September 26

Karijini

Posted by on September 26, 2015 in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

September 23-26

Karijini is the second largest national park in Western Australia. The park is most notable for its four prominent gorges that cut through the red banded rocks of the Hamersley Ranges and cross the Pilbara.

Weano gorge into Handrail Pool

We camped at the Eco Resort in a stunning location overlooking the park. Unfortunately, the facilities did not really live up to the location and as it was the beginning of WA school holidays the park just got busier and busier and louder and louder. I think we have been spoilt by the remoteness of the last few months!

Lunch at Kermit Pool

Hamersley ranges

Walking along Hancock Gorge to get into Kermit Pool

Whoops I fell I and its cold!

Despite all this the park is amazing and we got back into our walking shoes and explored as much as we could. We walked top and bottom of Weano and Dales Gorges, and clambered and spider walked through Hancock Gorge to the green Kermit Pool. We saw and swam at the Fortescue Falls, Fern and Circular Pools and Joffre Gorge. We even dashed to the end of Hamersley Gorge as the sun set.

Ghost gums and red walls

Dales Gorge from above

It's a dramatic location with massive steep and occasionally narrow gaps in the gorges. The gorge water was often freezing… deep and hidden from the sunlight. The vistas are spectacular. The colours are vibrant and contrasting: bright red layered sandstone gorge walls, with water reflecting the changing tones from the rocks and wildflowers everywhere. White snappy gums contrast against the surprising lush vegetation of a semi arid desert.

Joffre Falls

Fern Pool

Fortescue Falls

It was also our turn to encounter a few significant problems (although nothing as bad as the issues that have befallen our travelling companions, the Goldrick's). Alex has been sick and very miserable, with an exceptionally sore throat and massive temperatures to 39+ (this goes on to last for the next 5 days). Our gas fridge has died, so now we have no fridge in the trailer, just a poorly insulated “esky” with no prospect of a repair until at least Canarvon. We also have a 30cm crack in the windscreen from a kicked up stone care of a passing van which will have to wait until Perth for a repair… waiting 2 weeks in Karratha to get a new windscreen delivered, for the princely sum for $2200 dollars does not appeal.

Circular Pool

I'm sick!

Dales Gorge Walk

Semi arid desert and Spinifex grass

Walking Dales Gorge hand in hand

From here we move on to the mining mecca's of Tom Price and Karratha.