Charles Knife Canyon Gorge, Exmouth WA

QUEENSLAND

Lawn Hill Gorge is found in the Boodjamulla National Park, 270km north-west of Mount Isa. It is quite a remote location, but well worth the trip. Take a boat ride through the gorge to appreciate its rich red majestic cliff sides, pandanus palms and odd patches of cabbage tree palms high up on the cliffs. There are also some excellent walking trails to take in more of this striking natural wonder. The campgrounds at Adels Grove are close by. While in the area, consider taking a guided day trip to Riversleigh fossil site, which features not dinosaurs but extinct giant mammals, birds and crocodiles. 

Copperfield Gorge at Einasleigh, is some 329km inland from Innisfail. Just a short walk across the road from the Einasleigh Hotel, the gorge has been gouged out of black volcanic basalt rock. There’s a small waterfall, sandy beach and seasonal fishing and swimming. Campgrounds are located near the pub.

Our big rig

Cobbold Gorge, 4km from Forsayth, was only discovered in 1990 and is part of Robin Hood station owned by the Terry family. At 10,000 years old the gorge is the youngest gorge in Queensland and has crystal clear water and red ochre banded cliffs that rise up 30m on either side. Cobbold Gorge is only 500m long and just 2m wide at the narrowest part. It is fed by several springs, so the water level remains constant and along the banks are delicate ferns and grasses. Silver webs hang on the walls and trees, home to small spiders. A unique feature is a glass bridge 17m above the gorge, where you can test your courage by walking across the glass. This is the first such feature in Australia. The tours commence from the campground and resort village. For the ‘rockhounds’, you can obtain a fossicking permit online for Agate Creek, which is about 40km from Cobbold Gorge, and search for pink agate, thunder egg and crystals.

Scenic bridge at Cobbold Gorge, Qld

Porcupine Gorge is located 60km north of Hughenden, all on sealed roads. A drier gorge, Porcupine Gorge only has seasonal waterholes. But still very worthwhile in visiting and doing some walks. Its unique feature is ‘the Pyramid’ an imposing sandstone monolith of a pyramid shape that sits on the floor of the gorge. A myriad of bird life surrounds the gorge. There is an onsite campground with 22 sites and basic facilities. Many points of interest can be spotted on the drive out to the gorge, so pick up map from Visitor Centre in Hughenden.

Hellhole Gorge is a very remote location for the more adventurous. Accessible by 4WD only, this gorge is 256km from Charleville via the tiny town of Adavale. Appreciate the rugged, untouched rocky landscape with sheer cliff walls surrounding deep waterholes, rockpools along the rock at the top and deep narrow crevasses also filled with water. Home to red-tailed black cockatoos and yellow-footed rock-wallaby. The gorge is self-guided only and there is no camping onsite. There is camping available beside Adavale’s Community Hall – a good place to drop the van off and do a day trip in your vehicle to the gorge. There’s also a great little pub in Adavale and and some interesting walks to take in the history of bygone days.

Hellhole Gorge, Qld

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Katherine Gorge is not a single gorge but a series of 13 separate gorges. It is possible to go on guided boat cruise with a short walk between up to four of the gorges. Katherine Gorge is in Nitmiluk National Park about 23km from the town of Katherine. Lined by sandstone walls, you can see every changing colour at different times of the day. Pandanus palms line the banks and sandbars and during our trip we were able to spot magnificent wedgetail eagle circling high. Caravan parks and other  accommodation are available in the Katherine township. Visit the beautiful Edith Falls and go on some walking tracks to soak up the magnificent scenery.

Katherine Gorge, NT

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Chamberlain Gorge can be found within El Questro Wilderness Park, 110km from Kununurra, by travelling 58km on the Great Northern Highway then turning onto the Gibb River Road for a further 25km all sealed until the last 27km into El Questro.

At El Questro Wilderness Park, we were loaded into ‘safari rigs’, just like those you see in Africa, with roll cages and 12 seats along the back of a Toyota LandCruiser. A real wilderness track, with sharp bends, bone jarring corrugations, steep climbs and descents, and eating the dust from the vehicle in front as we journeyed along the 10km journey to Chamberlain Gorge. We were then onto the boat (a much smoother ride), the ride starting at a very clear lake before heading into the actual gorge, a narrow channel between sheer cliff faces with truly magnificent colours. There were lots of big boulders along the edges and under the water, which was so clear like a sheet of glass. And with a mirror image reflected into the water, it gave a surreal impression of another world below.

Plenty of freshwater crocs could be spotted along the banks and rock wallabies balanced high up on narrow ledges. A highlight of the trip was the angler fish, who were so very accurate at spurting water in your face if you lent over the side to look at them, plus a gigantic barramundi who leapt into the air to take a fish from our guide. Could not hazard a guess at its weight, but a good three feet long. Campground and resort accommodation can be found at El Questro.

Chamberlain Gorge, WA

Windjana Gorge, between Fitzroy Crossing and Derby, is so very different and has its own natural beauty. There were walls 30-100m rising high on both sides of the gorge and it is 100m wide but only 3.5km in length, carved out of the Napier Ranges by the Lennard River. When the river is in flood the gorge is inaccessible.

From Fitzroy Crossing it was 160km (120km of which was unsealed road) winding through some very diverse scenery. Rocky outcrops with huge old boabs surrounding them, open grass land, spinifex and anthills.

There was very little water in this gorge on our visit, and we walked along the actual riverbank which was lined with beautiful white limestone and quartz overhanging walls with fossils evident in the rock. Masses of crocs were sunning themselves on the sand, at least a hundred relying on a very small pool of water that remained in the river. Along the way out from Fitzroy Crossing is the Wind Tunnel. You can walk into the tunnel, although sometimes might need to wade through water after heavy rain. Another amazing feat of nature.

Track to Wind Tunnel

Geikie Gorge is a shorter drive, approximately 20km from Fitzroy Crossing, and found at the junction of the Oscar and Geikie ranges formed by the Fitzroy River. It was so serene and peaceful gliding along between the cliffs which were mostly only on one side of this gorge. Limestone walls which were a barrier reef 300 million years ago. The limestone is very weatherworn, and some sections have perfect round holes through the rock. There are lots of ‘beaches’, flat sandy areas which are favoured spot for crocs nesting. The water in the gorge not so clear – it had a greenish hue, a bit like the ocean. There are some mini waterfalls where springs burst out of a crack, and magical hanging gardens creating their own special environment in cracks in the cliffs. The old township across the river has as interesting history and is well worth a look as well.

There are caravan parks at Fitzroy Crossing to stay and access both Windjana and Geikie gorges. Alternatively, Windjana is about the same distance from Derby as it is from Fitzroy Crossing.

There are numerous other gorges all over Australia, these are simply ones I have visited so far. I have certainly found each one interesting and unique in its own special way, and never once thought “you see one gorge you have seen them all”. Plenty more to add to the bucket list yet!

Geikie Gorge, WA

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Written: Wed 01 Mar 2023
Printed: March, 2023
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