Gorge-ous Days at Carnarvon (Part 1)
On the drive into Carnarvon Gorge, we stumbled across the C-47B Dakota aircraft crash memorial. Tucked quietly off the side of the road, it’s one of those unexpected roadside stops that gives you pause. The memorial honours the crew and passengers who lost their lives in 1943, and it’s a peaceful spot to stretch your legs and reflect for a moment. Among the gum trees and birdsong, it added a layer of quiet history to the start of our visit—reminding us that even in remote places like this, there are stories worth remembering.
We pulled into Sandstone Park a little earlier than expected, set up camp quickly, and realised there was no way we were waiting until tomorrow to start exploring. With the afternoon light softening and our legs restless, we headed out to find the Rock Pool.
It didn’t take long before things got interesting. Rounding a bend in the track on the short walk to the pool, we spotted a cluster of large, dark shapes ahead. “Bears!” we blurted out, not thinking, oops! We sent the Canadian tourist in front of us into a panic. Turns out, they were just a mob of very relaxed black bulls enjoying the shade. The bulls didn’t flinch, but our poor walking companion might need a while to recover.
With the “bears” behind us and the Rock Pool found, we decided to stretch our legs properly with a quick 5km round-trip into Mickey Creek Gorge. It turned out to be one of those short walks that really surprises you. The further in we went, the narrower the walls became, wrapping around us in towering curves of sandstone. Light filtered down in stripes, birds called from unseen ledges, and it was suddenly very quiet. It felt like the gorge was swallowing the noise.
Mickey Creek might be a short hike, but it left us speechless, a stunning entrée to the feast that is Carnarvon Gorge.
Exploring the unbeaten paths of Australia, one adventure at a time! 🌿 Follow along as we uncover hidden gems, tackle rugged terrains, and head Off the Main Road to embrace the thrill of exploring offbeat destinations. 🚙💨
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Our Carnarvon adventure kicked off with black bull “bears,” startled tourists and a stunning warm-up walk into Mickey Creek Gorge. A perfect taster before the main hike into the heart of the gorge.