The Four Wise Men of Easter

Our four wise men assembled for Easter, with their worldly possessions on their backs, setting off on an adventure seeking a bright western star and a beam of light in the night skies.

Driving the chariot over Porcupine Creek bridge, the view was a swollen fast flowing turbid creek – ‘uh oh’. Stopping at the lookout for a view, in the gorge below was a swirling angry creek. ‘Uh oh’ again – ‘this is gunna be interesting !’

Porcupine Gorge Easter 29-31 March 2024

A magnificent 3 Day 26 km Porcupine Gorge Easter bushwalking adventure. Initially planned as a 4 dayer but changed to 3 dayer.

I have been doing Porcupine Gorge multi-day bushwalking adventures since 2010, and it never ceases to amaze and inspire.

Easy riverine walking with many creek crossings. Bushwalking is along the creek inside the gorge – a mix of creek banks, rocks, long grass, minor bush bashing, some obstacles, and numerous creek crossings (8 crossings on a good day - and we don’t stop to take footwear off, takes too much time

!!). The reward is spectacular sandstone gorge scenery.

One of the challenges going at Easter or early in the year is weather and creek conditions. I have been there on various occasions in late March through to late April, sometimes the creek is benign and only ankle deep, and another time when flowing with high water levels up to waist deep (maybe chest deep on shorter people).

In the week leading up to Easter there was 135 mm rain over two days in upper Porcupine Creek. The BOM River Gauge rose from 1.5 mr to 2.46 mr on Tuesday. Over 2mr and we don’t go ! So several days before the weekend was watching weather radar, rainfall and river conditions, and praying. By Friday midday the river gauge was at 1.88 mr, good to go.

Small group of four wise men – where were the females for this year? Normally this trip is majority females.

Friday – Our wise men, with their homes for the next four days (planned) on their backs, started walking at 1 pm from the national park campground. We will call them Wise #1, #2, #3 and #4.

The creek was high and flowing fast, which made for some challenging crossings, but still safe. At some we stood on the bank, thinking ‘how deep will this crossing be?’. One time we all stood there for a while looking at the creek, Wise #2 sighs, takes pack off, and volunteers to check the crossing. Only waist deep, all good. So the other three cross to join on other side. ‘What about your backpack?’ we asked – so Wise #2 went back across to retrieve his pack. The others wiser’s were very encouraging of course!

They bushwalked downstream to the Amphitheatre to the camp location. The Amphitheatre is a stunning spot, with an 80 mr high sandstone cliff ringing the sandy camp site.

The last crossing just above the Amphitheatre was the most challenging, crossing at the rapids, water flow very fast, rocks underfoot creating stability issues, but less than waist deep, no problem. Arrived at Amphitheatre, 3hrs 45 mins from start.

That evening there was light rain, but we had an overhang under a large rock to shelter under and talk sensible stuff after some refreshments.

Saturday – we decided that the planned camping at White Wall tonight was doubtful due to high creek level, therefore base camp at Amphitheatre. So Saturday was a day walk down to Lookout gorge and White Wall, then return to Amphitheatre camp. A lovely sunny day, and not too hot. River gauge at 8 am was 1.79 mr.

Starting at 8 am, took 2 hrs to get to Lookout gorge, a stunning landscape. The creek had dropped a bit. Several creek crossings. One was difficult where we couldn’t cross the creek therefore did a boulder scramble instead. Wise #4 had a crack at this crossing where Wise #1 pointedly said ‘this is usual crossing, but today, not looking doable’. Result was a very wet Wise #4 and unsuccessful crossing ! But upstream at top of rapids didn’t look good either, but that was where we had to cross

- a challenging crossing but doable. A rock wallaby was spotted clambering up the sheer cliff wall - amazing.

We walked on the rock shelf in the gorge below the lookout. Heading downstream further, White Wall was coming into sight, around the corner. White Wall is another stunning spot, a 60 mr high white sandstone cliff, with rapids below. At the cliff where we drop down into the creek bed, our wise leader (Wise #1) decided he had enough, been to White Wall several times before, and sent the other three off to White Wall while he had a siesta break under the lookout. The wisdom showed early, as Wise #2, in the creek, was seen to disappear chest deep in the water. Naturally, being wiser, Wise #1 on top of the rock shelf (resting), yelled out ‘come back a bit and scramble up that embankment on the right to go around the deep part.’ Easy being wise watching from afar ! White Wall was spectacular, but the decision not to camp there was good as that sand bank had been under water and was still wet.

The group rejoined under the lookout spot for lunch. Then a dawdle back upstream, with the creek continuing to drop and the crossings were getting easier. Back at camp at 3:15 pm.

It had been windy during the day, so three of the tents had blown over. Fixing those, then relaxing laying in the creek to cool off, admiring the scenic gorge around us. Going to his tent, Wise #1 noticed that the Easter Bunny had visited – yep, bottle of liqueur !

That night was a clear sky. Our wise men admired the clear night sky, Milky Way, bright constellations, shooting stars, accompanied by whisky, liqueur, M&Ms (there was a never ending supply of M&Ms from Wise #3 !), and Freeze Dried whisky infused ice cream And talking sensibly as well, as men do ! Wise #1 offered a second helping of the whisky infused freeze dried ice cream, but no takers !? hhmmmm. But there was talk of real proper ice creams a lot, so decided we will go home tomorrow, get real ice creams on the way home.

As we watched the night sky for hours, the Milky Way was stunning, above a bright star shone in the west, then a bright shooting star shot across the sky, guiding the way - our Wise Men had found what they seeked - paradise.

Sunday – Decided to go home today, we wouldn’t achieve anything new today if we stayed another night. And those ice creams in Hughenden were calling !

An easy riverine walk upstream, the creek was much easier to cross now, and back at the cars in 3 hrs 20 minutes. River gauge at midday was 1.75 mr. Along the way, dingoes were close by, howling.

Whilst an easy walk along the creek, that 1.2 km hike up the hill back to the cars at the end is not nice ! On the way up the hill on the national park track, Wise #1 chatted to a few people (an excuse to stop and rest whilst chatting to strangers), one asked if there was a track to where we went in the bottom of lookout gorge ? - um – no !

Quick stop in Hughenden, snack and ice cream, then drive the chariots home.

A great 3 day bushwalking adventure with a good group, in a wonderful landscape. No wonder it draws me back often.

This bushwalk is comfortable as a 3 dayer (two night’s camp at the Amphitheatre). Or also a comfortable 4 dayer with first night at Amphitheatre, second at White Wall, and third camp located back upstream or at national park campground. Best when river gauge is below 1.75 mr, 1.5 mr would be ideal. In future I would not go if the river is above 1.75 mr.

We have also done other variations in Porcupine Gorge, including a 5 dayer (to include the Battleship/Submarine), and a 32 km 4 day gorge through-walk (point to point) from the Pyramid to Eagle Hawk Gorge.

For members who would like more info on this bushwalk or options, come along to a club monthly meeting where information is available for this walk and others great fun club adventures.