Upper Mossman Gorge Sunrise

Rainforest Growing in Boulders

These huge boulder fields are created over millennia by powerful floods as the water gouges out the bedrock of Mossman Gorge.

Complex Mesophyll Vine Forest

Rainforest in Australian doesn't get any more complex then this. Mossman gorge supports high diversity of plant species, high diversity of plant life forms, high diversity of wildlife, many rare and threatened species, high endemism and high stable rainfall .

Mossman Gorge Shrouded in Trees

The Wet Tropics is a window to the ecological and evolutionary processes that shaped the flora and fauna of Australia. shrouded The Wet Tropics rainforest contains an almost complete record of the major leaps in the earths evolutionary process including the origin, evolution and dispersal of flowering plants.

Upper Mossman Gorge Prow Rock

The gorge becomes steeper and steeper; giant detached boulders peel off the gorge wall and end up in the bed of Mossman River. This huge rock (middle ground) is called Prow Rock and is so large that you actually walk under its overhang to get past it. Growing on top of the rock itself is a number of Mountain Kauri Pines ( Agathis purpulnea).

Prow Rock Mossman Gorge

Here is a large chunk of Mossman Bluff that has split off and slid into the upper Mossman River. The location is directly under the massive cliff face of the Bluff. It is about four stories high and is big enough to support its own rainforest on top.

Upper Mossman Gorge.

Due west of Mossman Bluff, Mossman gorge is cradled within the steep slopes of the Carbine Tableland. At the end of the gorge are some old mining locations known by ominous names such as Darkies Downfall and Paul's Luck. Further back lies Mount Misery and Mount Spurgeon.

Hidden Waterfalls Mossman Gorge

The 1983 topography maps show Mossman Falls 500m further downstream and another 100m lower. However, this set of falls separates the steep main gorge which is directly under the Bluff's sheer rock face, then turns 90 degrees to the west to a more level upper gorge area with solid rock all the way. Look at the last photo in this series for a view from the top of the waterfall overlooking the plunge pool, to the steep descending gorge.

Orchid, Moss & Ferns Covered Branch

Rock Swimming Pool Mossman Gorge.

As the gorge gets steeper and steeper, huge water worn granite boulders end up in the river bed, creating small dams that act as comfortable spa pools.

Fast flowing water Mossman Gorge

All aspects of the upper gorge create a faster flow in the Mossman River.

Mossman Gorge 700 m Above Sea Level

Above Mossman falls the gorge / river bed becomes quite flat all the way to the confluence of Platypus Creek. The old tin mines are three kilometres upstream from this point and bear ominous names such as Darkies Downfall and Paul's Luck. Today it bears the more placid name of Platypus Creek Scientific Area.

Bedrock of Mossman Gorge

Higher up the gorge the granite bedrock is exposed by eons of floods and water erosion.

Rock & tree - Upper Mossman Gorge

These small, crystal clear granite streams are typical of the upper gorge country. Water comes from everywhere and the humidity is extreme at all times. It is perfect for plant growth, so even trees can be seen to grow around rocks.

Plunge Pool Un-named Waterfall

Separating the steep main gorge from the upper gorge is this unnamed waterfall and its attendant plunge pool. From the gorge car park to this point is a distance of approximately 6km and the rise in elevation is 700m. For the next 3km the gorge only rises approximately 200m.