Tunnel Creek

Tunnel Creek – a very significant place in Aboriginal history. The site where Jandamarra eluded authorities until he was killed. He knew the caves very well and the authorities thought by placing men at the entrance and the exit that they would capture him, however they did not know that there was a  collapsed section of the caves where on could slip out and climb over the ridge.

The walk though this cave, with a creek running through was very magical. There are bats hanging in one section, some pristine limestone crystal formations. The cool pools of water which we wade through are only as deep as your ankles in most places, with the deepest section up to the thighs.  The cave exits out to a large pool with archer fish and freshwater crocodiles, although none were sites during our visit. What was sited was a large Merten’s Monitor (lizard) sunning on the river bank. A sacred King Fishers swooped to collect a dish as we gazed over the pool and listened to AJ continue his story about Jandamarra.

We met a bus load of seniors as their tour returned from the cave. A few stayed at the entrance not wanting to attempt the difficult scramble through the boulders at the entrance. Others inside seems quite happy as they made their way through the water with the aid of their walking sticks (some appeared to be in their 80’s). There was also another smaller expedition bus in the parking lot, with a portable table set up for their lunch service. The car park was re-designed and re-developed last year to improve the facility to lessen the environmental impact to trees ad surrounding vegetation closest to the reef. However, the new location for the car park does not provide much shade. There is good new interpretive gazebo, with informative display panels.

On the road to Fitzroy Crossing to get the flat tire repaired and then on to Geikie Gorge NP, where we will take a river boat tour up the Fitzroy river with AJ’s family.