Vikings in Australia - Víkingar í Ástralíu

15^th September

We left camp and headed into the western section of the Gregorys national park. We headed to Limestone Gorge, to see some interesting formations. The drive from Timber Creek along the Victoria hwy to the turn off is only 12km, but the drive to Limestone Gorge through the park on gravel roads is 47km. As we arrived at the turn off for the last 8km drive into Limestone gorge, we found out that the last 2km were closed as was the Limestone campsite. We could only drive 6km in. The rest would have to be done on foot. We were determined Vikings, so we headed in. Stopped first at the Tufa dams, then did a short walk along the Limestone ridge to see the Calcite waterfall.

Tufa dams are formation in the Limestone Creek, which are quite interesting. Over a very long time, the limestone fall out in the creek in combination with some algae growth have created this phenomena. It’s called Tufa. I took some pictures to show you, but I’m sure if you want to know the intricate details, you can Google it!.

The Calcite walk was quite interesting, although it was short. Here the Limestone has been worn down by acid in the rain that causes it to be heavily pitted. Then it has fractured and formed very sharp edges. This type of Limestone is called Karst. Being Limestone it also has fossilised Stomatolites, which are considered the oldest evidence for life on this planet!!. Stromatolites are primitive bacteria that tends to form colonies in a cabbage like structure seen from above. They tend to be up to a meter in width, but here they are up to 20 meters in width. Further on there was a lookout over the ridges and the creek with the white calcite flow. They don’t allow access to the creek due to it being sacred by the Aborigine’s. However it was fine to see it from the lookout.

After this feast for the eyes, we wanted more! There was a 1.8km loop walk from the Limestone Gorge campsite we wanted to do. However, as the campsite was closed and the road to it closed there was nothing to do, but walk. So we walked the 2km to the Campsite and then did the 1.8km loop walk from there. Thus we walked around 5.8km all up!. It was only 35 degrees, not too bad!

Walking the 2km to the campsite was more interesting than doing the loop walk. The path is along the escarpment of the Limestone ridge and it has some interesting formation. The loop walk was not very difficult, but not as scenic as we thought it would be. We also went down to the Baines River, just to check if there was water there and it was. It’s hard seeing the river as the vegetation along the bank almost blocks it out! These rivers are also full of crocs, so it’s not advisable to swim!

After all this walking, we headed back to the track in the park and drove another 7km to the Bullita Homestead. This is a historic homestead that was abandoned quite some time ago. After inspecting some of the houses there, we headed back out of the park.

We drove another 28km along the Victoria hwy to get to the eastern section. We wanted to see Jasper Gorge. It’s another 56km into another section of the national park. Half way through we came across this care coming the other way. It was a Holden Commodore Sedan, full of young people, obviously having a good time. After passing them, we noticed empty cans of VB (Beer cans) on a regular basis.

There is no walk in Jasper Gorge. You simply drive through it!

We have walked through a gorge, we have swam in a gorge, we have paddle on a Kayak through a gorge, we have flown over a gorge and finally we can say we have driven through a gorge!!

Jasper gorge is very scenic and the drive in and out is quite scenic. There is a bush campsite alongside a large pool in the river. Once again, no swimming!

We looked at the campsite and close by there was this huge Boab tree. I parked the car next to it and it was wider than my car! Judge for yourself!!

After this we headed back to Timber Creek to drive into some of the lookouts there, plus take a gander at the Victoria river from the Bradshaw bridge. This river is huge, even now in the dry. It must become massive during the rainy season!