Fitzroy Crossing

Geike Gorge

The boat ride up Geike Gorge was the main thing to do from Fitzroy crossing. Mr Geike (whoever he was) never visited Australia or saw the gorge.Geike Gorge may soon be changing its name to Darngku, its indigenous name. This gorge is not really comparable to the gorges in Karigini but it was still "gorgeous"!

Probably the most fascinating thing for us was seeing the Johnston's freswater crocs living wild and free in this gorge. After seeing the saltwater crocs at the crocodile park these crocodiles seemed so small. There were many of them on the bank, nearly everywhere you looked. Freshwater crocs are not agressive except during nesting season. There was a swimming area here and I wanted to swim but the others were not so keen and after we all walked off in the wrong direction I had to give up my quest. I've swum with sharks this holiday, crocs would have added to the adventure!

The gorge walls are two toned. The whole thing is actually the remains of a massive coral reef. The walls are marked with rust (oxidised iron ore) and cyanobacteria at the top. At the bottom the wall is white because when the flood waters come through they wash off the outside layer of rock, revealing the true colour of the rock.