Day 24 – 26 | Marg and Simon

Day 24 – 26 – Mornington Wilderness Camp

Dropped into Galvin Gorge, a small but beautiful gorge. Went for a chilly and refreshing swim, there were plenty of native fish and birds, aboriginal art and a chance to refill water bottles under the falls.

Drive to entrance of Mornington Wilderness Camp, which is 87 km from the actual camp site and call in via radio to see if there is a site left. All good.

Plenty of wildlife to be found here.

Drove to Dimond Gorge the site of a proposed dam, what a disaster that would have been if that proceeded. This area is magic, amongst the abundance of wildlife are real gems like Purple-crowned fairy Wren, Gouldian Finch and Short-eared Rock Wallabies. We canoed down the gorge sighting Rock wallabies and found a hidden waterfall amongst a heavily vegetated fracture in wall of the gorge.

Dinner at the restaurant, open area that is partially under cover and under the night sky. Great meal and the talk by AWC staff was informative and interesting. Facilities are the best so far on the Gibb, hot showers, gas BBQ plates and restaurant, a welcome changed after weeks of bush camping.

Walked the Annie Creek Trail and Savannah Trail. Spied Purple-crowned Fairy Wren along Annie Creek, large Freshwater Crocodile, a dingo and a Brown Goshawk making a meal of some unfortunate small bird. Peaceful Doves wander the dusty trails their tracks look like doodling in the dust.

While the sunrise and sunsets set the escarpments ablaze with colour the early morning and late afternoon light make for memorable moments as it paints the grasslands in soft yellow light. The savannah with its Boabs, ghost gums and sea of grass and Spinifex is really beautiful at this time.

A swim at Bluebush swimming hole was our last swim at Darlington before heading South the next day to Bell Gorge.