Getting stuck on and under rocks — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

Banks of Barron Gorge, 7th February 2021

The beginning of last week saw me head into Barron Gorge during a bit of sunshine thinking that the recent wet weather would not be an issue, I was wrong.

When I cannot venture deep into the Gorge I hang around the lower sections. With the recent rain large patches of the rocks are covered with daisies so it is a nice place to be and watch the kayakers pass by..

Rock island in the middle of the river, Barron Gorge, 7th February 2021

My favourite place to be in that section of the Gorge is not on the banks but out on one of the rock islands in the middle of the river. If the water is low enough you can rock hop out or wade through shallow water.

You just have to make sure you return before they start releasing water from the hydro plant and the level rises to those brown marks you can see on the rocks in the photo above.

Stuck on Rocks

If you stay too long you have two ways to return. The first is to swim out and the second is to wait until the water level drops back down when the hydro plant stops or slows the release The latter in the past has usually occurred about 8-9pm from my experience.

View from a rock island in the middle of Barron Gorge, 8:30pm 30th October 2020, Water level down.

Unlike the night shown above the water level just kept on rising and stayed up well past sunset. I thought I would sit it out as I love the Gorge at night and could be back at work anytime that evening.

It got to 10:30pm and the water was still up and I was stranded on the rocks just like the log above. By the way, that log was carried there during the recent high flow point of the river.

I decided to wait no longer and swam out using the water bag I carry for such occasions to keep my camera gear dry. Inside that water proof bag I leave diving flippers so I can swim across easily.

I think I made it back to the car at about 11pm dripping wet. At least it was not cold :)

Day 2. Wooroonooran National Park, February 2021.

After that episode in Barron Gorge I decided to start visiting another of my favourite areas for a while and give the Gorge a break. Barron Gorge is becoming more and more popular and I generally prefer to be alone on my walks. The above photo is of one of my favourite swimming spots in Wooroonooran National Park. The day before I took that photo I got stuck under rocks in the rain in the same park.

Stuck under rocks

Day 1. Wooroonooran National Park, February 2021.

I have been to this area in Wooroonooran many times before and on the first of the two consecutive days I visited I was hoping to get that transition from rain to sunshine.

It can be so beautiful when everything is wet and popping with colour and the light bounces off it. I walked in when it was raining hoping it would stop and the sun pop out.

Most things on our dry continent I think look better wet. I just needed a bit of sunshine to highlight that moisture and colour. No luck so far this day..

I got some breaks in the rain early on during which I could walk around and take some photos of the now extremely green plants life and river banks in general……but still no sunshine through the clouds.

Cave entrance on Day 1. Wooroonooran, February 2021.

The rain did not let up and just started to get heavier as the day went on. I decided to take refuge in a rock cave that I have often used before to take a break from the midday sun. The inverted triangular hole/dark area in the photo above is the caves entrance.

The inside of the cave is quite large and whilst the floor was a little wet from water flowing in, there were plenty of dry rocks to sit and rest on. The cave has two entrances but the second is more a window when the water is as high as it is now.

The inside of the cave is a dog leg shape that turns to reveal the river. From inside the cover of the cave you can sit and enjoy the view.

As you may have guessed the rain never stopped , I got stuck in the cave and ended up making my way out in the dark by torch…… in the rain.

Not to give up I went back the next day and rock hopped into my favourite spot. Again I did not get my mix of rain and sunshine but it was a beautiful day anyway.

For most of the year sections like this are dry. At the moment they form beautiful little waterfalls all throughout the National Park and unlike many of the popular tourist spots you can enjoy the more remote ones in peace by yourself.

Fallen tree supporting new life. Day 2, Wooroonooran, February 2021.

I love the bush during the wet season but my only complaint is the lack of variety in colour. Everything is just so green. Even the dead fallen trees are turning green as they become hosts to new plant life.