Solid boulders line the top of the Great Dividing Range in various shapes and sizes.

Up from the air, they emerge as part of a belt, connecting all spots.

Mother Nature’s violent eruption came straight from the heart and was left to cool.

Sand, wind, heat and water sculptured and rearranged these smooth gems into what we see today. Marbleous. Some scattered around the paddock.

And other boulders accumulated in other sections along the ‘belt’. A perfect territory to ‘hide and seek’.

The tunnel of love.

Massive rocks cracked over the years and created incredible monuments. 

The biggest rock of them all in the Southern Hemisphere is bald. Bald Rock is simply outstanding over the Great Dividing Range.

Giant boulders balance vertigo. Like oversized marbles, left from the dinosaur age.

They are not in a hurry to roll on. Water is trying to get a hold of these stones and will eventually succeed.

These rocks weather anything that nature throws at them, for now.

Today, it’s my presence and I asked for favourable weather conditions.

Bald Rock obliged tremendously. Blue skies and calm winds enticed me to another photo-frenzy. It was a glorious day for all of the above. Perfect droning ailments too.

But first, I had to get to the top. Straight up. This is the most direct route to ascend Bald Rock.

A few photos here and there excused the huffing.

The afternoon sun shone perfectly onto the granite, producing astonishing colours and patterns.

I will have to favour this track to return for sunset.

The iron core of this rock would glow in red even more.

A few like-minded hikers enjoyed the views from the top of Bald Rock.

A bronze map detailed surrounding mountains.

It was absolutely wind-still, a rare commodity up here.

I couldn’t wait to get Maverick in the air.

Gotta say photos like these are most definitely worth their money.

I still need to get my camera angles right with this drone though, but practice is all. Some panorama photos could be closer up or aimed for a little higher.

Well, I best shut up and add a few aerial shots to this post.

The videos I took were just as exciting.

Unfortunately, they don’t upload to this media platform but can be viewed on Instagram or Facebook.

Bald Rock and the Granite Belt are a magical spot altogether.

Bald Rock isn’t as badly bold as the name suggests.

Flora of all kinds established a communal strong-hold up here.

Nature uses every opportunity to spark life.

The tall eucalyptus trees on the wind and sun sheltered side are the fortress of this forest. Majestically standing strong as tall protectors. They usually battle gale-force winds.

There is some teamwork going on within granite and woods. The backbone of a fragile stronghold.

New life found shelter behind this rocky outcrop. Devastating bushfires clipped Bald Rock and its surroundings. But greens always comes back.

Some scrubs invaded the cracks of this mighty rock. They may protect from winds but not from rushing waters.

For trees to grow in this angle is nature’s balance act. This one made it for a few years.

Eventually, the tree had overgrown its appetite for resources and remains a bizarre statue. Its cooler, dryer climate keeps the shape of this dry-wood. Its roots are still fixated to the ground and stabilises bushes around. That way, this wooden skelaton supports wildlife as a resting and housing oasis.

Heavy rainfall may eventually wash this patch bald. It’s rush hour here during the wet season.

Veins are carved into granite, pumping water from its heart. But not today.

With fading sunlight, I opted for the direct route to return and leave the boulder-forest-walk for tomorrow in more favourable sunlight.

The lower setting sun glowed Bald Rock fire-red.

These massive boulders stood out not far from the track.

Bald Rock’s own Parisian Flair with the ‘Champs-Ellisee’ and ‘L’arc de Triumph’.

 I felt triumphened around these solid sculptures.

All alone, I was enjoying the serenity and glowing colours the setting sun reflected.

I made it back to Troopy just in time before complete darkness and set up camp in the nearby campground. It was cold and I was in a spot of bother. Should I light the fire first or cook dinner. My tummy was rumbling. A sandwich and a few musli bars didn’t cut my energy levels today. But as so often, I had some pot-luck. My friendly neighbours, a kiwi father and his teenage daughter, sensed my dismissal and came over with ‘potjie kos’ as South Africans call it. A stew cooked in hot coal for hours. A camping favourite. Chicken and vegetable stew for you? Yes, please. I don’t mind if I do. This was exactly what my doctor ordered. I don’t think they understood how thankful I was for this amazing human gesture. There are some fabulous people out there.

The bonfire burnt well into the night, which kept my body and mind warm. The stars were shining brightly. It will be another glorious day tomorrow and I will be climbing Bald Rock for sunrise.