Day 76
Distance travelled: 516km
We packed up at Cape Hillsborough and set out to try and get to Rockhampton. We drove through Mackay and got diesel before setting out on the long drive. We stopped at a coal wharf at Point Hay and saw a huge amount of coal waiting to be loaded onto ships and be transported to other countries. We got lunch in a tiny town called Marlborough and bought some pies from the store there. Our main stop was at Capricorn Caves. They are dry limestone caves not far from Rocky. We did a tour and went through the main caves. There were a few caves, the main one Cathedral cave, where they even hold weddings! It had high walls and has good acoustics, so our tour guide played Amazing Grace with the lights out and it was pitch black!
We took a long detour to Emu Park, where there is a monument for Captain Cook called the singing ship.
We got to Rocky and set up before getting some Pizza for dinner.
Day 77
Distance travelled: 338km
We left Rocky and went to Mount Hay, where we fossicked for thunder eggs, volcanic rocks that have trapped gasses in them that when cut, have a beautiful middle.
We continued to Blackwater where we ate lunch and went into a coal info centre. We looked around in there for a while, learning about the process of coal.
We stopped again, at Comet where we saw a tree that Leichardt, an explorer that travelled through the region engraved on.
Guess what, we stopped again! At Sapphire, a small gem town that mines sapphires. We went fossicking again. We loved it and got some small sapphires.
We got to Rubyvale in the end, where we set up and swam in the freezing pool there.
Day 78
Distance travelled: 331km
Although we loved Rubyvale, we had to leave. We drove to Emerald where we stocked up on supplies before heading out for Carnarvon Gorge.
We drove into the caravan park and set up, before heading out to one of the offshoots of the gorge, Wurrumburra Gorge. We walked on the track until it ended, but having been advised by the locals, kept going. The gorge was narrow, but cold and wet. We walked up on the slippery rocks and went further in. The rocks were coated with moss and the water was freezing. It was amazing. But it was getting late so we left and drove to the Rock Pool, and swam. It is a nice spot, a deep pool with a huge rock on the opposite side. We took advantage of it and jumped into the pool.
Day 79
Distance travelled: 9km
15km is a long way. And that was the distance we were walking into the gorge. Carnarvon Gorge has many walks, some as long as 86km. We went to the Moss Garden, a year-flowing waterfall and dripping limestone; the Amphitheatre, a huge hole in the limestone accessible only through a small crevice; the Art Gallery, ancient aboriginal art and Wards Canyon. The Moss Garden is a waterfall with moss covered rocks all around. The limestone drips with water escaping from the rock. The amphitheatre is huge, and with good acoustics, except for when Dad sings... It had a little island in the middle that was very green, mainly covered with moss and ferns. The Art Gallery had clear paintings of boomerangs, hands, fishing nets and the rainbow serpent.
We ate lunch at Wards Canyon, which was beautiful. It is the only place in inland QLD where King Ferns grow. We ate by the small river that flows through and the huge rocks that hung above.
After we walked back, about 7km in the heat of the day, we relaxed because we were all tired
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