Day 22: Tue 09 Apr 24 - Wave Rock (Hyden)

Tue 09 Apr 24 - Wave Rock (Hyden)

10 Deg feeling like a very fresh 6 Deg with a SE wind that persisted all day, reaching a maximum of 23 Deg and mostly sunny in the afternoon. This morning after a bit of a slow start, Noel did some washing and cleaning, while I went for a walk around the top of  Wave Rock, then returned for breakfast and some personal admin. 

Later in the morning, because of the annoying fresh wind, we drove into Hyden to the bakery for coffee which was pretty good, then we drove back 18km past Wave Rock to Mulka’s Cave and The Humps. Here we visited Mulka's Cave Aboriginal Rock Art site within 'The Humps' Nature Reserve. The site features 452 motifs, considered an extremely high number for the region where most sites have fewer than 30 motifs. Read about the legend of Mulka below or google it. From there Noel and I walked the 1.2km Gnamma (Aboriginal for Waterholes) Trail loop which was very interesting (except for the flies). Back at the cave, Noel returned to the car and waited for me to walk the longer and steeper Kalari Trail over the granite dome. The Aboriginal name for the rock is Kalari which means lizards. Apparently numerous lizards scamper about the rocky slopes when the weather is warm enough, but I didn't see any today. At the top I was rewarded with excellent views, and I thought this rock was much more impressive than Wave Rock.

After completing enough activity for the morning, we returned to the van, for a late but light lunch, and a bit of a rest, followed by planning the route to Albany over the next two days (Albany not Albury as I keep referring to it)… 

Having decided upon our route tomorrow, I also decided that I need fuel, so I drove back into Hyden to refuel. Returning to the van, I then topped up with some tasty fresh 'hot out of the oven' scones that Noel made while away, which we enjoyed with a cup of tea. By now the wind began to drop, so I set off for another walk onto Wave/Hyden Rock to take photos from the drone. Back at the van we enjoyed an an afternoon refreshment before dinner and an early night, feeling somewhat weary. 

Morning Walk past Wave Rock onto the top

Morning Walk onto the Rock 

Morning Walk onto the Rock 

Our supersize site at the Wave Rock Caravan Park

Mulka's Cave, 18km from Wave Rock.  

The name Mulka comes from an Aboriginal legend associated with the cave. Mulka was the illegal son of woman who fell in love with a man with whom marriage was forbidden according to their law.
It is believed that a result of breaking these rules, she bore a son with crossed eyes. Even though he grew to be an outstandingly strong man of colossal height, his crossed eyes prevented him from aiming a spear accurately and becoming a successful hunter.

Out of frustration it is said Mulka turned to catching and eating human children and he became the terror of the district. He lived in Mulka's Cave, where the imprints of his hands can still be seen, much larger and higher than that of an ordinary man.

Mulka's Cave

Mulka's Cave

Walk along the Gnamma Trail (1.2km loop)

Gnamma is Aboriginal for 'Water Holes"


Waterholes along the Gnamma Trail 

Waterholes along the Gnamma Trail 


View towards the large granite dome (one of the Humps)

Walk along the Gnamma Trail

Walk along the Gnamma Trail

Walk along the Kalari Trail (1.6km loop) which climbs onto the huge granite dome, with excellent views.  I think wilder and more impressive than Wave Rock.

Walk along the Kalari Trail 

Walk along the Kalari Trail 

Walk along the Kalari Trail 

Walk along the Kalari Trail 

Walk along the Kalari Trail - past 'Wanna-be Wave '. 


Walk along the Kalari Trail - View from the top

Walk along the Kalari Trail - View from the top

Walk along the Kalari Trail - View from the top


Walk along the Kalari Trail - View from the top


Wave Rock from above with the dam to the right which catches all the water run off for the town's water supply 

Wave Rock from above

Wave Rock and the dam from above


Wave Rock from above

Wave Rock from above

Wave Rock from above

Wave Rock from above

Wave Rock from above


Wave Rock - A concrete wall/funnel to channel water into the reservoir

Wave Rock - A concrete wall/funnel to channel water into the reservoir



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