Porcupine Gorge
📅Friday 29 March 2024 6:15 am to
Monday 1 April 2024 5:00 pm
Monday 1 April 2024 5:00 pm
📍 Location: Porcupine Gorge National Park
Porcupine, QLD
About this event
Porcupine Gorge
Easter 4 day trip : 29 March – 1 April 2024
About:
Porcupine Gorge – 456 km west of Townsville (71 km north of Hughenden). Remote area bushwalking and camping, no tracks or facilities. Participants must be capable and self-sufficient for 4 days of remote bushwalking / camping.
The club’s classic 4 day gorge bushwalk camping along riverine areas of the gorge that we have done in the past. All walking is along the creek - creek banks, long grass, minor bush bashing, rocks, obstacles, and numerous wet creek crossings (and we don’t stop to take foot wear off, takes too much time !!). The reward is spectacular sandstone gorge scenery.
If you are interested in the Easter 4 day trip, we ask that you attend the club monthly meeting on Monday, 11th March 2024 for planning, briefing, and registration. It is important to have intending participants at the 11th March meeting so that we can plan cars, brief requirements and check understanding of what is involved, and National Park camping permits.
Trip Coord / Leader – Keith Dyson
Contact Keith 0435 287 264 for more info (no RSVP or email registrations - attend the 11th March meeting).
Time 6:00 pm
Location: Blessed Mary Mackillop Parish meeting room (building behind the Church), 43 Ross River Road Mundingburra.
Take the St Joseph School entrance
Google map location: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Tt1ye-JoKtGSXWW2SmPgYYBTCayImdY&usp=sharing
Participant numbers will be limited to what vehicles we can take and National Park camping permits availability.
Keith will book National Park permits after the 11th March meeting, based on numbers from the meeting (in case it books out early – albeit we do not use the NP camp ground, but still need permits).
Trip is subject to environmental conditions – if heavy rain is forecast or has fallen in catchment area in the days before, it may be unsafe in the gorge and we may not go.
The plan
Friday - drive to Hughenden (driver refresh stops – Charters Towers roadhouse west side, White Mtns highway lookout, Hughenden Roadhouse on the Hill (refuel for those that need it). (Stops are planned as short stops – quick break only. Lunch – take lunch to the gorge lookout).
Trip meet point is Stuart Hotel 6:15 am, sign paperwork, for 6:20 am departure. Drivers / passengers to arrange own meet points before going to Stuart (or if you want to free-wheel, let me know and we will arrange meet point at Hughenden 11:30 am (or even Charters Towers if you prefer)).
I will bring the UHF hand held radios for first and last cars .
Estimate Hughenden by 11:30 am, 30 minute stop, then 60 km north to gorge lookout for lunch estimate 1 pm. Then drive 11 km to Porcupine Gorge NP Pyramid Campground, park cars. Packs on 2:15 pm, fresh and eager, hike 1 km descending into the gorge, then about 3 to 5 hours hike along the creek, to find camp site - hopefully get to the Amphitheatre. If we are slow, then we may need to camp elsewhere. Therefore Friday is a long day of driving and hiking. Planned base camp at Amphitheatre.
Saturday – day hike further down inside the gorge, stunning spectacular gorge country this day, to below the lookout and White Wall. Opportunity to lilo in main canyon part. Good swimming hole. Return to base camp. For the ultra-adventurous (or crazy), may take camp gear down to camp below the lookout near White Wall.
Sunday – morning relax, chill out, or explore nearby cliffs and gullies (unless we go crazy and camp at White Wall). Sunday afternoon, hike back up the gorge about 3 hours to find a new camp site. Explore near Pyramid area, and the Gallows.
Monday – break camp, hike 1 or 2 hours back up to cars. From the Pyramid, it is a 1 km hike steep ascent out of the gorge to the car park – just to get ya hot and sweaty. Start drive home about 10 am. Stop somewhere for lunch on way home. Back in Townsville about sunset.
Notes
Creek conditions may dictate plans and changes– if creek level is high, and or we have a large group, then we will be slower and that may affect ability to reach Amphitheatre on Friday – which is no problem, we just camp elsewhere Friday in the creek and move to Amphitheatre Saturday morning.
Costs
NP permit $TBA (but estimate $20 per person) (Keith will book the group permit(s), pay money to Keith).
Non-member club fee $5 (pay to Keith)
Car sharing costs – arrangement between the driver and passenger(s). Suggest car share costs are known to your passenger(s) before the trip start so no surprises at end of journey.
Other info
Hughenden is unreliable for shops being open on Good Friday and even Easter Monday. Historically, ‘Roadhouse on the Hill’ is usually open, and there are two shops/cafes that might be open, limited lunch choice.
