This was actually a heritage walk. Bob, Doug and myself were looking for some Aboriginal art caves in the greater Glenbrook area of Blue Mountains National Park. We had looked for one of these caves on two previous trips but had had no luck. This time we found it, and it was quite interesting. I won’t post any photos however. We looked for but did not find a second cave.
We also visited the well known art cave – Red Hands Cave, and also walked down to Kanuka Brook and looked at The Crayfish Pool and the nearby waterfall, which some people call Grey Hat Falls.
The first part of the walk, we visited some creek valleys. On the way we noticed a lot of beautiful rock orchids. They are Yellow Rock Orchids (Cestichis reflexa)
More Yellow Rock Orchids (Cestichis reflexa)
Later, we visited Grey Hat Falls –
There is a great swimming hole below the waterfall. This is the Crayfish Pool.
Having a bit more time, we next visited Red Hands Cave. This is a major Aboriginal art cave. It is a very special place. A fitted steel grid protects the cave from vandals, but their are places with a gap suitable for cameras to get photos.
The cave contains many red hand stencils. But there are also other red ochre artworks – such as throwing sticks or woomeras and a number of circular shapes which have been interpreted as wombs or vaginas.
Next are some iPhone pictures and iDStretch versions –
One archeologist recorded two large male figures depicted in white ochre in the cave and I was hoping the software may reveal them. I could not discern them.