We had heard about Cobbold Gorge, but were unsure about whether to visit or not, but had kept it on the "maybe list". After talking to a number of travellers along the track, all of whom said it's a "must do", we decided to take their advice. Despite the really crappy condition of the road from Forsayth, this was a spot that we were very glad we visited. We asked to have a look around the camp ground and facilities before deciding where we would camp - powered, unpowered or ensuite. We were very pleasantly surprised and would have been happy to camp in any of the available sections, but we opted for an unpowered site amongst the trees.
The owners here have done an excellent and thoughtful job in setting up their camp ground. Between the trees, where there is not room for a car or tent, they have provided a fire pit, complete with bbq plate, grill plate and hook, as well as seats. These were scattered all around the camp ground. There were taps close by and a great BBQ area with heaps of bench space. The amenities were the best we have seen - look brand new, with individual bathrooms, as well as a laundry and well-equipped camp kitchen. There are also cabins, a shop, cafe/restaurant and - the highlight for us - an infinity pool!
The main camping area sits behind a dam wall and even though there was very little water in the dam, it was still a great spot for some bird photography. We were fortunate that the place wasn't crowded so we enjoyed the peace and quiet.
You cannot access the gorge on your own so we took the half day tour on Wednesday morning. Again, the attention to details and quality was evident. We departed the reception area at 10.00am on a very flash 4WD bus, and drove across the private property to an enormous shed where the bus was parked and some information about the flora, fauna and history was provided. From there we began the walking part of the tour, up to the escarpment overlooking the gorge. There are no safety rails, so I opted to stand well back - I don't do heights!.
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| The nights were clear and cool and lit by a 'super moon' |
The owners here have done an excellent and thoughtful job in setting up their camp ground. Between the trees, where there is not room for a car or tent, they have provided a fire pit, complete with bbq plate, grill plate and hook, as well as seats. These were scattered all around the camp ground. There were taps close by and a great BBQ area with heaps of bench space. The amenities were the best we have seen - look brand new, with individual bathrooms, as well as a laundry and well-equipped camp kitchen. There are also cabins, a shop, cafe/restaurant and - the highlight for us - an infinity pool!
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| Yes we are camping. |
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| A harmless tree snake was also using the pool |
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| Some of the parrot species around the village |
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| This Rainbow Bee-eater hawked insects from a tree above the dam |
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| Looking down into the Gorge |
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| The gorge steadily narrows as we progress. It is impossible to turn the boat making it necessary to have a motor at both ends. |
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| Freshwater crocodiles are encountered at the beginning of the boat trip |
Cobbold Gorge is a very well presented tourist facility - great staff, stunning scenery, and all the facilities you need. We decided we could happily camp here, even without the gorge tour, and hope to return "after the wet".
- Great range of accommodation and facilities
- Plenty of birds are attracted to the water and nectar producing native plants around the village
- Bring firewood in from outside for use in the fire places as there isn't that much close by
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