Cania Gorge National Park

Day 42, 43 & 44

From Lake Maraboon, we picked up the Gregory Hwy and headed south through Springsure then east onto the Dawson Hwy to Biloela.  As today was all blacktop, we split up making our own ways to Cania Gorge.

The Dawson Hwy

At Biloela it was south east along the Burnett Hwy climbing steadily up The Great Dividing Range.  It wasn't very far along the Burnett where we came across this cattle drive.  Sally and Colin were only too keen to lend a hand.

Burnett Hwy Cattle Drive

It’s About Now We Wish We Had A Cattle Dog

Our nights in Emerald were extremely cold and the forecast for Cania Gorge was even bleaker.  Mike and Jan opted for the luxury of an electric heater at a powered caravan site were as Sal and Col choose the old fashioned open camp fire solution as they had no such heater.

Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat Camp

The following morning, Col rose to make the morning coffee.  His fridge thermometer read the ambient temperature 2.3 degrees and his fridge temperature at 2.4 degrees.  Officially warmer inside the fridge.

In=Outside  Out=Temp Inside Fridge

During the morning we were visited by some inquisitive kookaburras.

Cania Gorge Kookaburras

Later, Sally and Colin drove up to the Lake Cania.  The lake was created back in 1982 upon the completion of the Cania Dam.  The old mining township of Cania still sit somewhere on the bottom of the lake.

Lake Cania

Cania Gorge Wallabies

After this, they visited the old workings of the Shamrock Gold Mine abandoned back in the 50’s or 60’s.

Shamrock Gold Mine Workings and Shaft

After returning to camp, Colin set off of the 6k walk around the Fern Tree Pool track.

Col Sets Off To The Fern Tree Pool

Clocked this familiar face lurking in the bushes.

Bush Turkey

At the Fern Pool, he sits down for a durrie and takes in the bird life around the pool.  These little beauties he believes are Red Headed Honey Eaters.

The Fern Tree Pool

Colin At The Fern Tree Pool

 Red Headed Honey Eater

On the return from the pool, the path climbed steeply to the top of the escarpment towards the giant’s seat lookout.  From there you can look out across Cania Gorge.

The Track To Giants Seat Lookout

Colin On The Giants Seat

The View Across The Gorge

This as Mike an Jan’s last night as they were running into Bundy in the morning to get their car seen to so it’s was a campfire cook followed by one last game of five hundred.   Followed by a ceremonious burning of the deck of cards.

Mike and Jan and Sal and Col’s Last Campfire For Together For The Trip

Saying goodbye to Mike and Jan, Col prepares bacon and tomato for Sal.

Farewell Sally and Col.

These pesky buggers reappeared.  This time one of them stole the bacon off the top of the sandwich Col was preparing.  Little S61ts.

Cania Gorge Kookaburras

Anyway, after the fare wells, Col and Sal took a trip to the Dragon and Bloodwood Caves.  A short 3k walk from the Cania Gorge day park off we went.  Our first stop was the Dragon Cave.

The Dragon Cave

Sally outside The Dragon Cave

A little further down the path appeared the Bloodwood Cave.  This one could house a small family or a large one in a pinch.

The Bloodwood Cave Mouth

Walking back we passed back over Three Moon Creek and headed back to camp for a Jaffle Iron dinner then off to bed.

Sally On The Track Back From Dragon Cave

Three Moon Creek

Col had a slight hiccup with our camp fire.  Deciding to dump the heat beads we had bought with us from Cairns, he through the remainders on the camp fire.  What was supposed to be beads had turned into dust on all the corrugated roads which more or less, smothered what fire we had.  A little more cardboard and twigs from around the camp, they breathed life back into fire and ate well.

Day Three Camp Fire