We were up at 6am with the alarm and were quickly getting ready to head up to Mitchell Falls. The Stock’s were first to leave as they wanted to book a return helicopter flight and we didn’t so we said that we would meet them there. We were on our way at 6.35am. The road up was as to be expected, rough and dusty. From huge corrugations that rattled Nath’s window loose, rocky lumpy outcrops, creek crossings, dips and lose rock to small sections of smoothness that allowed some reprieve. The loud vibrations caused by the corrugations in some parts radiated right through our bodies and was so loud caused ringing in the ears that we couldn’t hear anything else. What was pleasant about the drive was the scenery. We drove through Livistonia forests that had been scorched black by fire with bright green leaves of the new growth that made for a beautiful contrast. We could see treed valleys below from the top of the ranges, with the dirt road windy its way through enticing us to explore further. It was if nothing else, a spectacular drive.
Road to Mitchell Falls
Road to Mitchell Plateau
Road to Mitchell Plateau
When we finally reached our destination of the car park of Mitchell Falls, we found Kellie, Mark and the boys eating their breakfast. We found our hiking boots and joggers in the back of the car and by the time we had them on, the Stock’s were also ready to depart, so we headed off together in search of the spectacular Mitchell Falls.
Our first stop on the trail and only 800 metres in, was Little Mertens Falls, a series of small cascades that lead to a 10 metre drop into the pool below. There is also a rather nice view out over the surrounding plane below. After a short break for photos, we continued on the track to the fork and took the left. This trail leads down to the Aboriginal Art below Little Mertens Falls and to the base of the falls themselves. The track was a bit tricky in some sections with steep, loose dirt that was easily slipped on. The artwork made the walk well worth the effort. Some of it was tricky to get to also, scaling up massive boulders under the rock ledge. Beneath the falls was lush and green with moss and ferns growing out of the rock face, and mini waterfalls supplying water to the greenery.
Walking to Little Mertens Falls
Kids at Little Mertens Falls
Little Mertens Falls
View over Little Mertens Falls
Kids at Little Mertens
Under Little Mertens Falls
Under Little Mertens Waterfall
Nath photobombed Hendrix’s photo under Little Mertens
Aboriginal Art near Little Mertens
We hiked back up the hill and found more art on the way, that we had simply walked past the turn off for. It was easy to get to and just as impressive as the last. From here we made our way to Big Mertens Falls where Merten Creek plummets 60 metres into the gorge below. The view is awesome and we went right up to the edge to look over as there is no rail to hold us back. (Unlike many other Australian States!)
Mertens Creek, notice more Aboriginal Art on the rock wall
Big Mertens Falls
After another quick break we walked the relatively short distance to the top of Mitchell Falls. We found a nice spot on the east side with a view over-looking the top two tiers of the falls. The sound of the Mitchell River spilling over the 4 tiers is loud and impressive. After eating, Mark, Kel and the boys headed off to the other side of the falls as they had to be ready for their helicopter flight in an hour. Nath found a cool spot for a photo of the falls so we headed down to it.
Morning tea looking over Mitchell Falls
Nath’s spot he found to take a photo
The photo of Mitchell Falls from the spot
Mitchell River below the falls
We then headed around to a small cascade that had other people swimming in it and having fun in the rapids that it provided, and thought that it looked like fun and joined them. After a quick costume change in a make-shift change room, we hit the water and it was beautiful. We pushed our way into the strong current at the base of the cascade which then shot us downstream at a rapid pace. The rocks below us were smooth so we didn’t get hurt.
Swimming in the cascade and rapids
We noticed that the time was just after 12pm and saw the Stock’s heading to the waiting area for their flight. Elokin and Hendrix really wanted to watch them take off, so we quickly gathered our belongings and crossed the Mitchell River without incident. Kellie, Mark, Oscar and Ethan got called moments after we arrived so we didn’t have to wait long to see them fly off.
Elokin and Hendrix waiting for Oscar and Ethan’s helicopter to take off
From here we changed back into our clothes and walked the remainder of the walk to view Mitchell Falls where we could see all 4 tiers. It really is a spectacular waterfall. This was then our turning point and we walked back the 4.3kms in exactly one hour.
