• Bandilngan National Park

    21 Eylül 2024, Avustralya ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    The home of Windjana Gorge, where we drive past as we head to Tunnel Creek which is in Dimalurra National Park. We are following a couple of vehicles here this morning - so we're obviously not the only ones thinking it best to get our walking done in the morning before it really heats up.
    We arrive at the parking area for the Tunnel Creek walk and others are already here. We get ourselves ready for the walk - we're in bathers with shoes on that we're prepared to get wet, hats, Roger carrying his water bottle and I've got my hiking backpack with a few extras in it (sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellant, head torch and a couple of muesli bars).
    Once we get to the Tunnel entrance (only a short walk) and discover how much rock clambering involved with lack of light, I realise I'm overpacked with my back pack and my head torch (always been a weak one) is not really giving me confidence to walk in the dark. Roger quickly decides to leave his water bottle and hat near the entrance for collection on the way back. We proceed into the tunnel/cave finding we have to wade in water and tackle the gloom pretty much immediately. We continue through the 1st pool of water and try walking into the next larger pool of water - to find that it's going to be deep enough to have to swim. I realise I'm not happy to proceed as my backpack isn't waterproof and my head torch is not bright enough. Roger agrees as he doesn't have a light - apart from his mobile, and we've no waterproof bag to keep it dry. Oh well, we've enjoyed what we've managed - lots of fun, I hope we can come back and do it fully one day - we'll be better prepared! Less unnecessary gear - and better lighting and waterproof bag (small). Certainly don't need hats or sunnies etc! Head back to our ute and drive back the way we came in, so we can check out the Gorge etc.
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