06:20 and we are off, trying to take advantage of the cool morning. Current temperature 14 Degrees, with an expected top around 38 Degrees. That’s a whopping 24 Degree difference.
We are super excited and looking forward to Robinson Gorge with the Cattle Dip as our target. The Cattle Dip is a narrow section of the gorge, with sheer side walls and permanent water that you can swim through. With a spring in our steps, we devoured the first 2 km to the gorge lookout, where we got our first taste of things to come.
Shortly after we were joking about the remote warning sign for people descending into the gorge.
But karma is never far away and only a couple of steps after that sign, Kerrie twists her ankle on a small rock (please note, this didn’t happen on one of the scary sections that I sometimes find). Fortunately, I didn’t have to carry Kerrie and she was happy to continue, although with a bit of pain.
Entering the gorge we turned south, downstream. We veered to the right side of Robinson Creek, which in hindsight was a mistake as the left side is actually easier to traverse (as we noted on the return leg) and the left side would also have been nicely in shade.
Going was pretty slow and hard due to the dense long grass, rock jumbles, debris, and also Kerrie’s ankle. The effort was well worth it with each bend rewarding us with spectacular vistas of immense rock walls, huge boulders, and waterholes.
When we finally got the idea of walking in the shade, I ventured up the side a bit, skirting the cliffs, while Kerrie was shadowing me along the creek. As with all the sandstone formations in this area, I still get a thrill of seeing these features.
Walking was interesting with patches of very slippery mud, that eventually landed me on my butt, patches of wet send which we sometimes sank into knee-deep and high grass that hid many obstacles to trip over or run into. I was certainly glad for my hiking boots, long pants, and gaiters.
By now the day was getting extremely hot and we were traveling slower than expected, hence we didn’t walk up any side gorges such as Surprise and Andy’s Creeks. Our aim still was the Cattle Dip.
Going became harder the further we ventured downstream, but all obstacles could be either climbed over or circumnavigated. After about 4 hours in the gorge, we arrived at Starkvale Creek dropping in from the left.
It was one of the highlights of the day, with its sheer cut in the gorge wall. Shortly after we finally arrived at the Cattle Dip.
The previous day we had seen the Cattle Dip from the lookout and thought there may be a way up through a narrow side creek, hence we decided that I should go for a recce swim and see whether that was an option. for us to leave the gorge and head back to camp via the lookout road.
I, not being a good swimmer, set off slowly swimming down the gorge in lovely cold water. The rock walls offered little handholds and were home to some amazing large spiders. I made it to the other side of the Cattle Dip without finding a way out and returned to relay the bad news to Kerrie. Kerrie didn’t seem too bothered, but now also decided to swim through the dip, whilst I was having some lunch.
On the walk back through the gorge, we stayed on the eastern side, which by now actually was in the sun. Going on this side was somewhat easier, but Kerrie started to struggle with her sprained ankle and the heat.
We were relieved to find the gorge exit just before 16:00 and it was a straight hike up the side and then 2 km back to camp.
Although Kerrie is now nursing a swollen ankle this hike was another special and memorable experience.
The coldies (beer & wine) that awaited us, never tasted so good.
Length of Hike
18 kms approx
Time
8 - 10 Hours
Best Time to do
Cooler months, except when raining or after recent rain.
Difficulty
Hard, off-track & scrambling skills required. Navigation is easy, as you are in a gorge.
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