Hendrix and Elokin at Mitchell Falls
Romandar at Mitchell Falls
Panorama of Mitchell Falls
Family photo at Mitchell Falls
Wading back across Mitchell River
We ate a late lunch at the table and chairs area of the car park before racing back to camp at 3.50pm. The sunset on the way was gorgeous with bright red clouds. We beat the darkness arriving home at 5.40pm. Kellie kindly cooked us all dinner tonight as she figured we would be buggered after our full-on day, and she was right. Neither of us felt like cooking tonight.
We had a lazy day today. I started with making my pancakes for all topped with banana and maple syrup for breakfast and everyone enjoyed them. Nath fixed the shocky and discovered the other one was cracked on the bottom mount and it would only be a matter of time before it went also. He also put the cherabin trap in the river with a potato as bait. Rotten potato is supposed to be really good, but ours is not rotten so we will see how it goes.
Nath fixing the shocky
Bottom shocky mount near side will break soon
Top shocky mount on far side will also break soon
While it was hopefully catching our food, we headed off to have a look at the Aboriginal Art sites in the area. We got separated from the Stock’s as they went to the day use area for a swim and we went to the art site nearest the river. We found a small amount of art and wandered around the whole site. We did find another section of art that was not on the main track. When we were back at the car the Stock’s arrived and we all left together to head to the major site a few kilometres back past camp up the road towards Mitchell Falls. Of course we didn’t stick to the walking track and ended up walking in the wrong direction around the site as we thought it wasn’t going to be signposted. As it turns out it is, so if you do head up this way, follow the track to the gate, and follow the arrows that lead you around the site. It is a huge area with many different types of art from different periods. There are 3 human skulls that look out at you from inside their burial hole. I did take a photo of it, but it didn’t feel right, so I deleted it. Nathan thought I was an idiot for doing so, but it just felt disrespectful to those whom the remains belong to.
Aboriginal Art
I like this Aboriginal Art
Aboriginal Art
Hendrix and Elokin enjoying the Aboriginal Art
Aboriginal Art at the second and larger site
Mark and Kellie get down to enjoy the art
Aboriginal Art
I like this one too
Viewing the art
When we had completed our loop and then some as we zigzagged through the site on the hunt for more art we headed back to camp to grab our swimmers and the boogie boards and then to the day use area for a swim. The water was a bit fresh for me so I just stood in the water up to my waist, but everyone else including Kellie went for a swim. Nath then went for a walk towards the waterfall only to come back and announce that he was going to ride the rapids on the boogie board and ask who wanted to join him. Ethan was first to put his hand up so he got the smaller board and off they went. The rest of us took up positions on the rocks to watch and run alongside them as they went. They had a blast but Nath did bang his knees and feet on the submerged rocks a bit. Next were Kellie and Oscar followed by Nath and Elokin and then Nath and Hendrix after much convincing. After that we couldn’t keep the kids off them. Elokin and Ethan went down again, followed by Oscar and Hendrix. It was great fun for everyone. We then walked the short distance to the waterfall to have a look before heading back to camp.
Nath and Ethan riding the rapids on King Edward River
Nath and Ethan riding the rapids
Kellie going down the rapids
Oscar going down the rapids
Elokin and Nath going down the rapids
Hendrix and Nath going down the rapids
Nath and Hendrix going down the rapids
Goanna keeping an eye on us
Oscar and Hendrix riding the rapids
Oscar riding the rapids
King Edward River
Kellie absorbing the waterfall
Nath and the boys checked the cherabin trap, nothing. By now it was after 4pm and neither family had eaten lunch. The decision was made to have something light now as we were all starving, and eat an early dinner with our outdoor movie at 5.30pm. Both families enjoyed watching “Australia” in our outdoor cinema and seen as we would be heading into that country in the next few days we thought it rather appropriate. Hendrix complained he was getting bitten by something part way in, so Nath took him inside and had a look under his shirt. He didn’t find anything so they came back to the movie. About half an hour later Hendrix started screaming that he was being bitten again, so we paused the movie and removed his shirt. We discovered that he had a centipede in his shirt biting and trying to bury itself in his skin. Hendrix was very brave and didn’t freak out. I simply wondered firstly how they didn’t find it the first time and secondly how he didn’t feel it running around his shirt. The thought just gives me Goosebumps!
