Aboriginal Art Gallery

Starting from the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre, Carnarvon Park, this walk takes you to an exceptional Aboriginal Art Gallery and back via the Big Bend Walk track, visiting the Moss Garden, Amphitheatre and Ward’s Canyon along the way. You’ll be dazzled as you walk along the 62-metre long wall that is full of engravings, ochre stencils and free-hand paintings. This sandstone wall has more than 2000 pieces on it, and it’s quite hard to believe they’re thousands of years old because of how fresh and new they look. The Aboriginal people of Bidjara and Karingbal surely knew how to make paint last. Don’t forget to read the information boards to fully understand the messages and meanings of the art. The Art Gallery of Carnarvon is considered to be one of the best places to view Aboriginal stencil art. Take plenty of water and avoid midday hikes in summer to have a better experience. You’ll cross the creek multiple times, so hiking boots with ankle support are recommended. Let us begin by acknowledging the Bidjara & Karingbal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-25.0602838,148.2354231)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Carnarvon Highway, A7 Turn on to Wyseby Road, 2 then drive for 18.1 km Turn left onto Obriens Road and drive for another 25.5 km Continue and drive for another 190 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre, head towards the creek along the formed walking track. After crossing the said creek, keep left at the first intersection to join the Big Bend Walk. Stay on the track as it veers left and meanders along the creek(to your left) to continue along Aboriginal Art Gallery Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Big Bend Walk. There is a toilet (about 75 m back from the start). There is a pay phone (about 35 m back from the start). After 105 m cross the ford. Then cross the stepping stones (about 30 m long) Then cross the ford.
	After another 15 m (at the intersection of Nature Trail & Big Bend Walk) continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 1 km (at the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Boolimba Bluff Walk) continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 370 m cross the ford.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Moss Garden, a place that has an incredibly peaceful and stunning scenery, along with a little waterfall to add to the serenity. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 1.3 km (at the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Moss Garden Walk) continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 130 m pass the toilet (50 m on your left). Continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 25 m continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 60 m cross the stepping stones (about 140 m long) After another 320 m cross the stepping stones (about 45 m long)
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional side trip takes you to the Amphitheatre. 60 metres deep, this acoustic rock formation presents a unique audible experience. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 270 m (at the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Amphitheatre Walk) veer right, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 20 m find the "tiered ladder" (110 m on your left). tiered ladder
	At the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Amphitheatre Walk continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 320 m cross the ford.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This optional side trip takes you to the Ward's Canyon. Step back in time as you're passing through the King ferns and slender tree ferns in this naturally cool spot. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 305 m (at the intersection of Ward's Canyon Walk & Big Bend Walk) continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 480 m cross the ford. After another 25 m cross the ford. After another 15 m cross the ford.
	After another 225 m (at the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Art Gallery Walk) turn left, to head along Art Gallery Walk.
	Continue another 335 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 5.5 km to get back to the start.

This optional but recommended side trip takes you to the Moss Garden, a place that has an incredibly peaceful and stunning scenery, along with a little waterfall to add to the serenity.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Moss Garden Walk & Big Bend Walk Start heading along Moss Garden Walk (a walking track). After 135 m cross the ford. After another 55 m cross the ford. After another 310 m cross the ford.
	After another 125 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 630 m to the main route.

This optional side trip takes you to the Amphitheatre. 60 metres deep, this acoustic rock formation presents a unique audible experience.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Amphitheatre Walk & Big Bend Walk Start heading along Amphitheatre Walk (a walking track). After another 10 m continue straight, to head along Amphitheatre Walk. After another 10 m cross the ford. After another 60 m cross the ford. After another 60 m cross the ford. After another 15 m find the "tiered ladder" (on your left). tiered ladder
	After another 195 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 350 m to the main route.

This optional side trip takes you to the Ward's Canyon. Step back in time as you're passing through the King ferns and slender tree ferns in this naturally cool spot.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Ward's Canyon Walk & Big Bend Walk Start heading along Ward's Canyon Walk (a walking track).
	After another 265 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 265 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Aboriginal Art Gallery

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	11 km
Time	3 h to 5 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 3.7 km apart with the largest gap of 8 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-76 m	[toilet]
Toilet	2.9 km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Rolleston Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  37°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the Carnarvon Ranges in the afternoon and evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the southeast from the late morning. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then tending north to northeasterly in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures in the mid to high 30s.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: High
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 7:50am to 3:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 12 [Extreme]
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  20°C → 37°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the Carnarvon Ranges in the afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the southeast. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early afternoon then tending north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 17 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.
  
  Thursday 7 November
  
  20°C → 38°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 18 and 21 with daytime temperatures reaching the high 30s.
  
  Friday 8 November
  
  21°C → 39°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the Carnarvon Ranges in the morning and afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the south in the afternoon and evening. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending northwest to southwesterly during the afternoon then tending northwest to northeasterly during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 19 and 22 with daytime temperatures reaching around 40.
  
  Saturday 9 November
  
  22°C → 39°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Sunday 10 November
  
  21°C → 36°C
  Sunny.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Sunny.
  
  Monday 11 November
  
  21°C → 35°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Carnarvon National Park alerts
  Big Bend closed due to structural damage (update 3 Oct)
  Big Bend is closed due to structural damage to the toilet block. Affected parks: Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  
  Alert kindly provided by © Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts