Walpa Gorge
My first of two visits to Kata Tjuṯa, about 45 minute drive from Yulara. This was another walk that was within my wife’s ability, although she struggled a little with the uneven, bumpy rock surface on sometimes steep, but short, pinches. Anyway, she completed it with my encouragement, and after meeting some other walkers of similar age and fitness along the track.
This is very different to walking around Uluṟu. Once on the track proper, the red dust gives way to walking on solid rock for most of the trip through the steep sided, ever narrowing, gorge. It is amazing to walk through interesting acoustic changes to the end point, and look through to what feels a bit like an ‘eye of a needle’ view through the narrow end of the gorge.
There are rock features, vegetation and water to explore on the way, and a few small bridges to cross. There is quite a lot of interest for a short walk of about 3km return. The feeling of being gradually enclosed is completely reversed on the return trip, as the gorge continually widens to a very expansive view of the surrounding open terrain.
Contemplating the return walk
Bushwalk
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