Heading North and Carnarvon Gorge

We left Palm beach on the 8th of July, very excitedly to be on the road again.  Feels great to be back travelling together again, felt like we didn't see Mark for 3 months while he was working.  Our plan was to spend up to ten days heading to Far North Qld to meet up with our mates to do Cape York, so we didn't have a lot of time.  We had been up the East coast, so decided to head inland and up instead.
After so long not tripping around, it was almost like we were starting the trip again.  We got so excited over, our first wave from a fellow caravanner, hearing someone talking to us (Travelling Long) over the UHF and of course getting out the Camps6 book and getting fellow travellers advice!

After driving for four hours we made it a little late but got the last spot at Chinchilla Weir.  A free and really picturesque spot.  We set up, had a walk and took a few pics.  We had promised the kids a camp fire and marsh mellows but unfortunately there was no wood to be found, to many other campers!  Later I was inside and Jake snuck off, then we heard him.  He had found the biggest and best camp fire, introduced himself to the old couple and asked to toast his marsh mellows!!  I didn't know if I should growl or be proud of his resourcefulness.  We ended up befriending John and Jan, and spent the next couple of days camped near them. 



We left Chinchilla, drove past the Weir and there were heaps of pelicans on it, I found this very weird.  I always thought they were sea birds, but since then I have seen them inland on lakes again.  We stayed at a free camp before Roma, at Wallumbilla.  Basically not much there, but it was on the way.  Most exciting thing that happened was that Mark finally lit his Choofer (a camp fire on legs made from a gas bottle).  Looks awesome, he did a great job.  He made it as lots of places wont let you have a camp fire unless its contained.
We decided to head into Roma for the day.  I had this preconceived notion that it was this pretty quaint old town with lots of character.  Well it wasn't, we didn't find it particularly fascinating.  We went to the info centre, did a walk by a river, but wasn't very pretty then went for a walk around a lake, but that's about it.  They had advertised for mini train rides, kids got excited, but it wasn't open.  So we got their scooters out and they pretended to be trains! Then we went back home.

Toot Toot

The Lake

Last year Mark read about Carnarvon Gorge and wanted to go there.  So we especially went inland just to see it.  We rang up and booked in at Takarakka camping ground, they told us it was a dirt road with a couple of creek crossing but they weren't deep and it would be fine in our big van.  Well it kinda wasn't!!  We headed along this dirt track that then turned into a muddy sloshy slippery road, with steep hills.  Towing a three tonne caravan was not good.  We slipped and slid a bit, almost came to a dead stop on one of the hills.  Did the little river crossings, which weren't so little, apparently Mark felt our van start to float through one of them.  He smartly didn't tell me at the time!!  As we came down this really steep hill into a water crossing a couple had stopped their van and were washing it, you can imagine Mark, a few choice words were said.  We got to the road into the camp ground and people on the other side of the river crossing stopped to watch us try to get through, not a good sign.  But it was ok and we made it in.  Mark refused to go in to the office and gave me the delightful job of getting cross at them for not warning us when we booked.  When I went in side, they said how did you get that van in today, its 4wd drive only today due to all the rain they'd had.  Anyway, we were a little worried (make that a lot) as to how we would get our van back out again, as more rain was predicted.  We decided to stay and hope the weather was ok.  We are so glad we did.
We had an absolutely spectacular time at Carnarvon Gorge and at Takkarakka.  Apparently the road is hardly ever like it, and if anyone ever heads that way, RING FIRST on the day you plan to go.  We learnt our lesson the hard way.
We spent the next few days walking through the national park, meeting the other travellers, sitting round the camp fire and basically having a great time!!!  We met Kristina, Sam and Jessie, who were travelling in their camper trailer.  Jake had a great time playing with Jessie.  We met our neighbours John and Jenny, a lovely couple from Sunshine coast.  And of course little Millie, this really cute little 3 year old who kept introducing herself to everyone, she and her parents are also travelling around Australia.  So you can imagine we all spent quite a lot of time chatting with all these people!!  We also went to a free talk one evening all about the gorge, was run by this guide who new a bit about everything in the area.  Can't remember his name and Mark says it old mate.....  :)

Not a bad spot for a camp

We headed out and checked the info centre out, another nice slippery drive.  We went for a walk along the Nature Trail, nice walk with a bit of rock hopping crossing the creek.  A good one to ease us in for our big walk to come.

We walked in to Baloon Cave, only a short walk, and saw these amazing rock paintings.  They look so new still, just like someone got a bit of paint and sprayed it around their hand.  Which is what did happen, just lots of years ago.  Its amazing how the art has stood the test of time and been so well preserved.  Not sure our old Crayola paint would stay on that long!!

We spent a few hours catching up on washing and just hanging out at camp that afternoon, and I captured a few cute pics.