The alarm went off at 6am this morning. Moments after it had been turned off, the dingoes howled again, like our own personal alarm service. We quickly dressed and packed up the van before eating breakfast out of the car by 7am. With the morning light around us, I noticed a sign… “No camping. Stay at Manning Gorge camp ground”. Oops. Well, we certainly didn’t see that sign last night.
With breakfast done and cup of tea in hand, the four of us walked the track to Galvans Gorge. I opted not to take my camera as it is quite heavy and I just didn’t feel like lugging it around first thing in the morning. Plus, I honestly didn’t think this gorge would be anything spectacular, so I opted for the phone instead. The walk into the gorge was fairly easy. It started off as a flat dirt track, and then as we reached the pools it got a bit rockier. At first we thought that was the end of it, the pools with lily pads and small water cascades over rocky ledges. But Nath continued on leading the party further upstream. Not far along, he turned to me and said “You’re going to kick yourself now!” As I got to where he was standing, I saw it. A spectacular 3 tiered waterfall cascading into a fern, pandanas and reed lined pool. In the early morning light, with no-one else here, it was a special moment.
Camp at Galvans Gorge
The piece of muffler that broke off
Galvans Gorge in the early morning light
Galvans Gorge
After absorbing the view for a while, Nath decided that we should ascend to the top for a better look. So we became rock wallabies and headed up the rocky slope, right to the top to the boab tree. The stream up there was shallow and rocky, but very pretty. From up there we had a very good view out over the valley below us. We peered over the edge to follow the water with our eyes to the next ledge. We then back tracked and went down a level to the middle of the falls. Here Nath went under the waterfall and said it was warm. He decided he needed a wash and stripped off to enjoy the moment. Only seconds after he put his shorts back on and 2 men arrived. Nath had just been trying to convince me to get my gear off and go under the waterfall too. Lucky for me I had declined as it would have been me they viewed as they arrived.
Hendrix and Elokin climbing up to the top of the waterfall
At the top of the watefall
Nath enjoying the naturally warm shower
After a short chat and a few others arrived to have a go under the warm waterfall, we headed back down the rocky slope and out of the gorge. It was now 8.45am and as we left we past an APT tour walking in. Had we got here later than we did, we certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much. Having the place to ourselves was perfect and we were so glad that we were leaving before the crowds arrived. We left Galvans Gorge just after 9am.
Romandar climbing down from the top
Hendrix, Romandar and Elokin at Galvans Gorge
Our first stop for the morning was Mt Barnett Roadhouse, where we purchased a day pass for Manning Gorge. For 2 adults it cost us $16, children under 16 are free. We decided not to stay the night as the price was too much after paying at Mt Hart. While we were sitting in the car, about 80 Australia Post bikes rode out of the back of the roadhouse. They had Bright Blue and Australia Post flags, so we figured it must be some kind of charity ride. There was so many of them. Following them was a ute with a trailer full of spare postie bikes. My personal favourite was the cookie monster helmet while Elokin liked the one with bunny ears and tinsel.
After arriving at the day use car park we put on our boots, packed a day bag and set off to Manning Gorge. The first thing you have to do is cross the river. They have installed a tinny on a rope pulley for people to use to cross. We thought we would still have to put our stuff in Styrofoam boxes to float it across while we swam, and to be honest, we were looking forward to it. You know, a little bit of adventure! After waiting for our turn, yes there was a queue, we followed the white paint markers and set off over the rocks. The walk is a long one, but the four of us did it in an hour. We climbed up and down ridges, crossed plateaus looking out over the range beyond and navigated boulders. The walk itself was not that difficult but suitable footwear is recommended. We climbed down the last rocky ledge to arrive at Manning Gorge. We turned right and followed the gorge along until we came to the waterfall, where we jumped across rocks and went to sit near it. There was a lot of people in here, but the space is big enough to not feel as though you are on top of each other. Like a rite of passage, Nath felt the need to jump off the top of the waterfall, like so many men before him. He claims that we cannot go to a place like this and not jump in. I tend to disagree as all I end up with is a wardrobe malfunction! So I opted out.
