A lot of Aboriginal rock art is very difficult to discern in normal conditions. It helps to have a low light source – eg early morning or late afternoon sunlight (and some people use artificial light sources held at a low angler at night). Another aid is for the rock to be wet. On this trip, we didn’t have low light, but we did have wet rock. Perhaps a bit too wet! We had quite bit of rain during our visit.
We headed up to Kariong, near Gosford on the Central Coast. In the party, as well as myself, were Bob, Doug, Nipper and Airdrie.
It was very scrubby getting to the first art site. On the way to it, we checked out some small rock platforms on the way. On one we saw this art or European origin –
On another rock platform we spotted large fish –
We then reached the major site, which had a lot of interesting engravings.
Here is an eel –
And another eel –
A male figure –
Another male figure –
There was a large and deep rock pool –
There is a complex series of engravings in the foreground –
Overlapping engravings –
Another male figure –
Kangaroo and fish –
And this strange shape –
It was very wet!
On the walk back, Doug spotted this Kangaroo engraving –
We then retreated to the cafe at Mt Penang Gardens for lunch. It was good refuge from the rain.
After lunch, we headed back out into the rain to visit another major art site. Some of the engravings here have been re-grooved in recent years.
Here is a male and (inverted) female figure –
The female –
The male –
Emu –
Fish and a mundoe (footprint) –
Mundoes –
More mundoes –
Fish –
This one looks like an eel –
Mundoe –
Mundoe –
Two mundoes –
On different rock platform, not too far away, we spotted more engravings.
Kangaroo (or wallaby) –
Two fish –
Kangaroo –
Human figure –
Fish –
Eel –
Eel –
Despite the rain, we had a very interesting day. The wet rock certainly made the engravings easier to spot and work out what they could be.