Easter road trip - Sun Rock

I heard about Sun Rock a few weeks ago and the idea of the place has had me fascinated.  Sun rock is in the heart of Kalkadoon country and there is talk that it is a place where young men were initiated. Sunday of Easter and I was ready to check it out for myself. I had my mud map and instructions. I rang the property owners for permission and headed in. Sun rock is found 50km west of Mount Isa. You turn left and follow the track along a small ridge, through a gate to a small car park and from there you travel on foot.

Sun rock

First time walking into a site by myself. I confess I was a little nervous. Looking out for snakes and critters along a path that is a little over grown. The track at the base of the car park is a little washed out after the rains but is pretty well marked. 

Sun Rock Waterhole

You wander down across the creek bed and up the other side and over a small ridge until the waterhole comes into view. The instructions on my mud map were a little out of date as there is no longer a gate protecting the site from the cattle or a sign describing the rock art. You walk around the face of the rock and stop. Take your time and look. The colours and details of the art work are worth the walk.

Easter road trip - Fullerton River Garnets

Easter weekend and I had whole four days off. (Been a few years since that happened). So took the opportunity to explore a little further afield. Headed to Cloncurry on Friday afternoon after a morning at East Leichhardt chasing birds and scoping out the Dam ready for Mondays adventures.

Australian Hobby

The plan was to travel to the Fullerton River Garnet fields early on Saturday for a fossick. The Garnets are found on Maronan Station after following 19km along a track until you see a bush camp ground. We headed off early in two cars and the morning light was spectacular. Combined with some interesting cloud cover it gave me the opportunity to grab a couple of nice landscape shots that showed the beauty of the land following the rains. This means that there is feed on the ground finally and the stock are showing signs of improving.

Pheasant Coucal

Road to Fullerton garnets

Maronan Station

Garnets are found amongst the schist

It was a hot day and the lushness of all the growth made finding the garnets a challenge. Although I came away with plenty of small pieces of colour after getting on to a deposit in a washout. Digging amongst the long grass and schist was more taxing than I anticipated. Would love to go back in the cooler months when there is less growth and snakes to be concerned about.