Nath pulling the boat across at Manning Gorge
Elokin, Hendrix and Nathan walking into Manning Gorge
Manning Gorge
Nath mid air at Manning Gorge waterfall
We met Ben and Cleon with their two boys James and Tommy from Melbourne. They are also travelling around Australia, on ‘not a surfing safari’. We had a great chat with them and Ben and Nath both enjoyed jumping from the top of the falls, while Cleon and I preferred the more mellow walk-in approach. The water was fresh, but bearable. Elokin and Hendrix wouldn’t jump off any of the rocks, even the low ones, but they did enjoy swimming. We commented to them that Oscar and Ethan would jump if they were here in a bid to get them to have a go, but it didn’t work. And not long after that, we looked over and saw Mark, Kellie, Oscar and Ethan making their way across to the falls. We waved them over and what do you know, the three boys (Mark included) started doing bombies and horseys off the rocks. We ate a snack and managed to fill most of our day chilling out at the waterfall. Cleon and Ben left before us to take the boys back for lunch as they are camped here at Manning. We eventually decided to leave at 2.30pm with Mark, Kellie and the boys. The four kids all took off in front of us and raced back. It was great, we didn’t have to listen to our kids whinge that they were tired and their legs were sore and they couldn’t possibly walk back. You know the excuses all kids come up with.
Getting back across the river, Kel and I boarded the boat with the four kids while Mark and Nath swam across. The kids got out on the rock in the middle of the river to play before swimming the last leg with the Dad’s. Kel and I bumped into Kate and Stewart on the bank and had a chat while we waited for the rest of our party to get out of the water. They really did have a great time. Elokin and Hendrix decided to try doing a bombie and loved it! They even tried a horsey. We then made it back to the car and had a chat with Cleon and Ben as we had parked opposite their camp site without knowing. We had to drag ourselves away to make tracks to find a camp before dark. We really didn’t want a repeat of last night. At least this time we wouldn’t be alone as Mark and Kel were with us. Kel had found a spot she thought would be good, so we headed for it. We left Manning Gorge at 4.20pm.
Tonight we are camped at Hahn River Rest Area on top of the hill. We would have liked to be down at the river’s edge but there are 3 others camped here and the river spots are taken. That’s okay though as we got to enjoy the sunset from our higher vantage point. The kids went off and collected fire wood as soon as we arrived. Nath got out to open the boot doors to discover that the heat from our non-existent exhaust pipe had melted our tail lights and rear bumper. Arrghhh!!! It looks as though it may have caught fire, but lucky for us crossing the Hahn River would have put it out as it was quite deep. Our poor car. I think she is in need of some TLC.
Creek crossing on the Gibb River Road
Freshly graded Gibb River Road
Cool looking mountains on the Gibb
Our melted tail light and bumber
Camp at Hahn River
While we were quietly sitting around enjoying our fire and the kids had gone to bed, a car came to the other side of the river and fired some shots at something. We are thinking feral cats or dogs, maybe, although one of the shots was very loud and too big for chasing small vermin. It was pretty scary. We turned our outside light off to not attract attention to ourselves. After they left, thankfully, we heard loud footsteps, like cattle. But then the sound we heard wasn’t a cow. We could see the figures just off in the distance with the light of the almost full moon. It looked like a horse. Mark didn’t think so, so Nath wandered off towards it to get a closer look. He called back, yes, that is a horse. We had 3 brumby’s wandering around. It decided it didn’t like Nath and bolted back a few steps. As soon as he returned to the fire and us, the horses came closer. It was very special.
By this stage it was getting late and the fire was dying down. The temperature without the warmth of the fire was freezing, so we put the fire out and called it a night. From bed we heard the brumby’s come right into camp, but given how cold it was, we didn’t pull our arms out of the blankets to open the window.
