Mon 9 Sept 2013 – Walking to the Mitchell Falls

We got up at 5.15am, as soon as it was light, as we have a big walk to do, down to the Mitchell Falls and we want to do as much as we can before it gets hot. We left at 6.30am and were at the Falls at 7.45am, but then we discovered this is where the hard part begins! 

The path takes you to the head of the top falls where they drop, like a wedding cake, in 4 tiers. It's absolutely magnificent. In order to be able to view the whole thing, we walked along the top of the curve, first to the right and then the left. This part was all rock hopping and scrambling as there was no real path and, because the curve of the Falls is so huge, took us a couple of hours. When we found a great view of the falls, we sat and had a rest with morning tea while we admired it. There was still plenty of water in the Falls - but it must be really amazing in the Wet.

You would think, being this far off the beaten track, that it would be really quiet and peaceful, with only the sound of the wind in the trees, rushing water and birds singing. Sadly this is not the case as, almost constantly, there are helicopters roaring overhead, doing scenic flights, so the only time there's any peace is after dark.

We were looking forward to cooling off in the top pool (the others are out of bounds for reasons of Aboriginal culture and salties in the bottom one). We found a good spot in a little water fall and were luxuriating there when I saw a tiny leech on Rodger. We looked down and saw we were covered in them, standing on their foot and waggling their tiny heads about. The luxuriating came to an abrupt end as we both leapt out of the pool and stood on the rocks, picking them off each other like a couple of monkeys.

We decided we'd go back and have our swim in the pool where we were yesterday, which was on the way. Again the path led through savannah woodland, rocky outcrops and a wetland with the most beautiful waterlilies that we've yet seen - large and white with purple tips. 

My knees were so tired now that progress was slow but at last we were at the swimming hole and it was so lovely to lower ourselves into that cold water! As we were eating our lunch, Greg & Di arrived and soon we were all swimming and swapping leech stories!

We staggered back into camp about 2.30pm and were very grateful to have a glass of iced water from our trusty fridge. Our clothes were so disgusting that Rodger got 2 buckets of creek water and we threw them all in for a good soak in Nappisan.

Even though it was only tinned stew on the menu tonight, we still had a camp fire for the billy tea and Greg and Di joined us again. It was a very sleepy group tonight!