Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

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Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby backyard_botanist » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 9:28 am

I've just completed a stunning six day hike through the Tawallah Ranges in Limmen NP.

After getting permission from rangers to hike I starting from the southern end of the ranges north of Boroloola and walked up into the sandstone country aiming for a deep deep gorge marked on the map. Along the way I walked past numerous fresh water springs and bumped into a pair of Dingo. I arrived at the head of the Gorge to find a 100m vertical drop, which would be an impressive waterfall in the wet season. Not to be deterred I found a steep descent and set camp by a beautiful billabong for the night.
6 billabong first campsite_049.JPG

5 1st camp_048.JPG

Starting out back up the gorge I followed a ridge line north to my secondcamp site. The ridge line was dissected by numerous gorges and the walking was over broken rock which made for slow going but the small trickling stream that marked my second campsite was worth the effort.
15 secondcamp_050.JPG

The small stream marked the start of a long valley running north to south which I was to follow for the next two days. Along the way were numerous slow trickling waterfalls and swim holes safe from crocs.
23 on the way o 3rd camp_051.JPG

Night three found me tucked away down a short gorge cut into the ridge line that terminated in a flooded crack in the rocks. I was woken several times during the night by Rock Wallabies coming down the steep sides for a drink.
38 camp 3_053.JPG

The next day I set out and reached the end of the valley marked by a large permanent billabong. Next to the Billabong I found a small overhang with numerous ochre paintings of crocodiles painted underneath and thought better of going for a swim!
64 billabongs near artsite_054.JPG

From here i turned west following an amazing creek line surrounded by flowering Grevilea and teeming with honeyeaters, making camp on a small crest overlooking the creek.
82 rufous throated honey eater_055.JPG

During day 5 I followed the creekline up to its headwaters before dropping down of the ranges and crossing a long flat, heading for another sandstone gorge. While making my way down an impressive multi tiered waterfall, a helicopter doing a scenic flight flew low over the top, I'm not sure who was more surprised me or them.
86 pocket creek_056.JPG

I made my last camp alongside another amazing waterhole, ready to be picked up the next day. It is truly some of the some the most untouched country that i have ever had the pleasure of hiking through and up there with one of the most enjoyable hikes I've done.
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby peregrinator » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 9:56 am

Thanks for your beautiful photographs, b_b. It sure looks like paradise.
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby ofuros » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 10:56 am

Gulf country...you could spend a whole lifetime exploring.
Enjoyed.
Mountain views are good for my soul...& getting to them is good for my waistline !
https://ofuros.exposure.co/
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby philm » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 1:35 pm

Can you swim or are there crocs?
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby backyard_botanist » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 4:11 pm

Salt water crocs are probably uncommon up in the sandstone country but I stuck to the rock pools where I could see the bottom just o be on the safe side.
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby north-north-west » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 6:49 pm

Wow! Lucky bugger. It looks wonderful.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
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Re: Trip report: 6 day solo hike in Tawallah ranges, NT

Postby bigkev » Fri 19 Jul, 2019 10:46 pm

Thanks for the report, I can only dream....That looks like a magical walk :D
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