We were up at 7am this morning and greeted with another beautiful winter morning in the Kimberley. We ate breakfast and packed up camp. At 8.55am we left camp and headed west on the Gibb River Rd, back to the Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge turnoff. It was a nice drive through the King Leopold Ranges. The sign at the entrance said to count the creek crossing and enjoy the serenity, so we did just that. We counted 5 creek crossings with water, but plenty without, so perhaps we should have been counting them instead. Maybe tomorrow on the way out.
Road to Mt Hart
Creek crossing
We arrived at the reception and booked in for just the one night. That has cost us $50 for the family. The price has gone up as the information I have said it would be $40. A massive $10 price rise! Anyway, we are here now and driven the 50km driveway to get here, so we aren’t turning around now. The staff was very friendly and up for a chat which is always nice.
By 10.45am, we had set up our camp in the campground and were heading off to the gorges on the property. The track to the gorges starts from the campground and heads north. We decided to drive to the furthest point and then make our way back stopping at all of the sights. So 8kms from the campground is the Big Boab. We crossed a deep creek crossing to get to this, even though the man at reception said to walk across and it would be thigh high. When we reached the creek Nath said that this must be what we walk across. I looked over and saw 2 cars parked on the other side and disagreed with him, that the car park must be on the other side. No, Nath was right, but we made it through like the 2 vehicles before us, no worries. The boab tree is said to be one of the oldest in the Kimberley and around 1000 years old. It is not alone, as it has a strangler fig holding it tight. It was really impressive to see and absolutely massive.
Camp at Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge
Creek crossing near big boab
It got deep
Elokin and Hendrix with the big boab and strangler fig
We left there and made our way back 500 metres to the fork in the road that leads to Annie Creek Waterhole. It is then a 1km drive to the car park and a short stroll up a rocky creek bed to the water. We were slightly disappointed with the waterhole, as it would have been nice had it not been covered in spider webs and spiders. We are guessing that no-one has swum here for quite some time.
Walking to Annie Creek Waterhole
Annie Creek Waterhole
We moved on and drove back 5kms to the junction for Mt Mathew Gorge. It is then a further 1km drive over a rocky but graded road to the car park. Here we ate lunch in the car park before setting off up the creek. The walk is marked by rock cairns and is an easy, but uneven walk across boulders and a rocky, dry creek bed. Now, you can walk as far or as short a distance as you like. The emphasis on this gorge is more of a sink and dip in the pools along the way, more than an actual bushwalk. So the first deepish pool that we came to, Nath slid into, and encouraged Elokin and Hendrix to follow. Elokin got in, eventually, but only because her dad assisted her. Hendrix was going to get in, but changed his mind.
Track to Mt Matthew Gorge
Hendrix got got left hanging
Mt Matthew Gorge
Swimming in one of the waterholes
After they were refreshed, we continued on to an even bigger pool and waterfall. It was a great place for a swim, although the temperature was refreshing. But luckily there were nice hot rocks to lay on to warm up. We all got into this pool, and then a family from Sydney that we had chatted with earlier and another couple joined us in the water. A few bright red dragonfly’s were flying around and landing on the rocks near us, so Elokin took the phone after I put it on macro setting for her, and I had my camera. We each had a dragonfly near us to photograph. Elokin got really close to hers, and with the macro setting, she got an excellent photo! I was jealous. Mine were not as good as it with the expensive camera.
Nath, Elokin and Hendrix in the waterfall at Mt Matthew Gorge
In the waterfall at Mt Matthew Gorge
Elokin, Romandar and Hendrix in the pool
Hendrix laying with a red dragonfly
Elokin’s photo of the dragonfly
Elokin taking her dragonfly photo
Hendrix climbed up high on the rocks
We were the last ones to leave Mt Mathew Gorge. Nath decided he would swim back through the pool as far as he could. He didn’t get very far, and then had to wash off in the deeper pool he was in earlier as he got covered in green slime. The reflections on the pools by this time were fantastic and I loved it.
