Magnificent Mitchell Falls

Before our hike to Mitchell Falls, we visit Helihike for a weigh in and safety briefing for our helicopter ride this afternoon. The helicopters are 5 seater so they can carry all of us. Our combined weight was... well let’s just say we are under the limit!

We have allowed 4.5 hours to complete the experience with a 12.15pm flight back to camp. The camp and roof top tent are already packed away so that we can drive off once we return from Mitchell Falls.

Passing Little Merton Falls once again, we continue the hike in and follow a dry creek bed all the way to an impressive canyon 150m deep. It’s Merton Falls, Big brother of little Merton Falls and 10 times the size. The main waterfall has dried up but there’s still a small waterfall feeding the gorge which comes out half way down the rock face.

Mitchell Falls is on the other side of Merton Falls so we follow the path and soon reach the top of the falls. It’s a rock hop over smooth boulders to the edge of the falls. In the wet season, the whole area would be flooded filling up all the dry rock beds and flowing endlessly over the falls.

The main river feeding the falls is calm as it slowly makes its way to the first waterfall and cascades down. There are three pools in Mitchell Falls separated by waterfalls as they quickly follow gravity down to the river at the bottom. One can imagine the sheer force and volume of water flowing over the falls in the wet season. Even now at the start of June, it’s impressive considering how dry the season has been.

I find the edge of the top falls and do my impersonation of Usain Bolt.

Further up the river, there’s a pool which is ok to swim in. The 3 main pools of the Mitchell Falls are sacred ground and the Aboriginals believe that anyone who swims in them will be cursed.

A track at the top provides access to the cliff edge where we are treated to a full frontal view of the magnificent Mitchell Falls. It’s an amazing natural wonder and we sit and take in the view in awe of nature’s work over millions of years to form the deep gouging waterfalls.

We are only 20km from the ocean but this is as remote as it gets as the land is so raw and isolated.

We track back to the swimming hole and take a dip then make our way to our 12.15pm rendezvous for our Heli ride. All on board. Jen gets the front and myself and Andrew take the rear exit doors (sorry, there’s no rear doors...) with Anne safely sitting in between us. It’s a six minute ride looping over Mitchell Falls a number of times then heading back to camp.

The view is awesome but with the rotor blades creating a wave of energy, it’s difficult to take photos and video. We do our best whilst making sure we enjoy the moment. The river widens in the distance and we can see the shore line and the sea 20km away from our Heli vantage point.

The helicopter ride is over all too soon but a great experience and so worth the difficult drive up here. Back at camp, we make sandwiches for lunch then start the return journey back down the rough road to King Edward River.

DRIVE: Mitchell Falls to King Edward River (80km).

We pass a grader machine making its way up to Mitchell Plateau followed by a semi carrying a mechanical digger and towing a 4WD on the back. It’s quite a convoy of heavy equipment going up the steep road ahead. They are preparing the road for grading and I am not quite sure if the grader at the front has made the road any smoother as we sit inside his tracks on our way down the road. It’s still as bumpy as ever and the vibration inside the 4WD is endless.

Finally, we reach King Edward River Campground on the banks of the river and the rattling stops. I need a coffee, quick...

Camp: King Edward River Campground / 1 NightRead more