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
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
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