The Sacred Cannon Walk

The Sacred Cannon Walk – Aboriginal Rock Art.

There are many places to see and explore in the area around Wilpena Pound. Unfortunately many of them are hikes that are classified as moderate to hard, and require a well above level of fitness to accomplish and can take up to 9-10 hours. Considering our present health (and age) we have decided that up to 3klms and about 3hours duration is about our limit.

We therefore decide to do the Sacred Cannon Walk. This walk is in the Flinders Rangers National Park and the first thing we have to do is purchase a National Parks Pass –great value at $8 for 10days duration.

We turn off the main road and travel 13.5klms along a well maintained gravel track that twists and turns through mainly cypress pine trees. In most places under the pine trees the ground is covered with masses of sweet little mauve wild flowers – which from a distance looks like snow. We also spot kangaroos and their joeys under the trees. The Wilpena Pound Mountain Range remains in sight for most of our trip down this track.

The information board for this walk.

The Dry Creek Bed we start the walk along.

Me enjoying the walk. Easy going at the moment.

The road finishes at a car park where there is a beautiful dry creek bed and as usual there are many majestic old Red River Gums along the bank. Lunch consists of tomato, cheese and biscuits and a thermos of coffee –a simple lunch but enjoyed in beautiful and serene place. After lunch we commence the walk known as the Sacred Cannon Walk. It is a short 500mts walk along the gum lined creek that leads to the site where ancient Aboriginal rock engravings are to be found carved into the smooth sandstone walls.

The walk along the dry river bed amongst the huge river gum trees is just lovely and really enjoyable. The sand is cool and soft under foot and the colours of the many different rocks in the river bed is great to look at and examine.

The climb through the cannon gets a bit steeper.

 

 

The flat out crop where the engravings are.

A view of the vertically tilted rocks.

Eventually we have to start climbing up through the narrow but deep gorge till we get to an open amphitheatre area where the rock art is. Many of the sedimentary rocks in this gorge have been tilted vertically and you can see the individual layers – it is just spectacular. The images of animal tracks, people and waterholes have been pecked into the sheer rock faces by the Aboriginal people with stone tools. It is a very special place and well worth a visit.
 Again we have had a great day and really enjoyed what we have seen.

This is a photo of our caravan site overlooking Rawnsley Bluff.

Arkaroo Aboriginal Rock Art Hike.

Another walk we undertake is to view ancient Aboriginal art work at Arkaroo Rock – this rock is very significant to the Adnyamathanha people of the Flinders Rangers.

The information boards at the start of the hike.

 

This 3klm hike leads us up moderate inclines and over a lot of loose rocks to a large rock shelter containing ochre and charcoal images that depict aspects of the Yura Muda (dreaming) for Ikara (Wilpena Sound).

The path we travelled - steep and rocky in parts.

At least I made it and even though it was difficult for me in parts I think I felt a lot better after having completed it.

The art work is Great. Unfortunately I am still trying to find out how old it is. The cave the paintings are in is cool and very shady. I can see why the Aboriginals would have chosen here to live.

 

It takes us nearly 3hours to complete this hike and on the way we travel through significant beautiful native vegetation and as we climb higher, we get to see magnificent views out over the Flinders Rangers and in particular Rawnsley Bluff. Along the way we cross many small bridges and we stop to rest at the seats provided and take in the magnificent views.

Parts of the hike and the views of the Ranges we saw.