Blackdown Tableland National Park

Now this is a beautiful part of this area that we will be returning to sooner than later !!

The view from Yaddamen Dhina Lookout

The park is found east of Blackwater in what is known as the Central Queensland Highlands. The National Park lies in central Queensland 183 km west of Rockhampton. The signed turn-off on the Capricorn Highway is 11 km west of Dingo. As the ascent road to the park is steep and windy it is not recommended for caravans and large rv's so we went for the day. This was a big mistake as the park was so beautiful with lots of smaller walks to views of gorges and waterfalls. Next time we will definitely take the car and tent and stay overnight. As it was we had camped for several nights just west of the park at Bedford Weir, another great freedom camp, so there is the option of leaving the caravan there.

There are several small walks to lookouts and several walks that are only 2 or 3 kms long, so ideal for me to do in short stints with breaks. There are also swimming holes for a cool off in the cool clear water on a hot day. 
While there we did the Yaddamen Dhina Lookout, and the Mook Mook walk across Mimosa Creek and over some gentle ridges to a lookout on the edge of the tableland. This offered views of sandstone cliffs and distant ranges.

Below: The Mook Mook walk to Mimosa Creek

Perhaps the reason we loved it so much was the fact the cliff views and walks along the rocky creek beds and mini waterfalls reminded us so much of home. Before my accident George and I had spent years walking the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, we had been gradually ticking off all the walks as we did them. It was our most favourite part of Sydney.

Below: Cliff Views at the end of the Mimosa Creek walk and a short canyon walk

If you haven't been to Blackdown Tablelands N.P, put it on your list !

By Lynne

Carnarvon Gorge Qld by Helicopter !

Carnarvon Gorge and a Helicopter Ride !

While at Carnarvon Gorge a while back I relaxed at the caravan while George walked the 14 km gorge track as far in as the Aboriginal art gallery and amphitheatre. As this is not something I am physically able to do I missed out on seeing it all so George suggested I do the helicopter flight instead. Now this is not something, I would normally do as it is expensive but I was feeling like I missed out on seeing something really special so I relented. Funny how it worked out though ... George wound up coming too. 😉

The helicopter flight actually does not fly over Carnarvon Gorge as that is a restricted area, it flies over another amazing series of gorges adjacent to Carnarvon Gorge. 

Although I have flown in several different small sight seeing planes before, I have actually not been up in a helicopter. This was a whole other experience, and the air and winds caused it to be a choppy take off that was a little unnerving to begin with, and I had been offered the front seat !

Once more I wont try to explain what we viewed from the chopper but will just post pictures ... They will tell it better than I could explain !

 Some of the shorter walks, showing the vegetation and Carnarvon Creek. The wallaby was a Pretty Face wallaby. 

 On the road into Canarvon Gorge there is the historical site of a WW2 air crash which we stopped to wander around.