For decades now, locals of the New South Wales Central Coast have debated the authenticity of a series of hieroglyphs carved into a hidden rockface in the Brisbane Water National Park. Many believe they have Egyptian origins. 

Intrepid explorers have scrambled up the tight gap between two sandstone rockfaces, emerging into a narrow passage, to examine the hieroglyphs. The symbols are familiar to anyone with an understanding of ancient Egypt and include an image of Anubis, the name of King Khufu enclosed in the customary cartouche, and many other symbols.

In an area well-known for its abundance of Aboriginal petroglyphs, the set of rather unusual rock carvings were first recorded in the 1970s, and have been the topic of debate ever since. Were they the work, as some believe, of two Egyptian princes shipwrecked on the Australian continent? Or are they simply a decades-long prank? Others think they may have been the work of a creative local living in the area, or reflect the Egyptology craze that swept the world following the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The consensus amongst Egyptologists who have visited and studied the glyphs is that they are a hoax, and one filled with several inconsistencies and errors. However, that hasn’t stopped many local residents from maintaining their belief in their authenticity.

Regardless of who made them, the glyphs hidden deep in the Australia bush are certainly a sight to behold.