Guest Reporter – Michael Gavin
Tony suggests an early start for our drive into the Mitchell River Falls, in order to beat the tourists and also the heat of the day when walking, so alarms are set for 6:00am. Tony is up pottering around around 5:15am, waking me and then Dot.
We pack lunch and water in the backpack and we are off at 6:50am. The initial 20 – 25klm of the road was continuous corrugations with lots of loose ironstone on top. It was horrible to drive, covering only 15 klm in the first 40 minutes. At this stage we anticipated that we were going to take up to 4 hours to get there. The road improved somewhat, but we still encountered rock shelves across the road, as well as floodways with water and steep rises and descents on narrow rocky roads, along with oncoming cars/trucks and passing motorbikes. Tony was no where to be seen or heard on the CB radio as he was in “rally” mode……he covered the distance in around 1 hour 40 minutes, whereas we and others took between 2 hours 40min to three hours to cover the distance.
We finally arrive and backpack on, we head off on the 7.5klm walk to the Mitchell River Plateau and the Falls plus return. Dot chooses not to return by 
helicopter – $135.00 for 8 minutes ride, as she does not know what to do while waiting for us walkers.
Initially we are descending into valleys, but then have to climb ridges to the next valley. Tony takes us to a registered cultural site, for photos of different styles of Aboriginal art. Tony suggests that this area has been “smarted up” since they were here 3 years ago.
Either side of the track, we see a variety of native plants, some of which are in flower, but when we are looking at these Dot and I are generally tripping over the rocks in the path. It is hot walking in and we have no hope of keeping pace with Tony and Jen.
We stop for a number of rests in the shade and photo opportunity at Mertons Falls as well as water lily ponds nearby. We finally arrive at the Mitchell River Falls, and just as well because Dot
was starting to feel the heat with spots before the eyes and feeling a little wobbly. I just needed to cool the body core down. It was immediately strip off and into the water, along with the big APT tour group already in the stream and pools. It was so refreshing, so we decided to find a pool and sit in it to eat our lunch of boiled eggs and tomato sandwich, whilst watching the little fishes around my legs and feet.
We then head to the waterfall edge to take photos to prove we have been there.
helicopter – $135.00 for 8 minutes ride, as she does not know what to do while waiting for us walkers.Initially we are descending into valleys, but then have to climb ridges to the next valley. Tony takes us to a registered cultural site, for photos of different styles of Aboriginal art. Tony suggests that this area has been “smarted up” since they were here 3 years ago.
Either side of the track, we see a variety of native plants, some of which are in flower, but when we are looking at these Dot and I are generally tripping over the rocks in the path. It is hot walking in and we have no hope of keeping pace with Tony and Jen.
We stop for a number of rests in the shade and photo opportunity at Mertons Falls as well as water lily ponds nearby. We finally arrive at the Mitchell River Falls, and just as well because Dot
was starting to feel the heat with spots before the eyes and feeling a little wobbly. I just needed to cool the body core down. It was immediately strip off and into the water, along with the big APT tour group already in the stream and pools. It was so refreshing, so we decided to find a pool and sit in it to eat our lunch of boiled eggs and tomato sandwich, whilst watching the little fishes around my legs and feet.We then head to the waterfall edge to take photos to prove we have been there.
As we leave the Falls area, we meet Terry & Janelle along with ranger Paul & Noelene [ from Middle Lagoon]. Even though we had some cloud cover, the walk back (on the same route) was very tiring and at one stage we took the wrong track despite the track marker poles. Tony and Jen waited some 25 minutes after completion, before Tony thought it was appropriate to come looking for us. I do not think the can of Coke and Solo touched the sides on the way down, once we were back at the car.
no time to rest, now it was time to tackle the road home again…..not something to look forward to. In fact it took us longer as the shadows, not to mention the corrugations, made driving harder……the traction control light on the car was working overtime, and the back was fish-tailing with the worry of side swiping a tree. At times it was just necessary to stop the car and start again. We have definitely been spoiled with the state of the Gibb River Road, as it could have been like this.
After 3.00 hours we are home, with Tony home much earlier and having a swim. Terry and Janelle arrive home not long after us and the welcome beer payment is shared between Terry and myself.
We do not really feel like tea, so Dot has ice-cream and fruit, while I decided on crackers with cheese, salami and the remaining boiled egg from lunch… a little bruised, followed by ice-cream and fruit. We sit around a small fire with Tony, but I think we are all in bed just after 7:00pm. A big day but not sure whether the drive and the walk is worth it.
At least we can say we have visited the Mitchell River Falls and the Plateau!!!
At least we can say we have visited the Mitchell River Falls and the Plateau!!!
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