Sunday 7th July 2013 – Mitchell Falls

We set off on the 3km walk to the falls about 7:30am.  This way we should be back before the day gets too hot.

First stop was the top of the Little Mertens Falls where there are great views down the valley.  A little further on there is a track off to the left which takes you past some indigenous rock art, some of it older than the Gwion and Wandjina Paintings we have been seeing.  This art depicts human figures, hand prints, kangaroos and other animals and is known to be 30 – 40,000 years old - some of the oldest art in the Kimberley.  There are also Gwion figures through this area.  This side track continues around underneath little Mertens Falls before one retraces their steps to the main track.

It’s a pretty track, lots of variety in vegetation (open woodland, Spinifex etc), lots of birds and much of it along beside the creek.  Just before arriving at Big Mertens Falls there is another art site off to the left.

You can see why it’s safe to swim at the base of little Mertens Falls.  There is no way salt water crocodiles could get up Big Mertens Falls.

From Big Mertens Falls it’s not too far from Mitchell Falls.  There are points on the eastern bank where you can take photos but to get in most of the falls it is necessary to follow the track further up stream, take off the boots, walk through the river and continue along the western bank.  To get better photos you need to take a helicopter flight either to or from the camping area to the falls.  Karen and Mark had booked a flight back but for us walking was the chosen form of transport.

Near where you cross the river there is quite a nice swimming spot although a little too whooshie for Jill.  She was keen to get back to the still pool at the bottom of Little Mertens Waterfall.

At a lunch spot on the way back we were joined by a couple from Armidale that we had chatted to along the way.  They pointed out some white quilled rock pigeons across the creek – endemic to this area and quite uncommon.  Soon after we spotted a couple quite close so felt quite honoured to be able to take their photograph.  On the way back we also saw a yellow oriole (uncommon) and a rainbow beater (more common but very pretty).

We enjoyed our swim at little Mertens Falls and were back for a rest about 3 pm.  This is a lovely part of Australia and well worth the hassle of getting here.