Boolimba Cliff Walk, Carnarvon National Park

The following morning we were up earlier than usual, and by 8am we had had a quick breakfast of porridge.Then, with our snack packs and lunch box, we were soon shaking our way in the van along the four kilometers back to the Park Headquarters where we noticed the Caloundra students' bus in the car park. 

At the start of the main track, students and their back packs were waiting, obviously somewhat impatiently in some cases, for the rest of their group to join them. A conversation with them revealed that we were all taking the same track, the Boolimba Bluff Walk! 

Yes! Sam had decided that the most difficult track in the park was the easiest one for him because, at 3.2km it was one of the shortest and offered the end reward of extensive views across the gorge. I was quite relieved to hear that we would have company along the way, should the going cause any problems. Off we went, leaving the eager, energetic students to wait for one of their teachers and a couple of students to arrive.

Cycads along the main walking track

The first part of the walk was quite easy, following the creek in the opposite direction to the one we had taken the day before. Then, leaving the main track, we headed uphill which involved some step climbing. Although it was early morning and still cool, this activity soon had us warmed up and we paused a few times to sip water or take a breather. Before long we were overtaken by the students as they bounded up the steps, mountain goat style at times. A short distance later we caught up with them as they stopped to look at something, perhaps disguising the need to catch their breath, I thought! They offered to stand aside to allow us to pass however I said that their legs were about sixty years younger than ours and that we would see them at the top, eventually!

Boolimba Walk, Carnarvon National Park

A few minutes later we heard excited laughter. The students had arrived at the start of the cliff face climb, so we found out when we came to the warning sign a few minutes later. Well, considering the health issues we live with, doctors tell us that we are in excellent shape but I did wonder if it could be said that we were physically fit. Three heart episodes, one of them truly major, our decision has always been to take the challenge once risks have been calculated. No point sitting on the couch watching useless TV and calling that "living".

Start of Cliff climb

The first of four ladders

Sam has always found clambering up steps and walking along trails easy, thanks to living in a beautiful hill top village for the first twenty years of his life, so he led the way. He also had proper walking boots whereas I had left mine at home - the only thing forgotten on this trip.

Boolimba Cliff Walk

We really took our time, going slowly and stopping. It was easy to go slow through the cool, still, crevasse through the cliffs and we felt engulfed by the beauty of the shining cliffs that sometimes seemed to be snow rather than white and yellow sandstone.

Cave

For a while we sat on a rock in a mossy cavern watching some butterflies and two small birds darting around.

Mossy part, Boolimba Walk

Sandstone caves

We must have spent the best part of an hour covering the 300 metre cliff climb. No one followed us. No one came down. We had this spectacular place to ourselves!

The track goes up to the top right corner of the picture

After the fourth ladder we could see some blue between the trees and knew that we were at the end of the climb. The problem was that the track had disappeared and we were initially unsure whether to scramble up through the centre of the rocks or turn right. Closer inspection revealed that the rocks to the right were slightly impacted and more stable. Up we went!

Top of Boolimba Bluff

We then found ourselves on the flat top of the mountain with a 800 metre walk ahead to the lookout. As we arrived there we met the school group leaving and were surprised by their cheers and high fives making a big fuss that we had actually made it to the top! I didn't think we looked weak and unlikely to achieve this but who knows what others think when they see us!

On top of Moolimba Bluff

Happily I thought to hand my camera to one of the group so that we could record the event! [ Nothing frail looking about us is there? Just looking happy and hot!] After this photo, we were left alone to take in the extensive views.

Carnarvon Gorge from Boolimba Bluff

By now it was after 11 o 'clock and time for a snack however we had to constantly chase off a very large raven that wanted to eat our snack for us.

It was not at all cold atop the Bluff so Sam dispensed with his precautionary warm shirt.

Knowing that going down was definitely going to be harder than coming up added to our reluctance to leave our top of the world picnic spot. What goes up must come down so we defeated our reluctance and down we went.

Many more stops were needed to take control of my wobbly knees with Sam waiting patiently for me to catch up. It seemed to take far longer coming down than the ascent had taken.

Tree splits rock

By the time we arrived back at the car park it was well past 1 pm. Thankfully we collected our coffee flask and lunch from the car and pulled off our hot footwear, well satisfied with our efforts and the rewards they had brought.

Carnarvon Gorge had delivered its promise of beauty and grandeur.

[ Dinner: Yummy meatballs, spaghetti and salad with Merlot]