On the last day before Bec headed back to Canberra, she joined Max, Dot and me in an afternoon stroll along the tracks around Wollomombi gorge. It was a gorgeous winter's day - please excuse the pun - with relatively warm temperatures (about 13 C), a cloudless sky, and pure air - not a whiff of pollution. The quality of light was extremely good and we could see long distances across the New England Tablelands. In short, an excellent environment for a walk through quintessential Australian scenery. What follows is a photographic commentary on our journey.
The main track we took was towards the Wollomombi river before it plunges in a huge waterfall to the bottom of the gorge 250 m (c. 750 feet) to the bottom of the gorge below. The track goes on view the nearby Chandler Falls, but we didn't go that far. Max and Dot are crossing a little dry creek bed at this point.
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Shortly after we reached the Dingo (wild dog) fence designed to prevent the animals escaping from the National Park to harass sheep. And then we saw the fine temperature controlled and air-conditioned mound the termites tend to build for themselves. This one was about 1 m high.
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A nearby lookout provided an excellent view of the deep gorge. This photo looks downstream - the river is flowing away into the distance and curves sharply through the various rock spurs shown in this picture.
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Max negotiates a fallen tree across the path - there must have been a fierce storm a while back because we found several such trees.
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Looking down into the valley containing the Wollomombi River.
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And after a steep descent, the National Parks service has provided a metal walkway across the river. On the day we traversed it the flow had declined to a small trickle, not the thunderous cascade it becomes after heavy rain.
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Looking up-stream the river bed was mainly strewn with large boulders.
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But downstream there was a series of little ponds around which Bec and Max scrambled rock hopping.
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And, alongside the rive I saw this gnarled tree clinging to life. It looked as if it had been struck by lightning which demolished some of the branches. However, there was also some new growth.
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Altogether a pleasant 4 km (2.6 mile) stroll through a beautiful setting.
AS
The main track we took was towards the Wollomombi river before it plunges in a huge waterfall to the bottom of the gorge 250 m (c. 750 feet) to the bottom of the gorge below. The track goes on view the nearby Chandler Falls, but we didn't go that far. Max and Dot are crossing a little dry creek bed at this point.
Shortly after we reached the Dingo (wild dog) fence designed to prevent the animals escaping from the National Park to harass sheep. And then we saw the fine temperature controlled and air-conditioned mound the termites tend to build for themselves. This one was about 1 m high.
A nearby lookout provided an excellent view of the deep gorge. This photo looks downstream - the river is flowing away into the distance and curves sharply through the various rock spurs shown in this picture.
Max negotiates a fallen tree across the path - there must have been a fierce storm a while back because we found several such trees.
Looking down into the valley containing the Wollomombi River.
And after a steep descent, the National Parks service has provided a metal walkway across the river. On the day we traversed it the flow had declined to a small trickle, not the thunderous cascade it becomes after heavy rain.
Looking up-stream the river bed was mainly strewn with large boulders.
But downstream there was a series of little ponds around which Bec and Max scrambled rock hopping.
And, alongside the rive I saw this gnarled tree clinging to life. It looked as if it had been struck by lightning which demolished some of the branches. However, there was also some new growth.
Altogether a pleasant 4 km (2.6 mile) stroll through a beautiful setting.
AS
1 comment:
What a lovely day out. You have some great scenery.
Tomorrow I am taking my 4 3/4 old grandson, Jenson, to a steam and diesel railway festival at Swanage, Dorset, U.K.where there is an 8 mile track for the trains to run on.At the other end you can visit historic Corfe Castle before returning.
Richard Snow,
Poole.
Dorset.
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