If you feel the need to head out of town this holiday period and are looking for something a little different to do, grab your swag and head out west.
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Judbarra / Gregory National Park is one of the Parks and Wildlife Commissions’ biggest parks. At roughly 13,000sq km in size and criss-crossed with remote tracks, much of Judbarra is only accessible to 4WD vehicles, however some of the best bits can be reached by everyone.
The Nawulbinbin Walk at Joe Creek picnic area is atmospheric and beautiful. Only 10km west of the Victoria River Roadhouse, the 2km access road is generally OK except for in the heaviest of wet season conditions.
The bed of Joe Creek squeezes in between towering red sandstone walls and is strewn with water-worn rocks and dotted with pink flowering Calytrix and rugged Eucalypt trees. The valley walls leading up the scree slopes are covered in Spinifex that is both a little bit spiky, and a wee bit sticky, and in the breathless heat of the afternoon can have a sweet smelling scent.
The short, but difficult walking track, leads from the carpark and halfway around the basin along the top of the scree slope, before heading back down to the valley floor. Along the section of the track that leads along the base of the escarpment are a number of beautiful little surprises, small rock paintings that could possibly be around 20,000 years old. Figures of animals, people and Dreaming Beings can be seen clearly, even after all this time, and signs explain the significance of the artwork to the Traditional Owners of the area.
Another great feature of the Nawulbinbin track is the palisade of towering Livistona Palms that fringe the top of the scree slope. Colloquially known as Victoria River Palms, they have tall, pale grey trunks topped with a fluff of olive green fronds that provide welcome shade as you wander along the path searching for the next piece of artwork.
Always be well prepared as you head off on any walking track, no matter how short. The 1.7 km Nawulbinbin track will take you at least an hour to complete. It is steep and strewn with rocks and temperatures can be deceptively high. Wear well-fitting closed-in shoes and a hat and don’t forget to pack your drink bottle along with your camera.
