Takarakka Camp Resort 15/10/12 – 17/12/10

Monday 15/10/12

We have to get the walking footwear out of the roof bag in preparation for our walks.  Peter D. had sussed out a few of the walks in the National Park  the previous morning, and came up with  a couple of easy walks to start with.

Firstly we tackle Baloon Cave – 1km from the carpark through wooded forest with fan palms, cycads and a variety of plants, some in flower.  Baloon Cave is part of the entry point to the gorge used by Aboriginal people for thousands of years. The sandstone overhang features fine examples of stencilled Aboriginal rock art.    

Then onto Mickey Creek Gorge – 2.5km from car park which leads to narrow side gorges where the walking track becomes a rock hopping adventure.  These have lovely little streams through them, along with lovely natural air conditioning.  Tony, Peter & Michael head off further into the gorge, having to clamber along ledges as well as up over rock step-ups.    Finally Tony comes to a section which going up . was a major challenge, but descending would have been even more difficult.  Peter manages to get a couple of photos with Tony in a challenging position.  Jen commented later that it was important that he had done up his fly.

Following this, it is off to the Rock Pool which is surrounded by fig and casuarina trees.  The pool has male catfish tending the young offspring, as well as platypus and turtles.

Back to the park for lunch and afternoon nano nap for Tony and catch-up time for Peter D with Michael & Dot.

At 5:00pm we head across to the assembly area to hear an address from Simon, one of the local guides.  He gives us an informative history of the area from a geological, the aboriginal and local use pre and post National Park status and wildlife. He points out the best walks and features of the park to be tackled.

 

 

Tuesday – 16/10/12

A big day ahead with walks covering circa 12 km anticipated  We head off around 8.30am and drive to the National Park and tackle the Art Gallery [5.4km from visitor carpark] walking through woodland and crisscrossing the river via large stepping stones. The Art Gallery has over 2000 Aboriginal engravings, ochre stencils and free hand paintings over the 62m long sandstone walls. Unfortunately examples of visitors engraving their names/initials over the artwork as far as back as 1952 can be seen.  Surveillance cameras are now in place as a deterrent.

Unfortunately Peter had a knee injury playing up and Dot and Michael and he would catch up with Tony & Jenny as they waited at a resting seat/s on many occasions.  As we head back we divert to Ward’s Canyon, which is a small but beautiful side gorge – a great photo opportunity.  The short steep track winds through spotted gums and around a small waterfall into a beautiful cool place [it is starting to warm up]  containing the world’s largest king fern.  Water containers were replenished in the lovely cool running stream.

Back to the main track and then another diversion off to Moss garden where water drips constantly from the sandstone walls which supports a lush carpet of mosses, ferns and liverworts.  A currawong flew down and took his trail bar out of his hand as he attempted to pass a trail bar to Dot.

We all head back to the main track and then back to the carpark, (where an echidna is wandering around} ….unfortunately in the heat of the day arriving home around 3.00pm for a very late lunch.  Tony’s recommendation of having bananas to stave off cramp is taken up.

We had encountered a couple of French lads [with little English] leaving for the full circuit [32km] at around  2.00pm without water….they arrive back at the camp kitchen around 7.00pm totally exhausted.  Their evening meal was potato chips.    Peter D said they should be eating meat & vegetables.  Michael suggested Duck a l’orange which was met by a “Ugh”   Peter D quickly translated with a “Quack Quack” which the French boys understood,,,,,,,This broke Tony up completely.

 

 

Wednesday – 17/10/12

Everyone pulled up reasonably well after yesterdays effort.  A very quiet day with a small walk around the park in the morning and then Tony takes us off to another private safari park for a Devonshire scones & coffee for morning tea.

Back to camp for a casual lunch and some housekeeping tasks in readiness for tomorrow’s departure to St. George.

Dot gets Peter D. to transfer some photos to her laptop and then together look at the features on her Nikon camera, whilst Tony has his usual nano nap and Michael does some work on the blog.

Michael is pleased to have Peter D with us since it takes some of the pressure off Michael being the butt of Tony’s jokes – hehe.