Dangar's Falls

After my trip to the Gara Gorge, Bec, Max and his friend Ryan came to stay for a couple of days en route to Canberra after some time on the Gold Coast and its hinterland. To keep them occupied, and taking advantage of the still remarkably warm winter weather, we decided to go out to Dangar's Falls out in the Gorge country. By the way, our extraordinarily warm winter means today has reached 16 C (or 60 F) as I attempt to post this message. On arrival, we started our visit by looking into the pool at bottom some 200 m below us (about 660 feet).

The second picture below show the flattish New England Tablelands landscape beyond the gorge and close to the full height of the falls - themselves hidden from view.

We then trod the path to the top of the falls, a route that is picturesque and exciting in its own way. En route we witnessed the rocky landscape through which the river flows. I didn't take a picture of the falls from the top because they we were essentially invisible.

We turned around to walk back to get a great view of the falls as Salisbury Water plunges over the top of the gorge. At this point I noticed that Max had disappeared, only to told that he was rock-hopping his way back towards our car. Part-way back I took a side trip to a look-out in the hope of seeing him. Guess what! I was lucky. Here he is trying his luck  jumping from one boulder or platform to another - see the next three pictures.

Miraculously, he didn't get his feet wet. That encouraged Bec to also try a bit of rock-hopping, something she accomplished with aplomb. We met up at the attractive lake near the parking lot.

It was then just a short uphill hike to the barbecue area where people can cook and eat meals and admire a full view of the falls. The first image below shows the full extent of the falls - and we were at  the top earlier. The drop you see is c. 183 m ( or exactly 600 feet).



You'll have to agree that it's a great view. Fortunately, our improved rainfall recently has led to a substantial flow. After heavy rains, the views on either side could be swathed in mist.







One more item! Max decided he wanted to toss a boulder over the platform he was standing on and see where it landed! He searched for a boulder, found one, and here he is about to toss it. Don't worry, there was no-one below - I made sure of that. And the boulder landed without any serious damage to the ecosystem.

That's it! An enjoyable trip was had by all.

AS

Gara Gorge

Last Sunday I was at a loss for things to do, and decided to revisit the Gara Gorge which I hadn't seen for a few years. When I arrived there, I was surprised to see the car-park full despite it being mid-winter. However, the day was lovely with great sunshine, little wind and perhaps a temperature around 16 C. This time I didn't walk the main tracks which I have used many times in the past but tried to find the path that leads to the swimming pool at the base of the falls. The scenery was lovely as the pictures show.

I started my walk on the western side of the Gara River just before it falls steeply into the beautiful gorge

And, while the track rose and fell a little, it remained overall roughly horizontal. I was intrigued at the large number huge rocks that dotted the western side of the path, like the ones shown here. Since this area was not glaciated in the last ice-age I wondered how they got there.

Shortly, on the left, the ground gave way to steep slopes down into the gorge.















And, as I walked on, I spotted the lake ... or swimming pool at the bottom of falls, as shown below. I once had a swim there, albeit in mid-summer when the water was quite warm. It would never occur to me to swim there in mid-winter!

Looking to the south-west from where the last picture was taken, I spotted another cluster of large boulders and decided to climb around them to get a better overall picture of the countryside.


There wasn't any formal path so I had to be careful where I trod. And I imagined there might be a few snakes hanging around!











Having explored the countryside around the falls, I returned to the car and drove upstream to the Blue Hole where I can remember the kids swimming and floating in what is now the distant past - well over 200 years ago. Doesn't time fly! In 20 years I'll be in my mid-90s and hopefully enjoying still walking around this gorge.

As you can see from the pictures below, the Blue Hole had a lot of water in it from much higher rains in 2020. But there were no people around swimming in or rafting on the placid waters, few if any willing too risk hypothermia from the cold water.

Looking upstream, you can see how picturesque this spot is ... even on a winter's day.












And looking downstream it also looks beautiful, albeit more shaded.

Just beyond the distant edge of this lake the Gara river begins to slope down to edge of the falls.

Come and see it some time if possible. And, for history lovers, somewhat further down the gorge is the site of Australia's first hydro-electricity generation plant.



AS