The legend of the giant Eels
Barron Gorge 8th October 2020
One of my longtime customers Monica is also a longtime Cairns resident. She has told me she reads every post on this website so hi Monica :) On a visit to my office we talked about Barron Gorge and how she used to explore and swim in it. She also told me that giant eels live in the most popular swimming hole.
Looking down the Gorge late afternoon.
In my opinion the best swimming spots in the Gorge are a fair way up past the bridge. A journey that requires rock hopping and should be avoided in the wet as the rocks turn to ice in the rain. If you are going to be there in the dark then you need the right footwear and at least a couple of torches.
I recently left the Gorge in the dark to find a car with its headlights shining into the Gorge, 3 firetrucks, an ambulance and a police car rescuing someone from another spot back on the road out.
If you enjoy looking at the finer details of rocks as I do you will find yourself stopping quite often. Late in the afternoon when the sun is not as harsh the colours in the rocks come out more.
Two men fishing in the Gorge
When I saw these two men in the Gorge fishing it really reminded me of how big this place is and how it is quite easy to loose sight of some of the smaller things in there.
It might be the larger vegetation on the side of the hills, the smaller plants in the shallows of the water or simply the patterns the water makes on the rocks as it flows down the side of the Gorge, there is plenty to see in this wonderful place.
The largest and most popular swimming hole in the Gorge.
That said if you walk pretty much as far as most can up the Gorge you will arrive at the largest pond, most popular swimming hole and probably the most spectacular spot I have seen in the Gorge. It is also home to the legendary giant Eels that Monica talks about.
3-4 foot long Eel the same colour pattern as the rocks.
One of the advantages of being in the Gorge when most people are not is that the animals come out to play a bit more. Those out of the water and in it. I was sitting at that swimming hole in the Gorge when in the shallows I noticed something moving.
Not a very good photo but the best I could do before the eel swam away. After I took the photo and the eel was gone I went down to the edge and measured out as best I could how long it was. I would say between 3 to 4 feet and not knowing how big eels get, that is in my books a giant eel and the legend of the giant Eels, as told by Monica, is confirmed!
One of the other swimming holes
I prefer to swim in the smaller swimming holes in the Gorge like the one above. However at the moment with no rain the water is a bit low and not flowing much. In some spots the water is now too murky for me to swim in.
Natures shower mat.
My favourite spot to swim at is not that deep but the water runs quite fast there so not so murky. It also has this plant (or whatever) growing over the rocks at the water edge. The plant gives you great grip as you enter and leave the water. Natures own shower mat.
A tree house I discovered in the Gorge recently.
I had spent many daylight hours in the Gorge before I was comfortable staying in there until after dark. As much as I have the place to myself I often stumble across items that remind me how many other people have also enjoyed spending time in this wonderful place. That was the case one night as I made my way out of the Gorge and passed under this tree house.
Gorilla Rock November 2019.
If you are thinking of enjoying some time in Barron Gorge like these young men did back in November 2019, please clean up after yourselves and leave it beautiful for the next person…… as they did. Have a great weekend.