After our leisurely day of paddling up and down the Lawn Hills Gorge yesterday, today was a lot more energetic. There are some terrific bush walks at Lawn Hills and as a group we studied the map and decided that we would walk the Duwadarri Lookout track. The walk is around 5 km and this is the description:
“To reach Duwadarri lookout it is recommended to take the long way and walk the track in a clockwise direction, visiting Indarri Falls and Indarri Falls lookout before continuing along the rim of the gorge to Duwadarri lookout. Savour views over Middle Gorge along the way before stopping to take a well-earned rest and take in the views of Duwadarri waterhole contrasting with the dry savanna landscape”
The walk is a Class 3 that requires some experience with bushwalking and the five of us that decided to walk the track all had that experience.
We set off from our camp at 8am and once again drove the 10km to the entrance of Lawn Hills National Park. After making sure that we had water and plenty of sunscreen on our faces we set off down the track. The first 1.5km is very easy walking with a designated pathway running along the edge of Lawn Hills Creek. The country than changes to savanna flats, without any shade, but nonetheless a lovely walk. All the time the gorge looms majestically on our right hand side and it was a little frightening to know that we had to climb that mountain of rock to reach the lookout. I tried not to think about it too much.
The path then starts a gradual climb and we are now walking over a rocky pathway. Thank goodness Philip had gathered walking sticks for both of us to use on the path. They came in very handy. Our first lookout at Indarri Falls was a fairly easy short climb and the views from here were truly spectacular. Seeing the gorge from a birds eye view is a totally different perspective. We were able to pick out all the places we had canoed to the previous day.
After a few photos and a refreshing drink of water from our water bottles we started back along the circuit track towards Duwadarri lookout.
The walk to this lookout was another climb but nothing too intense. Kate and I brought up the rear of our party and we were content to walk slow and steady because slow and steady wins the race! Duwadarri Lookout is actually three lookouts, each one with different views. It was almost surreal to look down into the gorge and a little scary to think about just how high we were, but it was so worth it!
We spent a bit of time up here. The sky was perfect with just a few scattered clouds to reflect on the waters of the gorge. Philip and I spotted a school of fish in the water below us. They looked small from where we were but they would have had to have been very large fish for us to see them from this height. There is no fishing allowed at Lawn Hills, as is the case in all National Parks, so the fish are free to grow to great sizes.
It was now time to face the downward trek. We knew it was going to be steep but I don’t think any of us were prepared for what we encountered. It was very steep and in some areas it would have been easier to sit on your bum for the downward journey. But it was relatively short and sharp, thank goodness. Having the walking sticks made it a whole lot easier.
Once we finally reached the bottom we all congratulated each other on making it down safe and sound. Time for a couple more photos before the final leg of our walk back to the car.
It really was an amazing walk and if you are lucky enough to get to Boodjmulla – Lawn Hills, I wholeheartedly recommend this walk.
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