FIELD NOTES// Carnarvon Gorge

CARNARVON GORGE

24.9097° S, 148.0413° E

There are moments and places that make you stop and stare. The kind of moments that make you realise you are human.

Moments of distinct ‘awe’.

The pleasure of it.

Of realising you are but a small component in this huge earth.

Carnarvon Gorge is one of those places. Jurassic-era trees jammed up against Australian gums, wedged in between giant crevices of deep purples and subtle pinks.

Caverns of reflective pools. Ripples echoing across the rock ceiling like goosebumps across skin.

Rainforest nestled amongst slate grey rock walls, vines guarding the way.

The particular lime green that comes with moss growing under a waterfall and the darkness that makes you forget that outside of this space it is broad daylight.

Combined with this, the knowledge that this is a place of history. If only the caves could talk.

More than once I stopped. Floored by the sense of ‘awe’.

Exhilarated and exhausted - a few days well spent.

NOTES

Smells like:

Cool, damp earth.

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Sounds like:

River babbling, dry still hot air.

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Looks like:

Deep purple rocks, verdant green moss, charred bushfire remains, Jurassic trees, blue/green pools.

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Feels like:

A cross between an Indiana Jones movie and Jurassic Park.

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Tastes like:

Jack rations (a muesli bar and some shapes).