Mount Scoria near Biloela

On leaving Carnarvon Gorge we felt ourselves at the crossroads. Where to go from here? Going inland without Birdsville and Innamincka seemed a travesty but due to the recent floods, the road to Birdsville had been closed. Now it has been re-opened but not to Innamincka.  Do we backtrack or leave Birdsville for another trip and head for the coast - and very probable rain? We decided to head for the coast and maybe visit friends on the way back homewards. Birdsville has to wait for the next trip.

Mount Scoria is known as the musical mountain because of the basalt columns at the top that ring when hit with another rock.

The columns on closer viewing.

Animal shots again

I thought these were cane toads but they just ordinary frogs in the toilet bowl - this is Queensland. One jumped out from the shower curtains missing my person by a few cms - scary!!!!!!!!!

The kangaroos happily grazing in the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Center grounds again.

Below the kokaburra on the hot water tank in the camp kitchen at the Takarakka Bush Resort.

The Moss Garden and Warrumbah Canyon

Moss Garden pool.

Water drips constantly from the sandstone walls of the Moss gGrden supporting a lush carpet of moss, ferns and liverworts. The small waterfall tumbles over the rock edge in the above photos.

This is the approach into another very narrow canyon underneath the Warrumbah Bluff. It is off the Mickey Creek Gorge and it is incredibly narrow.

The Amphitheatre Carnarvon Gorge

The Amphitheatre is one of those places that must be experienced first hand. Water eroding along lines of converging weakness has produced this masterpiece of sculpted sandstone whose awe inspiring walls defy attempts to capture the essence on film.

They made it easy to enter the amazing cave.

You just had to be there to see it.

Looking up at the sky from below.

The entrance looking back.

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.