The road in

Leaving the Carnarvon Highway we were pleased that the OBriens Road into the National Park was now sealed and the deepest creek crossing now has a bridge. On our visit in 2015 (you can read about it here), the 40km road was dirt, a fine dust that got in through every vent and covered the inside of our van. The road goes through unfenced farm land, and the cattle were in no hurry to move out the way.

Takarakka Bush Camp

Takarakka Bush Camp, now owned by BIG4 Breeze, is a large caravan park surrounded on three sides by the Carnarvon Creek. It’s a lovely park with lots of trees and wildlife, including plenty of local kangaroos and wallabies, and platypus in the creek (although we didn’t see any platypus). The water supply comes from the creek and a large solar farm powers the camp.

Carnarvon Gorge

“Carnarvon National Park covers 300,000 hectares and has been a national park since 1938. the gorge itself receives up to 60,000 people a year, making it one of the most visited parks in Queensland”.

The visitors centre is about 6 km from our camp. Around the visitors centre are expansive picnic grounds with picnic tables, BBQs and amenities, information signs, shady grass spaces and plenty of car parking.

Nature Trail

An easy 1.5 km loop walk from the information centre, along the banks of the creek, with 2 creek crossings.

Main track

From the visitors centre the main track winds its way through the gorge with 15 creek crossings and lots of stairs. Each of the small side gorges with their unique characteristics, branch off the main track.

It was distressing to see the damage done by feral pigs along some sections of the main track. Various methods of culling are done in the park in accordance with the Australian National Feral Pig Action Plan.

“Pigs were brought from Europe to Australia by the First Fleet in 1788. Imported as livestock, pigs soon escaped and established wild populations. In 2021, it was estimated that Queensland had up to 2.3 million feral pigs. They are among Queensland’s most widespread and damaging pest animals.”

The Moss Garden

This is the first gorge off the main track. When I came here as a school girl in 1972, this is the only part I have vivid memories of. It enchanted me then, and still does. One could imagine fairies or elves dancing across the mossy rocks when no one is around. Magical!

The Amphitheatre

Ward’s Canyon

The path from the main track basically went straight up, but the reward was worth all those stairs. You enter the canyon behind the top of the waterfall, such an amazing place.

Indigenous History

“Carnarvon Gorge’s rock art sites are thought to have been in use for at least 3,650 – 19,500 years.”

“The most underrated aspect of the Carnarvon Gorge experience is the indigenous cultural heritage, obvious at sites such as the Art Gallery and Cathedral Cave. Archaeologically and anthropologically, these sites are of international significance, containing examples of stencilling techniques considered to be the most sophisticated of their kind in the world.”

The Art Gallery

Cathedral Cave

This was the furtherest we got in the gorge because the track to Big Bend was closed. A 22 km hike, and we crossed every one of the 15 creek crossings.

Mickey Creek Gorge

About halfway along O’Briens Road, between our campground and the visitors centre, are signs for Mickey Creek Gorge. it has its own car park and is well sign posted.

Heading off, as the rain has set in.

cheers til next time, Helen & Tim.