Nath swimming his way back through the gorge
Once back at the car, we drove back another 2kms to the secret fishing spot for a look. The pool itself was very pretty, with lily pads, paperbarks and reeds. We don’t know how much fish would be left in there, but we weren’t going to try. We continued on, past camp and the homestead to Barker Pools, south of the homestead. We found a spot by ourselves and got out to go for a swim. Barker Pools is a deep section of the Barker River that is suitable for swimming; however the part we went to wasn’t. Downstream where the other people were may have been, but where we were was covered in slime and not very deep, so we gave it a miss and headed back to camp. It was too early to stop at the sunset hill, so we figured we would head back to that after we got dinner organised at camp.
Barker Pool
Of course things don’t always go to plan and this time ours didn’t. We cooked dinner and got our shower stuff organised, but by the time we were eating, the sun was getting low and we would have needed to put our dinner down and leave to make it to the summit of sunset hill before the sunset. Nath decided that was a silly idea and I had to agree. We called it and enjoyed the sunset from our seats eating dinner. Hendrix then got the soccer ball out and started to kick it around. Elokin joined him and they both have good dribbling skills. They then changed ball and game and started to kick around the football. Nath joined in and taught them how to drop-kick it. I decided they were having way too much fun without me and joined in as well. It was a fantastic way to end the day.
We then got our shower stuff and headed to the ablution block. The kids got stripped off, but when Nath checked the water only to find that there was no hot water, we got them dressed again, got into the car and headed off to the homestead for a hot shower. No way I was paying $50 for my piece of dirt and not enjoying a hot shower, considering it has been about 3 weeks since we had a decent one in Broome and we all needed to wash hair. The shower at the homestead ablutions was great and the four of us piled into the ‘disabled, or for those who are confused’ shower/toilet cubicle. Back at camp, I cut Elokin’s hair after brushing it, as she had too many split ends and it was getting far too knotty. It looks so nice and healthy now.
At 5ish this morning after a calm night, the wind started buffeting the camper. It was still windy when we got up and cloudy too. Nath and I walked up to the camp host tent with our morning cuppa to pay for tonight. It was really cold this morning, and by the time we walked back the 150 metres or so, the hand holding my now empty tea cup was freezing.
Once back at camp, Tom and Jac were itching to go, so we got ourselves ready before Nath, Elokin and Hendrix walked to Mark and Kellie’s camp to see if they were ready also. They weren’t but Nath said they had time while he and the kids walked slowly back. We then got in our cars and headed off to Knox Gorge. Nath drove the 48kms like a rally driver without the van on the back. Tom kept up and we arrived together. As we were getting ourselves organised, Mark and Kel arrived which was fantastic timing.
4 out of the 6 children, plus Nath, lead the way down the steps and along the ridge. Ethan and Fletcher hung back with the remainder of the adults. The ridge led us to the gorge access track which then saw us traversing down the steep talus (scree) slope to the gorge floor. We were walking on broken slabs of rock which made it very slippery and unstable. Knox Gorge is quite a deep gorge we realised as we looked up at the towering red cliffs around us. We turned left and walked along the gorge floor. By now it was just Kel, Jac and I walking together as everyone else had left us behind. We dawdled along taking photos, chatting and looking for cool rocks and at cool patterns in the rock surfaces. We had to cross the creek on stepping stones, navigate corners clinging to the cliff face above water and climb over rocks. It was a very diverse walk. Nath had stopped waiting for us to take a photo of us 3 girls and we didn’t even notice him perched on the cliff above the pool directly in front of us. Of course we had to do a funny, so what we ended up with is what looks like Kel smacking my bum and Jac onlooking with big thumbs up. It really is hilarious and totally not what was happening. But we all had a good laugh all the same.
