A very atmospheric walk through Nichols Gorge in Kosciuszko National Park. The gorge is lined by large rocky crags, and then the track emerges from the gorge onto wide treeless plains.
The attractive Nichols Gorge Track branches off from the common start with the Clarke Gorge Track, near the camping area at Blue Waterholes. Not quite as spectacular as the narrow and shear sided Clarke Gorge, Nichols Gorge is nevertheless very atmospheric, and has the added advantage of being a circuit walk, (and you won’t get wet feet). It feels a bit more remote than it is (which I like), and opens out onto a wide treeless plain in the latter half.
The rocks at Blue Waterholes. There were lots of wild horses around (one pic at the end), but also some native wildlife. There were a couple of easily accessible caves in Nichols Gorge. This one is Cooleman Cave. In Nichols Gorge. Big rocks. And seriously blue sky. More rocks. And more sky. Out of the gorge. An alpine flower. Big treeless plains in these parts. Cool air settles in shallow valleys, thereby inhibiting tree growth. There are trees on the hills in the background. More than a bit glary shooting into the sun, but I liked the scenery, so this shot made the cut. Ghost. Walking back down to the campground where we parked the car. Sophia getting to know the locals. These wild horses (brumbies) are non-natives descended from working horses.
Track Notes
The Clarke Gorge Walk is an out and back route; Nichols Gorge is a circuit. I’m not 100% sure if what I’ve marked for the Nichols Gorge Walk is what we did, but this is what’s marked on the NPWS website (in 2023, when I created this map).
Both gorge walks can be done in a day. Information on the NPWS website, and in this NPWS brochure. You can park at the Blue Waterholes Campground…
