Carnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge came on our radar, and we opted for a two-night stay. It meant that we passed through Roma fairly quickly, but Beth still found time to give their biggest bottle tree a hug.
Overnighting at Injune allowed a midday arrival at the gorge. The afternoon involved some minor exploration and enjoyment of the open air and prolific bird life.


At 8.20 a.m. on Saturday 20th we left the visitor information centre and headed to Cathedral Cave. At 4.50 p.m. we returned, tired and sore, after 24 kms exploring the various features of the gorge. Boominda Gorge, the Amphitheatre, Moss Garden and Ward's Canyon were all magnificent and distinctive, while Cathedral Cave and the Art Gallery gave us glimpses into the past of the indigenous Australians.


Our original intention had been to walk out to Cathedral Cave and then explore each of the gorges on our way back. The evening before we left we sat in on a sales pitch for a guided walk - and the guides' favourite was Boominda Gorge. When we arrived at our planned destination we discovered that it was just 100 metres further on. A short walk took us to the gorge opening, and we could wander in as far as we liked. The going was a little tough, not like the well-maintained paths we had walked for most of the morning. Instead we clambered carefully over rocks large and small, making our way up the winding passage carved into the sandstone. Softer portions of the rock had been worn away over the centuries. Raging torrents had forced their way through the narrow channel, cutting ever deeper into the rock.


These periodic expressions of brute strength left their mark and we marveled at the sculptured walls that now towered over us. One hundred metres became four hundred or so before we headed back to the other exhibits of natures majesty, power and beauty.

We left the gorge the next day and resumed our trek west.