Central Queensland

[moloch]

In December, I "detoured" about 800km north from Ballina to Carnarvon Gorge NP in south central Queensland before returning to Wollongong. My wife and I have been near the national park many times but never have stopped for a visit. I was just too close to miss it so I decided to zip up for a couple of nights and have a look. The weather on the trip was hot. The high temps kept most people out of the park and I only saw a few others on the trails. It looks like it must be very popular in the cooler seasons since the parking lots were huge.

Carnarvon Gorge is a long with towering white cliffs on either side of the main trail. Occasionally, there were side gorges and these often were interesting with unusual plants or Aboriginal artwork.

Here are a few shots along the walk that I did one morning. The skies were unfortunately smoky due to a big bush fire in central Queensland.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat2b_zps7e098b13.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat1d_zps5589ab7b.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat2c_zpsb40276b4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat6_zpscd80d0e2.jpg

Some areas along the main trail had dense stands of palms. Tree ferns and Cycads were also abundant.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat7_zps08c1cedf.jpg


This side gorge was known as the "Moss Garden". It was narrow and shady. The temperature here was so much cooler than out on the main trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/habitat2d_zps37084581.jpg
Aboriginal artwork in the "Art Gallery" side canyon.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Aboriginal-Art3_zps9813f61e.jpg


The "L" shaped boomerangs were used for war and intended to break the bones of their opponents.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Aboriginal-Art1_zps423426c4.jpg

[moloch]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Aboriginal-Art2_zps6e1099c6.jpg


Cycad Blue (Theclinesthes onycha)? I saw several of what I think to be this species.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/blue2_zps9250a883.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/blue1_zps6bd5fb93.jpg


Black-Spotted Grass-Blue (Famegana alsulus). I saw two of these small blues.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Spotted-Grass-Blue1_zps236b0ac6.jpg

Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha) were common in shady areas.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Ringed-Xenica_zps87bb54d5.jpg

Dusky Knight (Ypthima arctous). This Ypthima was easy to identify for a change. We only have this single species in Australia.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/knight_zps780b2713.jpg

Evening Brown (Melanitis leda). Common at dusk in some of the gorges.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Evening-Brown1_zps96d77084.jpg

This is a female Common Brown (Heteronympha merope).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Common-Brown1_zps254ac0aa.jpg

[moloch]

Orange Ochre (Trapezites eliena). Several species of ochres were possible here including an endemic spcies to the gorge. I saw only this individual that is a member of a wide-ranging species and one that I see in the Blue Mountains.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/skipper_zpsf90b4ed7.jpg

Glasswings (Acraea andromacha) were one of the most common butterflies. I saw several at a roadside puddle. One took flight then attempted to settle in the water. I had to lift it out and place it on a stem of grass to dry.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/coaster1_zps76a82407.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/coaster2_zps76f668de.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/coaster4_zps8a82f6e9.jpg

Clearwing Swallowtails (Cressida cressida) were also common. Males are nicely marked but they always seemed to be in flight and I was not able to take a photo. I did find this female that landed briefly on a branch a few meters above the trail.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Clearwinged-Swallowtail_zps7a9bd6d1.jpg


This is a rather "evil" looking Whiptail (a.k.a., Pretty-faced) Wallaby. It was a buck that was lounging in the shade of a tree.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Whiptail-Wallaby_zps6f2624a3.jpg


Variegated Fairy-Wrens are beautiful.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Variegated-Fairy-Wren_zpsac840acf.jpg

Beautiful Firetail with a male Red-backed Fairy-Wren:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Firetail_zps520ffc8a.jpg

[moloch]

A native Hibiscus:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/hibiscus1_zps1b3fa4b9.jpg



Copper-tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Copper-tailed-Skink1_zps2820d25a.jpg


Dark Barsided Skink (Eulamprus martini)? Eulamprus is a confusing genus with a number of similar species. I believe that this is E. martini but I am not certain.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Eulamprus1a_zps80478498.jpg


Open-litter Rainbow-Skink (Carlia pectoralis). Male in its breeding colours.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Carliapectoralis2_zpsfa87b659.jpg


Diamond-shielded Sun Skink (Lampropholis adonis)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Lampropholis_zpsa55225d6.jpg


This Golden-tailed Gecko (Strophurus taenicauda) is one of our most beautiful reptiles. I found it at night while driving through the brigalow south of Carnarvon Gorge.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Strophurus-taenicauda1_zps5b408d99.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Strophurus-taenicauda3_zpsccf7fe6c.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Carnarvon%20Gorge/Dec2012/Strophurus-taenicauda2_zps03555c8e.jpg