The temperature rises very quickly in the mornings. It is usually 15c within a very short time and is usually 26c by 9.30am. It is best to do the walks in the mornings and be back at camp for lunch.
This is our last full day at the park and we are heading to the South section to do one of the most popular walks – Cathedral Gorge Class 3
There was only one other car in the car park when we arrived, so I took the opportunity to take a photo of the Piccaninny Car Park. When we got back after our walks all the car parks were full and there were three buses in.
The Domes Class 3 – 700 metre loop walk.
You walked around some of the free standing domes and up a small gorge where there was a very small pond, there were several very small frogs in the pond. If you are a frog and pick the wrong location, your survival chance is minimal. Apart from the predators, lack of water, when it finally rains you are then pounded by a torrent of water trying to bash you against rocks.
From the Domes walk you continue on to Cathedral Gorge (2km return) through narrow paths of Spinifex.
The walk involves a lot of very soft loose sand on the path. You walk through banded domes, pebbles and potholes to the amphitheatre. We were lucky enough to be the only ones in there for quite awhile.
We were leaving and a tour group of elderly (yes our age) were heading up. There were a lot of people who should not have attempted to try this walk, attempting it with a walking stick is a bad sign. It requires a fair amount of agility.
Glen is in the amphitheatre
Here is a view from inside looking back to the entrance. The water is clear but stagnant. I couldn’t see any frogs in there. There were animal tracks along the path coming in for the water.The debris against the walls suggest that this entire area fills up to 3 metres deep whilst flowing down the gorge.
When we returned to the main track, we took the turn off for Piccaninny Creek Lookout – Class 3. This is a 2.8km return walk. We passed this turn off the other day on our way to Whip Snake Gorge.
Piccaninny Creek flows into the Ord River.
It is only mid morning, but the dry creek bed is beginning to heat up.
It was a lovely view from the look out.
Back at the car park, it was full and lots of people every where. We had managed to time our visit perfectly and enjoy the Cathedral Gorge by ourselves which was pretty special.
We had one more point of call on the way back to camp – Elephant Rock – yes, there is even one out here.
Actually two elephants
Having a cup of tea, I glanced towards the tree next to our annex and slowly into my vision came a very nicely camouflaged dragon. We had been here nearly four days and I hadn’t noticed any lizards at all.
When I approached he absolutely bolted to the top of the tree.
After about an hour, I got up to go to the tap and he was on the ground and bolted for another tree, when I got the camera, I also noticed another one up the tree. I tried to take a look at him and he moved around the tree, so I got out of his vision hoping to see him on the other side, the moment he lost vision of me he came back around to see where I was. A little game of hide and seek.
Now at the top of the tree, out of reach.
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