Porcupine Gorge walk – Central Queensland 29-08-11

Once home of the Gutjal, Jirandali and Mitjumba peoples who still maintain cultural links within this country: Porcupine Gorge National Park covers an area of 5410 ha and extends for 25km along Porcupine Creek. The creek has carved the gorge during 600 million years, revealing the multicolored sedimentary rocks. It is a unique area of savanna plains above with the gorge cut deep into its interior. A thin basalt cap has in most places protected the older underlying rock. However where this capping has been worn away, the creek has excavated a deep chasm into the softer sandstone. The result is a meandering string of waterholes during the winter months and a swift cascade during the wet season (October to April)

Impending storm – we had to quickly secure double guy ropes to hold down the tarps.

Storm clouds still swirling at sunset

Another visit by Rufus Bettong

Another day!

North to Porcupine Gorge - Central Queensland 28-08-11

Ants burrow – amazing precision in building slot entrance. We saw some other ant burrows with perfect circular entrances.

Bottle tree outcrop

Tree, sky and grasses-entrance to Porcupine Gorge that should have been named Echidna Gorge.

Rufus Bettong – small inquisitive marsupial, foraging for herbs and fruit at night.

Hughenden –Central Queensland 27-08-11

New Holland Rattlepod! - a native plant!

Crows nest! one of several, making use of ultra modern electricity poles

Hughenden Post Office

Recycled tools and machine parts make the Muttaburrasaurus – local artists Sam Brown and Terry Lindsey

Barcaldine to ‘The Lake’ (Lake Dunn) – Central Queensland 23-08-11

Glittering golden pods of the Mesquite - an exotic from South America yet lovely, popular tree

Off road stop for a cuppa

Old Tram line from Barcaldine to Aramac, a distance of 68km was built during 1911-13 and closed in 1975.

Recorded for the year in 1945: Passengers 816 First, 2,829 Second; Sheep 65,681, Cattle 2755, wool 13,253 bales, goods 2,058 tons.

Aramac Post Office built in 1912 and still operating!

Lake Dunn now gazetted as a Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a fresh water lake 1200 ft above sea level.

It’s original name is Panjingo bola meaning large waterhole and would have had special cultural significance in this otherwise arid terrain.

White Ibis and possibly Straw-necked Ibis

Sunset over adjoining waterhole to Lake Dunn

Early morning reflections

Neat gate clasp

Native ‘duckweed’

Close view of ‘duckweed’