Art Gallery & Wards Canyon

There is a multi day, 87km Carnarvon Great Walk for the most dedicated hikers taking in the rugged plateaus of the Great Dividing Range, aptly named “Roof of Queensland”

We opt to do the most popular 14km hike on the main walking track which takes in the big 4 natural attraction; Art Gallery, Wards Canyon, Amphhitheatre and Moss Garden.

There are lots of creeks to cross and many of the stepping stones are submerged so little hops become big hops and big hops end up with a splash and wet feet. All good fun.

The rangers advise hike to the furthest point first then visit the sites on the way back. So we hike to Art Gallery which features over 200 Aboriginal engravings, ochre stencils and free hand paintings along a steep sandstone wall. It’s amazing to think these artworks and stories have been on the sandstone for a few thousand years.

Got me thinking and without disrespect, but what would us white folk adorn as a stencil for millenia to come. It has to communicate something so I guess an outline of my IPhone 8 which would just look like a rectangular box.... oh Apple would tell you it’s much more than that! That’s it, it would be the Apple logo.

After more quiet contemplation, we meandered down to Wards Canyon. It’s well protected from the elements with its own climate so a great place to cool off from the heat of the day.

This is a special places as it shelters the world’s largest fern, The King Fern, Angiopteris evecta. This impressive green dinosaur is rare indeed and has survived here in this pocket, “Wards Canyon”.

Excited to see the next two natural attractions, we retrace our steps through the blackened ferns.

See Amphitheatre and Moss Garden on next footprint.Read more