Blencoe Falls

Blencoe Falls is that waterfall you might have seen if you've watched the reality show

So was it all worth it?

Well, the falls initially plunges some 91m before cascading another 230m (for a grand total of three major stages) as the waters continue at the bottom of the spectacular Herbert River Gorge. Once we made it to the car park (see directions below), we took an easy and short walk (400m or 20 minutes each way) to a lookout platform taking in the scenery. Take a look at the photos yourself and see what you think?

That walk was enough for our visit, because we were neither hardy nor self-sufficient enough to endure a few days here of even longer walks in the area. Speaking of which, we also noticed on our map that there was a separate car park above the falls for primitive bush camping (I reckon that's probably the closest to the actual Tribal Council location you could legally stay).

As for the long drive, we did manage to see at least 5 gray kangaroos, 1 wallabie, 2 emus, and lots of cows in the beginning. I guess that kind of provides somewhat of an indication of how much Nature rules in these parts.

The first was a dry-weather only 4wd road just north of Cardwell at Kennedy (I believe it starts from Kennedy Creek Rd), which led some 71km west to the rugged 4wd turnoff leading south to the falls car park itself. Unfortunately, according to some locals we'd spoken to at Cardwell, Cyclone Larry made this road so bad that 2wd vehicles (which we were driving) shouldn't even bother.

So we took the longer approach that passed through the dry, dusty town of Mt Garnet (west of Ravenshoe) before going south on extensive unsealed roads ultimately reaching the 4wd spur to the falls lookout from the west.

Leaving from Millaa Millaa, we took our 2wd rental vehicle (which I don't recommend doing unless you're real patient, you've taken out the damage waiver with the car hire, and you've got a whole day dedicated to the falls) for the adventure. From Millaa Millaa to the township of Mt Garnet was about 73km. About 3km west of Mt Garnet along the Kennedy Hwy was the turnoff on our left leaving the highway and entering the unsealed Gunnawarra Rd.

This 30km stretch of unsealed road was actually fairly tame although there were a few washboarded sections as well as a few sporadic deep potholes and ruts. Eventually, we reached a fork where signposts guided us to go right. We then proceeded along this road, and it was still fairly tame for the first 30km stretch. We even noticed some areas of wilderness that looked like it was damaged by a Cyclone (possibly Larry).

Then, the road got progressively worse the further we went. The first real scary section was a fording for the Herbert River. Even though the water level was practically a non-issue, it was the rocks we had to roll over that conspired to damage the undercarriage of the car.

Beyond the river, the drive became tame again for the next 15km. Then, we turned right onto the last 5.2km stretch of road. However, that last section was once again high-clearance road as there were more deep ruts and even protruding rocks on the road. In one hill, there was a combination of both a deep rut as well as a fairly steep slope, and it was here that the bottom of the rental car was easily scraped. Going up this road was also worrisome due to the steepness of the hill.

I swore that last 5km stretch of road seemed like it went on forever. I had contemplated walking it, but a 10km round trip walk on top of a 6-hour round trip drive (minimum) was not palatable. So you could imagine my relief when we finally made it to the car park (but we still had to get out of here!).

Finally, one last bit of advise.

Don't even bother with this waterfall if it has been raining because you're likely to either get stuck in the mud or get cut off by washed out roads along the way.

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On the rough unsealed road

Still on the bumpy road

An area that appears to be afflicted by Cyclone Larry in March 2006

The Herbert River Gorge

Julie at the overlook platform

Looking down at the falls

Cliffs framing the falls

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Bottom up sweep of the long multi-tiered waterfall and cascade

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TRIP REPORTS

• May 19, 2008

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