Forsyath & Cobbald Gorge

Saturday morning the 12th of June we left Einasleigh and headed for Forsyath. Before we could leave though I would have to be able to start the Landcruiser, wouldn’t I? But that did not happen did it! The batteries were partially flat. The thought that my batteries were dying had been on my mind for the last week or two. They were just over five years old. When you know your vehicle so well you detect little changes and the vehicle had not been starting with as much vigor as usual. So it came as no surprise that it would not start. So fortunately Ross was in a handy position with his van on that he could pull forward and give me a jump start. It is funny that a couple of months earlier I had to jump start Ross’s Landcruiser as his batteries had died at that time as well. Back then we were caravanning on the Murray River. So once my vehicle was started we were mobile toward Forsyath. We would be staying at the Forsyath Tourist Park for two nights on power. We were in an overflow area as it was so busy with people wanting to visit Cobbold Gorge. It was going to be handy to be on power as I could use my battery charger to give the landcruiser’s batteries a charge overnight. That way I would not need to be jump started. Forsyath is a nice little town. The guy who owns the caravan park is also the officer in charge at the Police Station. Ian Carroll is a real nice bloke. Here are a few pics of Forsyath Police Station and the old lockup which was relocated into the centre of town by Ian and others assisting. Unfortunately the light would not come on in the restored lockup so I could not read the info and see the photos. There is a pic of the Forsyath Railway Station.

Ian had drawn us a mud map which we used to find the new dam for the town.

We then went to the site of the old town which was called Charleston. The is only a plaque in place now apart from some relics you might find if you went looking. We went on to the Charleston Cemetery. The oldest grave site is from 1875.

The cow whisperer.

Sunday the 13th of June we got organized and headed off to Cobbold Gorge. We had a 1.30pm tour but we wanted to go early to check it all out and I knew there were some walks to be done as well. It was an interesting read about Francis Cobbold. He was a great pioneering pastoralist who started this place as a cattle station. It seems I missed out on photographing the story attached.

I then went on the Russel’s Lookout walk which was only 4.5km return. It was a nice walk through Savannah country.

From the lookout there were nice views back to the resort village and the hills and plains beyond.

The resort is well laid out and there is an infinity pool with a lake beyond it. The water is a bit cool but I had to have a swim anyway. I was certainly very sweaty from the walk so it was good to cool off.

We had brought lunch which we had after coming back from our walks. So our time got filled in nicely and then we started on the tour. We got onto coaster type buses and went across cattle country to the dry river bed and along to where the gorge is. After a bit of a talk by the guides we went down to the river where some people got in boats and the rest of us went on a guided tour. We would be swapping places later.

The guide, Steve I think his name was, showed us numerous things about the vegetation, especially bush tucker and poisonous tucker, and wildlife . He discussed the paperback trees.

Then he showed us this termite mound that had been invaded by meat ants who were eating the termites. These meat ants can strip a carcass clean in quick time.

Then there was this black line running along the sandstone rock which were a track by ants.

We reached the glass bridge that spans the gorge. This is a relatively new and clever feature. Everyone has to wear protective socks, to prevent the glass becoming filthy and marked.

One of the boats came through whilst we were on the bridge. You can see up my shorts on one of these shots.

It is an amazing gorge. From the air you would see what appears to be just a crack through this sandstone landscape. I saw an aerial shot and it just looks like a crack but as you get closer you see into the gorge.

There is a spring at this point which contributes to the water flow.

We embarked on our boat voyage. A short distance along there was this baby freshwater croc. It stays there most of the time as it is hidden from crocs and other dangers. A croc would eat the little one.

Water leaches out of the rocks and that is the source of this waterway. You can see the water dripping from the rocks here.

It was lovely going along the gorge in the boat.

There was another, much larger freshwater croc with its nose poking out from the base of the rock. There was a void in the rock just under the water level so the crocs body was hidden. The first photos you may not be able to make it out but the next one you can see his head, albeit, a bit out of focus.

That pretty much completed the tour. The guides were good and the gorge was amazing. We drove the 45km back to Forsyath. I put the batteries on charge so I could start the Landcruiser in the morning. Ian had given me the tip that there was a Repco and as Supacheap in Atherton so I could get my batteries from there. So that was the plan. However, firstly we would be going to the Undara Lava Tubes for three nights. It was a good thing that I had chosen a powered site to book so I could charge the batteries again there.