Tuesday 2nd July 2013 – Manning Gorge to Mount Elizabeth Station.

Manning Gorge is about a 90 minute walk so we set off at 8:15 to beat the heat of the day.  You begin the walk by crossing the river.  Until recently this was done by putting your clothing in styrofoam boxes and swimming across but recently they have added a boat set up with rope and pullies which is used to ferry people across.  It’s a bit like hard work pulling yourself across but much easier then the swimming method and its dressing and undressing.

While quite a long walk it was delightful.  After the recent rain the wildflowers are putting on quite a display and the sandstone country quite pretty.  Mind you I wouldn’t like to do it when it was too hot.  Manning Falls themselves make any effort to get there worthwhile.  What a lovely spot.  Jill and I went for a swim – even swam underneath the falls.

Back to Mount Barnett Roadhouse where we topped up with fuel again ($2.44) and grabbed some hot chips and an icy pole for lunch.

We are now heading toward Mitchell Falls but have decided to spend tonight at Mount Elizabeth Station.  Our reading up last night found that this was one of the few Stations left that was still actually run by a family (the Lacy Family have been here since 1945) so we thought it should be supported.  It also has some excellent indigenous rock at we may get to see.

So after lunch it was on to Mount Elizabeth.  Set up camp under the trees and booked in for a tagalong property tour (and rock art) tomorrow as well as dinner – a real splurge.