Girraween - The Pyramid

[Mad Aussie]

Girraween National Park is an area of the Granite Belt in south-east Queensland, Australia reserved as a national park. Girraween is known for its spectacular flowers, dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife. Bushwalking and rock climbing are the most popular activities in the park.

Just before we hooked up our caravan and headed south on our big journey, we took the 4 hour drive out to Girraween for a few hours. It was an 800 km round trip. We left at 5am and got home at 10 pm, but the few hours we spent in the park was worth it.

These shots are from a walk we did up the monolith called 'The Pyramid' ... it's the one on the left in this first photo ...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8384/8618557568_60e72ed82c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557568/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557568/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


Heading up the actual rock after a steep, but stepped, climb ...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8617449253_647e82b437_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449253/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449253/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


Some sort of seam running across the rock ...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8617448699_6c10da9db8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448699/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448699/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8617449137_c611367e83_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449137/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449137/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


Almost up ...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8618557798_b9a49c772e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557798/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557798/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


Bright orange lichen colours the rock.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8263/8617448869_f51e7ee70c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448869/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448869/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


The view from the top ...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8618557110_3ff06b11e5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557110/)
View From The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618557110/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

[Mad Aussie]

The Balancing Rock was created by the lichens that cover the rocks which cause the wild rock sculpturing here. Acids leached from the lichens actually eat the rock to leave amazing formations like the balancing rock in following photos ...


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8617450213_c1ecc4dcf7_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617450213/)
Balancing Rock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617450213/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8618558620_61f41e5f3e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618558620/)
Balancing Rock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618558620/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8618559212_63580fbea2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618559212/)
Balancing Rock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618559212/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8617449943_ef8a6d082b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449943/)
Balancing Rock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617449943/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8618558778_3e952ded7c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618558778/)
Looking Down From Balancing Rock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8618558778/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr

Finally the descent begins
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8617448979_521f22b36d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448979/)
The Pyramid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/astrovisual/8617448979/) by AstroVisual (http://www.flickr.com/people/astrovisual/), on Flickr


That's all folks!

[ewaizel]

Extremely nice set MA. The perspective is great in #2 & #3. Very nice B&W contrast and great panorama.

[Iguanasan]

Thank you for more tours of your "neighbourhood"! :) I always enjoy a peek into your world. :thumbup: :thumbup:

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks IG and EW ... glad you guys like. :)

[Doug L]

Awesome series! I especially love the way you composed the rock with the seam, and the two b&w images are very artistic and dramatic.

[Runmonty]

Really nice set MA. I too am a fan of the B & W. The shadows in all the shots are nice as well. Glad you included the last shot to give the rock a sense of scale.

[Randitola]

I enjoy this set. Similar to what IG says...always love touring places through here! Love the line in #3 as well as the shadows cast by the clouds in the pano.

[Marko]

Way cool MA - Really dig those balancing rocks!

[Mad Aussie]

Thank you for looking and commenting guys :)

[kevinobrien]

Nice images. 5 & 10 are my favorites

[Mad Aussie]

Nice images. 5 & 10 are my favorites
Thanks Kevin :)

[Jason]

I had never heard of Giraween before today--what an incredible place.

[Mad Aussie]

I had never heard of Giraween before today--what an incredible place.
And we were only there a few short hours ... so much more to see there.

[Bambi]

wow, that place is incredible.

[Mad Aussie]

wow, that place is incredible.
Glad you like Bambi

[Matt K.]

Fantastic. Checking into flight costs now ....

[Realist]

Yet again, you were able to capture some nice photos.

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks guys :)