Sunday 18 April 2021

Western Queensland National Parks - 18 Apr

A mother wallaby (called a jill or doe) and her joey
"What are you doing here?" (John's photo)

Group of people camping around a picnic table
The picnic table was great for preparing breakfast

A lot of the history of this area is linked to the Kenniff brothers as outlaws, and you can read more about it on Wikipedia and this paper at UQ.

Kenniff's Lookout sign

First trip was past Kenniffs Lookout, which was really a view of where the lookout had been. Then the incineration Site, where it is believed the bodies of Constable George Doyle and Albert Dahlke had been burned. 

Incineration Site monument and sign with Al and Chris
(John's photo)

Plaque on monument for Sargeant Doyle
(John's photo)

Al walking down to the creek, Darryl at the creek
Darryl and Al trying to work out exactly where the incineration site was.

Rocks in the creek, thought to be the incineration site
Rocky creek bed, perhaps the site? (John's photo)

Unfortunately, the actual Kenniff Cave is now restricted, as we would have liked to have seen the artwork there.

Along the track we passed through some interesting areas, including one with many cycads, including some of the tallest any of us had ever seen. 

Large cycad cone with orange seeds

Very tall cycad
(John's photo)

Top Shelter picnic hut having morning tea
(John's photo)

White Butterfly on a yellow daisy
(John's photo)

Dell, Chris and Al having morning tea
(Darryl's phtoto)

Large Cycad bent over almost touching the ground
(Darryl's phtoto)

View of distant mountains across a valley
(Darryl's phtoto)

Yellow Daisy

View of distant mountains across a valley

Backs of people looking at view of distant mountains across a valley
(John's photo)
Top Shelter shed was a 'top spot' for morning tea, then on to the "Mahogany Forest", which was really confusing to us as no-one could see any tree which we could say was Mahogany, in fact all we could really see were lots and lots of tall Stringy-bark. 

Sign: Mahogany Forest and Head of Carnarvon Creek

This took us to the head of Carnarvon Creek, which is the top of Carnarvon Gorge. 

Al leaning on a tree with view of distant mountains
(John's photo)

Cars parked in the bush
(Darryl's phtoto)

Sign: Head of Carnarvon Creek
(Dell's photo)

Darryl walking under extemely tall cycads
(Dell's photo)

We had a look around, and decided to go back to a shady spot in the "Mahogany Forest" for lunch. 

John sitting in camp chair eating lunch in front of his car on the road
Lunch 'on the road' literally (Darryl's phtoto)

Chris and Al eating lunch in the bush
(Dell's photo)

"suposedly" Mahogany Forest, but just Stringy Barks
The 'Mahogany Forest' which is really just Stingy Bark (confirmed for us by the Ranger)

Flocks of budgerigars surprised us, as I had only seen them previously in more open country.

Elkhorn growing on side of a Cycad

Where we were camped is one of the camping grounds on 'The Great Walk', and a small swing bridge brings walkers across the creek and to the grounds. 

Sign: Maranoa Circuit Walk
(Dell's photo)

Back of Darryl crossing the swing bridge
(Dell's photo)

Dell between some trees and rocks
(Dell's photo)

That night the temperature dropped and we all enjoyed Darryl's campfire.

Darryl, Chris, Al and John sitting around the campfire in the dark
(Dell's photo)


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2 comments:

  1. Darryl13 June 2021 at 17:37

    The tap water piped to about five placess around the camping area was clear, and of exceptional quality. The smooth-barked apple gums looked similar to spotted gums but their bark was pinkish and had vertical creases.

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  2. Darryl14 June 2021 at 04:51

    Our neighbour on the farm told us we had mahogany and I could never understand to which tree he was referring. I have just found out that what we have always referred to as stringy bark is part of the mahogany group of eucalyptus. While on a guided tour of the Tahune Airwalk we were told they referred to it as tasmanian oak and were trying to find uses for the timber but the twisted grain made it difficult.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_acmenoides
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringybark

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