Charlotte feeding her pet snake Bindi

We set off on the main hike in the area.  A 14km track, so not too far!!  We didn't tell the kids how long it would take, best not to scare them too much.  The walk is basically this pretty flat main track that meanders through the gorge with these side tracks you can do if you like.  We did all of them, and boy were they worth it.  The main part of the walk is a fair bit of creek hopping, through semi pretty bush, but when you get to the other tracks, wow its beautiful.

We walked as far as we planned to go then did all the side tracks on the way back.  First stop was the Art Gallery.  More aboriginal art but on a much grander scale.  I have never ever seen such art before, it was really unique and interesting.  Kids had a great time spotting all the boomerangs, hand prints etc.  The next day the kids and Jessie got some red dirt/clay and made their own hand art, very cool.

Next we took the side track to Wards Canyon.  We got almost the way in and the canyon and a little waterfall.  All looked lovely so I said to Mark lets head back.  But he wanted to see where the rest of the track went.  He was right, was a spectacularly beautiful place.  A place for fairies and elves, as we told the kids. Ferns, water, moss all in this canyon, made a magical place. 

The main part of the walk the kids, especially Jake was looking forward to was the Amphitheatre.  It is a natural area of rocks and gorge that allow these amazingly noisy echos to take place.  You can imagine the kids, they just yelled and yelled.  Pity for the old couple who chose to stop there for a relaxing lunch, but really, not the smartest move!

Crazy stair case to climb

From there we trekked in to the Moss garden, another surprise. It was also really beautiful, moss growing every where. Hence the name I guess!!! I was hopeless at getting a good pic of the moss, I blame the mist!  But did get some nice pics of the waterfall and a great family shot.

And then all we had to do was walk back to the info centre.  What seemed such a short manageable distance seemed to extend and grow hills on the way back!!  The kids were awesome, Jake only complained for the last km.  We were all pretty tired when we got back.  But such an amazing place and so well worth the effort of walking so far.
Around the gorge area and camp there were lots of animals.  Charlotte was fascinated by the kangaroos especially the ones with Joeys in their pouches.  Mark loved the kookaburras (Not), one swooped in and stole his bacon of his plate one morning, not happy!!  Apparently they get so pesky that the rangers have to get a license and shoot them.  Charlotte was horrified.

We had a wonderful time at Carnarvon Gorge.  Met some great people and saw some beautiful sights.  Just what we were needing.  We packed up and followed our neighbours out.  The road was ok this time.  A little slippery but no where near the like the drive in.  Our nice neighbours kept waiting and checking we were ok, which was lovely.  All in all a great few days. 

Next stop was Sapphire for the night.  We found a free camp, not the best spot but hey it was free.  And there were all these rainbow lorikeets, Jake had a great time with them.  The next day we went to Pats Gems to go fossicking.  We all had a good time, well for the first half an hour.  Then we all got a bit bored with it.  Kids were pretty proud to have found a few little blue sapphires, until they were told they weren't worth anything.  Then Mark found the biggest one!

We were heading north pretty quick, not much time to get washing done.  So we stopped next to a BP servo for the night.  In amongst the red dirt I hung a line up and the washing dried a treat!

Charters Towers, well I don't really know what to say other than I was disappointed.  Mark had really wanted to go there, had been told it was a interesting place.  We thought it was going to be this great country town with old buildings.  Well the buildings were there, most with new shops in them.  The old stock exchange and a few others were nice.  A funny little quaint museum off the stock exchange was OK for a look.  We went up to the lookout which was interesting.  Lots of info on signs about the area, that was well worth a look.  Then that was about all we did.

Stock exchange

Quaint old museum

View from the hill

Last year we went to Paronella Park, as part of your entry ticket you can go back through out the year and get a free nights accommodation in the van park.  So of course we did, as we were in the area.  Went on the night tour, which was great.  The place looked great all lit up.

 Our next stop after Paronella was Mareeba.  To catch up with our mates the Ellis family, and to plan and organise our Cape York adventure.  But the most important thing was that Charlotte had her eighth birthday there.  Can't believe she is getting so old, luckily she is a wonderful and amazing girl.  We had a great day.  First she was spoilt with lots of pressies, phone calls from family and friends, then we spent the day with her mates.  We went to Granite Gorge for a walk, play with the rock wallabies, a swim in the water hole and a BBQ tea.  With the Ellis crew, Dan, Kaz, Sam, Will, Zac, Tim and Pat (Kaz's parents).  Pretty sure she had a great birthday.

Charlotte, Kaz and Zaccy

While we were at Mareeba we met the Cronan family.  Nikki, Matt, Harrison, Wil and Emma from Ballina, who were joining us on our trip to the tip, along with the Ellis's.  Kids basically spent time doing school work, and playing with each other.  The adults sorted gear and the cars out, making sure everything was in working order before we left.  Kids liked checking out the old termite mounds and racing into the bush to see a kangaroo skeleton.

Jake Charlotte and Wil

Ok so we are all sorted, now to leave Mareeba to head to Mt Carbine to drop the van off and begin Cape York, we are all very very excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!