Day 4

We have said all along that we would make up our plan as we go along... and today we exercised that ability.  After hearing about the Stockyard Gully Tunnel we decided to detour and check it out... and weren't we glad!

Here's the brochure blurb:

"During the latter part of the eighteenth century, the site was an important rest point for drovers moving stock along the Geraldton - Midland stock route.  The creek bed or gully near the inflow into the cave formed a natural 'stockyard' where stock could be held overnight."

Along the gully you come across a tunnel through the limestone.  It is about 100m long and Dave reckons 6-8m wide by 4-5m high.  Once you're 20m in, the tunnel snakes and is pitch black... it was very cool.  You walk all the way through and pop out into the gully at the other end.

I also really appreciated walking along the gully.  It reminded me of places we have explored over in Victoria.  It was green, there were loads of birds and a whole heap of feral bees, their hives were everywhere.  I was tempted to say "How's the serenity", although the non-stop, inane chatter of an 8 and 10 year old prevented that...

Walking through the gully:

Just before entering the cave/tunnel:

 Just inside:

Back out into the gully:

Stockyard Gully Reserve is only 15km inland from Green Head and we would recommend it to anyone passing by... although we would probably opt not to tow the camper in there next time.