National Park – no camp fires allowed in the gorge. Fuel stoves only.
Water resupply – refill from the creek. Water needs to be purified / treated, so bring filter or tablets (Aquatabs from some pharmacies). Cattle country upstream of the national park. (I always treat or filter my water on multi day trips regardless of water source anyway, best to be safe)
Bathing / swimming – we swim / bathe in the creek.
Camping Food – three dinners, three lunches, three breakfast, snacks . Note this does not include food during the drive or Friday gorge lookout lunch (can buy at most stops, or bring from home with you).Remember, if you bring something nice, you should share with da Leader !
There is a short cut from Porcupine Gorge to Pentland that cuts out a lot of distance, but involves an unsealed road and sand river crossing (Flinders River), and is often closed this time of year. Safer to go the long way through Hughenden.
Equipment
Keith – topo map, compass, GPSr, two PLBs, sat phone, two UHF hand held radios.
Walkers - personal first aid kit including compression bandage, usual personal remote area walking and camping requirements for 4 days. Waterproof liners for your pack (in case you fall into the creek, or it rains). Trowel and toilet paper for ‘bush’ ablutions.
Don’t forget, Sunday is Easter Sunday !!
If you want to compare personal equipment lists or have not much experience with remote bushwalking / camping, we can discuss at 11th March meeting, or feel free to call / email Keith.
Change of clothes for trip home.
Camping - whilst days will be hot, at night around 3-4 am it can get cool in the gorge (maybe even earlier) - if you feel the cold, you may wish to take a light sleeping bag, quilt or similar. I take my thermal base layer to wear of a night time around camp if it is cool, and a light sleeping bag for bed.
If you want to see what the creek crossings are like, I can email photos of them to participants to assist (mental) preparation.
No mobile reception at the gorge.
Remember we leave only footprints – all rubbish and anything we take in we carry out.
And remember - we don’t stop to take foot wear off for creek crossings, takes too much time !!.
If you are interested in joining - Contact Keith 0435 287 264 for more info (no RSVP or email registrations - attend the 11th March meeting)
Time 6:00 pm
Location: Blessed Mary Mackillop Parish meeting room (building behind the Church), 43 Ross River Road Mundingburra.
Take the St Joseph School entrance
Google map location: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Tt1ye-JoKtGSXWW2SmPgYYBTCayImdY&usp=sharing
Easter 4 day trip : 29 March – 1 April 2024
About:
Porcupine Gorge – 456 km west of Townsville (71 km north of Hughenden). Remote area bushwalking and camping, no tracks or facilities. Participants must be capable and self-sufficient for 4 days of remote bushwalking / camping.
The club’s classic 4 day gorge bushwalk camping along riverine areas of the gorge that we have done in the past. All walking is along the creek - creek banks, long grass, minor bush bashing, rocks, obstacles, and numerous wet creek crossings (and we don’t stop to take foot wear off, takes too much time !!). The reward is spectacular sandstone gorge scenery.
If you are interested in the Easter 4 day trip, we ask that you attend the club monthly meeting on Monday, 11th March 2024 for planning, briefing, and registration. It is important to have intending participants at the 11th March meeting so that we can plan cars, brief requirements and check understanding of what is involved, and National Park camping permits.
Trip Coord / Leader – Keith Dyson
Contact Keith 0435 287 264 for more info (no RSVP or email registrations - attend the 11th March meeting).
Time 6:00 pm
Location: Blessed Mary Mackillop Parish meeting room (building behind the Church), 43 Ross River Road Mundingburra.
Take the St Joseph School entrance
Google map location: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Tt1ye-JoKtGSXWW2SmPgYYBTCayImdY&usp=sharing
Participant numbers will be limited to what vehicles we can take and National Park camping permits availability.
Keith will book National Park permits after the 11th March meeting, based on numbers from the meeting (in case it books out early – albeit we do not use the NP camp ground, but still need permits).
Trip is subject to environmental conditions – if heavy rain is forecast or has fallen in catchment area in the days before, it may be unsafe in the gorge and we may not go.
The plan
Friday - drive to Hughenden (driver refresh stops – Charters Towers roadhouse west side, White Mtns highway lookout, Hughenden Roadhouse on the Hill (refuel for those that need it). (Stops are planned as short stops – quick break only. Lunch – take lunch to the gorge lookout).
Trip meet point is Stuart Hotel 6:15 am, sign paperwork, for 6:20 am departure. Drivers / passengers to arrange own meet points before going to Stuart (or if you want to free-wheel, let me know and we will arrange meet point at Hughenden 11:30 am (or even Charters Towers if you prefer)).
