrew is now taking them and the spots are not spreading and he is in no pain so the treatment seems to be effective.

We are very lucky, as I was not sure how he could continue driving with the possible pain of shingles. Our trip can now continue.