Nath then took off after the others as we meandered our way down deeper into the gorge. We walked over stepping stones across a metallic red swirly pattern on the dark rock slab. The three of us fell in love with it and could easily visualise it as our kitchen benches. It is probably the most impressive rock I have ever seen, and formed entirely by nature. When we finally arrived at the Gorge Risk Area sign the boys were throwing rocks into the shallow rock pool disturbing the peace. There was a branch about a third of the way up the escarpment wedged across between the two sides. If that is how high the water comes streaming through here in the wet, I definitely don’t want to see it. That would be an unrelenting raging torrent stopping for nothing. The gorge got really narrow here, effectively forming a bottle neck where the water would have no choice but to go up to continue its way down to Red Gorge. Nath had already been down past the stop sign and had seen Red Gorge. He showed Jac, Kel and I the photos he had taken on our phone and we were really impressed to the point where we had to go too. Before heading into the restricted area, we had a bite to eat and waited until some other people that had arrived to leave. To continue on we had to do another spider walk, like in Hancock Gorge. Only this one was narrower, but more vertical on the sides with less to grip. The other families had not yet done Hancock Gorge so weren’t familiar with the spider walk. Kel decided to not go ahead with it after seeing where she would have to spider. She has slightly shorter legs and figured she would struggle to find grip, which is fair enough. I wouldn’t like to fall either as it would be a very quick, slippery slide down. Jac was in front of me, behind Nath who was being our tour guide. She got part way down the spider walk and then thought better of it and turned to head back out. Nath offered to carry her camera for her and she took him up on it and willingly handed it over. She then continued to go underneath me as I was spidering, making her quick escape. Nath then said to her that no, he meant he would carry the camera but she had to come and take the photos. After a bit of convincing Jac decided to stay with us but walk behind me. I must admit, it was tough going. At some points I had to put more weight on my arms as my feet, in hiking boots, couldn’t get enough grip for me to feel comfortable. Luckily it wasn’t a very long distance before Nath announced we had arrived. I was surprised as I had been paying attention to where I was putting my hands and feet and not looking around me to discover my surroundings. What lay before me was a pile of rocks, some branches and then a big boulder wedged in between the gorge walls which was now less than a metre wide. This was when Nath realised that the whole lot must be suspended in the air as the water was running under it and out beneath a massive tree trunk about 15 metres below, that we could see from on the boulder. We sat on the boulder and admired the view down to Red Gorge. Directly below the tree truck was what looked like a really cool turn to the left in a water slide. The gorge walls had lines of blue among the grey. Below that was a small pool and then another waterfall. The walls of the gorge were red beyond that and then opened up into the beautiful blue waters of Red Gorge, which as the name suggests has red walls. The sun shining on the red walls gave them a golden beauty. Jac was, as she put it “crapping her pants” perched on top of the boulder and was quick to take her photos and get off it. She was going to ditch us and flee the scene, but Nath gave her some great advice: take a breath and chillax. She hung around and waited for us, well me, as I was quite content sitting on the boulder admiring the beauty that lay before me. I think I could have sat there taking photos all day long, but Nath did give me the hurry up and made me head back to the rest of the group.
Knox Gorge
Once the others saw us coming back out of the spider walk they made the move and started heading back. I got left behind, again, when I stopped at the red swirly rock face trying to find a small piece of it to take with me. I could hear ahead of me the sounds of people bombing into the deep rock pool, so I hurried up and joined the others in taking the plunge and making a splash in the freezing cold water. After getting wet and skimming rocks, Tom and Jac with Oliver and Fletcher were the first to leave as they wanted to get to Hancock and Weano Gorges today. We then followed suit with Kellie, Mark, Ethan and Oscar.
Up top I quickly made us some lunch and we headed off to Kalamina Gorge. Mark, Kellie and the boys headed off to the Visitor Centre, but we had all agreed to meet later at camp for Happy Hour. Kalamina Gorge is one of the longest gorge walks in Karijini with a distance of 3kms. It is not the hardest though and I found quite pretty from a photographic perspective. After an easy climb down the steps we were greeted with a reed lined blue water pool with paper barks leaning over it. We turned right and walked the short distance to the Kalamina Falls. It is a small waterfall in comparison to Fortescue or Joffre, but has a tree growing out over it and grassy roots hanging over the edge of the top. After a few photos we turned around and continued on through the gorge.