I will bring the UHF hand held radios for first and last cars .
Estimate Hughenden by 11:30 am, 30 minute stop, then 60 km north to gorge lookout for lunch estimate 1 pm. Then drive 11 km to Porcupine Gorge NP Pyramid Campground, park cars. Packs on 2:15 pm, fresh and eager, hike 1 km descending into the gorge, then about 3 to 5 hours hike along the creek, to find camp site - hopefully get to the Amphitheatre. If we are slow, then we may need to camp elsewhere. Therefore Friday is a long day of driving and hiking. Planned base camp at Amphitheatre.
Saturday – day hike further down inside the gorge, stunning spectacular gorge country this day, to below the lookout and White Wall. Opportunity to lilo in main canyon part. Good swimming hole. Return to base camp. For the ultra-adventurous (or crazy), may take camp gear down to camp below the lookout near White Wall.
Sunday – morning relax, chill out, or explore nearby cliffs and gullies (unless we go crazy and camp at White Wall). Sunday afternoon, hike back up the gorge about 3 hours to find a new camp site. Explore near Pyramid area, and the Gallows.
Monday – break camp, hike 1 or 2 hours back up to cars. From the Pyramid, it is a 1 km hike steep ascent out of the gorge to the car park – just to get ya hot and sweaty. Start drive home about 10 am. Stop somewhere for lunch on way home. Back in Townsville about sunset.
Notes
Creek conditions may dictate plans and changes– if creek level is high, and or we have a large group, then we will be slower and that may affect ability to reach Amphitheatre on Friday – which is no problem, we just camp elsewhere Friday in the creek and move to Amphitheatre Saturday morning.
Costs
NP permit $TBA (but estimate $20 per person) (Keith will book the group permit(s), pay money to Keith).
Non-member club fee $5 (pay to Keith)
Car sharing costs – arrangement between the driver and passenger(s). Suggest car share costs are known to your passenger(s) before the trip start so no surprises at end of journey.
Other info
Hughenden is unreliable for shops being open on Good Friday and even Easter Monday. Historically, ‘Roadhouse on the Hill’ is usually open, and there are two shops/cafes that might be open, limited lunch choice.
National Park – no camp fires allowed in the gorge. Fuel stoves only.
Water resupply – refill from the creek. Water needs to be purified / treated, so bring filter or tablets (Aquatabs from some pharmacies). Cattle country upstream of the national park. (I always treat or filter my water on multi day trips regardless of water source anyway, best to be safe)
Bathing / swimming – we swim / bathe in the creek.
Camping Food – three dinners, three lunches, three breakfast, snacks . Note this does not include food during the drive or Friday gorge lookout lunch (can buy at most stops, or bring from home with you).Remember, if you bring something nice, you should share with da Leader !
There is a short cut from Porcupine Gorge to Pentland that cuts out a lot of distance, but involves an unsealed road and sand river crossing (Flinders River), and is often closed this time of year. Safer to go the long way through Hughenden.
Equipment
Keith – topo map, compass, GPSr, two PLBs, sat phone, two UHF hand held radios.
Walkers - personal first aid kit including compression bandage, usual personal remote area walking and camping requirements for 4 days. Waterproof liners for your pack (in case you fall into the creek, or it rains). Trowel and toilet paper for ‘bush’ ablutions.
Don’t forget, Sunday is Easter Sunday !!
If you want to compare personal equipment lists or have not much experience with remote bushwalking / camping, we can discuss at 11th March meeting, or feel free to call / email Keith.
Change of clothes for trip home.
Camping - whilst days will be hot, at night around 3-4 am it can get cool in the gorge (maybe even earlier) - if you feel the cold, you may wish to take a light sleeping bag, quilt or similar. I take my thermal base layer to wear of a night time around camp if it is cool, and a light sleeping bag for bed.
If you want to see what the creek crossings are like, I can email photos of them to participants to assist (mental) preparation.
No mobile reception at the gorge.
Remember we leave only footprints – all rubbish and anything we take in we carry out.
And remember - we don’t stop to take foot wear off for creek crossings, takes too much time !!.
If you are interested in joining - Contact Keith 0435 287 264 for more info (no RSVP or email registrations - attend the 11th March meeting)
Time 6:00 pm
Location: Blessed Mary Mackillop Parish meeting room (building behind the Church), 43 Ross River Road Mundingburra.
Take the St Joseph School entrance
Google map location: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Tt1ye-JoKtGSXWW2SmPgYYBTCayImdY&usp=sharing
👥 Attending: 1
❤️ Interested: 26