Clermont

There is a great internet connection here - the mobile tower is about 500 metres away. We are now in a paddock in the blackblocks of Clermont which is about 300 k's south of Charters Towers and about 100 k's north of Emerald. We had hoped to be in Charters Towers tonight but someone who shall remain nameless (Mike) forgot to look at the distance from Carnarvon Gorge to Charters Towers!!!

Anyway to backtrack to Carnarvon Gorge...

On our first afternoon we did a little walk to Rock Pool and then wandered along the creek for a few k's. Next morning we were out on the creek walk to Art Gallery. It is about 6 or 7 k's in but a lovely walk along the creek with many little crossings. The Art Gallery was fantastic with lots of Aboriginal stencils mainly of hands and boomerangs, all in excellent condition.

Next we wandered to Wards Canyon - a beautiful canyon very narrow, with a little stream running through it. In one little corner grow King Palms, one of the only sites in Central Queensland where they can be found.

Then it was on to Ampitheatre. Wow, that place was extraordinary. After climbing up a series of ladders you then enter a long chasm and at the end it opens out to a circular cavern (without a roof). Just mind blowing.

After the Ampitheatre we headed in to the Moss Garden. It was a bit of a hike uphill, but worth the walk. The walls in this small chasm were covered in moss, there was a stream leading into a little rock pool. Just delightful.

Then after all those wonders we then had to stagger, and I mean stagger, back to the car about 3 k's away, The walk was about 14 + k's and every muscle was aching.

Next morning after a good night rest we decided to go kindly on the legs and do a short walk. We wandered into Mickeys Creek Gorge (nice), then deviated off to another gorge which does not feature on in the guide books. It ended up being the highlight. We wandered into a chasm that was about 10 feet wide with a stream running through it, so we did lots of rock hopping, The chasm went on and on, as did we, until the chasm got narrower, darker, the water got deeper and so, deciding that we did not want to have to risk our cameras any further we rock hopped out.

Which brings us up to today. Just another drive in central Queensland. Tomorrow we will definitely be in Charters Towers for a few nights then on to Undara for the lava tubes for another 3 nights.