Kalamina Gorge
I really liked this gorge. There was lots of colour and texture. Green and blue pools of water, reeds and grasses, paper barks, boulders, small water cascades and the red gorge walls surrounding us. This gorge is quite wide for the whole section that we walked. One of the cool things we got to walk on was a thin paperbark tree that had grown sideways, to the rocky ledge before growing up to the sun. It is still alive and now acts as a bridge over the small creek. The gorge walk ended at the Rock Arch Pool where we turned around and headed back to the steps. Along the way Hendrix had a bright red dragonfly land on his shorts. He freaked, thinking it was a wasp about to sting him. The next living thing Nath found and it was a grasshopper. Unlike any grasshopper we have seen, this one was black and as the kids would put it, with Aboriginal dot painting all over it. I had to put my camera away as Nath and the kids had left me behind, again, and I knew that if I kept it out I would not make it out of the gorge in the daylight as I stopped to take photos every few metres. I did catch up to them and it was after 4.30pm when we made our way out of the gorge. We then headed home to make our lunch time cuppa as I was in need of it now. The sun was low on the horizon and it lit up the landscape beautifully on our journey. It was just after 5pm when we made it home.
As the kettle boiled, all of the other kids arrived on bikes to see if we were home as happy hour had started over at Kellie, Mark, Stewart and Kate’s camps. We made our cuppa and drove to Warlu Loop to join the others. As it turned out we were the only ones to do another gorge this afternoon. Fletcher had crashed out so they came home instead of going to Weano.
Kel mentioned that this morning she wrote a poem about bushwalkers. After much persuading from the rest of us, she read it aloud. She was kind enough to give me a copy of it for me to share with all of you. So have a read if you like below. Please note: it does contain explicit language so it is not appropriate for young ones. It is funny to hear Kel tell it, and I will try to get an audio version at some stage if we meet up with them again.
Ode to the Loser that Litters: By Kellie Stock
Pick up your blood red orange peel,
Your banana and apple core
Think, you lazy twat
And stop leaving your sh!t on the forest floor
And those of you who think its ok to leave a tissue
Or two
As a salute to a twinkle, you decided to sprinkle
Or a poo
F**k you.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all
Some tossa decides it’s ok to write on a rock wall
‘Road trip 2007’, or Pino and Mac
I’d rather not read all that dribble and crap.
In my opinion I think it is witty, hilarious and speaks with honesty and truth. The typical Aussie way of dealing with a problem, humour.
Heading down into Knox Gorge, Oscar, Elokin, Hendrix, Ethan and Oliver
Elokin, Hendrix, Oliver and Ethan heading down to Knox Gorge
Oliver, Elokin and Hendrix climbing down to Knox Gorge
Oliver, Hendrix and Oscar climbing down to Knox Gorge
Elokin climbing down to Knox Gorge
Looking back up the steep talus slope
Jac climbing down to Knox Gorge
Knox Gorge
Watching people climb down to Knox Gorge
Knox Gorge
Knox Gorge
Knox Gorge
Jac and Kel climbing through Knox Gorge
Red swirly rock that I LOVE
Mark in Knox Gorge
The spiderwalk to Red Gorge
Romandar and Jaclyn doing the spiderwalk
Romandar taking photos of Knox Gorge
Romandar in Knox Gorge
Elokin and Nath jumping off the rock in Knox Gorge
Nath and Elokin jumping
Elokin and Nath jumping
Hendrix and Jac jumping off the rock in Knox Gorge
Hendrix and Jac jumping
Hendrix and Jac jumping
Hendrix and Jac bombie
Jac and Hendrix bombie
Hendrix and Jac bombie
Ethan bombie
Ethan bombie
Ethan bombie
Tom and Fletcher jumping off rocks in Knox Gorge
Tom and Fletcher jumping
Tom and Fletch bombie
Jac and Romandar jumping off rocks in Knox Gorge
Jac and Romandar bombie
Jac and Romandar bombie
Blue water pool at Kalamina Falls
Elokin at Kalamina Falls
Nath, Elokin and Hendrix at Kalamina Falls
Kalamina Falls
Elokin, Hendrix and Romandar at Kalamina Falls
Kalamina Falls
Elokin at Kalamina Falls
Green mossy pool
Red dragonfly
Hendrix, Elokin and Nath in Kalamina Gorge
Hendrix climbing the boulders in Kalamina Gorge
Kalamina Gorge
Hendrix and Elokin climbing across the paperbark tree bridge
Elokin and Hendrix at Rock Arch Pool in Kalamina Gorge
