So many people had talked about Karajini National Park to us while on our trip, that we thought it worth the little bit of backtracking to use the sealed road to get out there, rather than the 200km of unsealed track near Karratha, that we were not too sure Captain Slow would be able to endure! Apparently you haven't seen the Pilbara til you've been to Karajini, but as we started the trek out, I wondered if this was all a big joke, as you drive on and on through flat, dirty, dry mining country, where even the cows lie dead on the sides of the road!
Eventually, you notice some mountain ranges rising around you though, and just before the Karajini turn-off, we climb through Munjina Gorge, giving a glimpse of what is to come, with dark brown, deep, rocky gorges and cliffs contrasting with rolling green mountains and wildflowers on each side of the road. Captain Slow certainly lived up to his name on this section of the drive, giving us plenty of time to check it out.
The campground at Karajini is dry with a thick, red dust, that just sticks to you and everything you wear, reminding us we are back out in the bush again. After settling in, we take a short drive to Dales Gorge and walk down to Fortesque Falls and Fern Pool, both magnificent! Karajini is unusual, compared to many other gorges we have been in, where you stand on the surface or rim and look or climb down into deep crevises and water far below the surface. Fortesque Falls has natural rock formations like steps from the top to bottom of the falls and you climb down into it, and Fern Pool is a gorgeous natural swimming spot with smaller twin falls. The water is icy though, with hypothermia warnings over the dry season!
On Monday, we head into the Visitor Centre where the kids complete there Junior Ranger Badge Papers (school for today), and then drive across a fair bit of red, rocky road to Weano Gorge. After checking out the Oxer Lookout, where 4 Gorges meet - pretty impressive, we picnic lunch and decide on a walk. We walk the 1.5km Weano Gorge Walk that takes you around the top and then down into the gorge with some fun water crossings and an icy pool at the end to cool off in! We all do actually get in, (some of us not all the way), but you just have to give it a go! My feet actually went numb in the water! What an awesome feeling as you walk through this gorge with rock walls rising so high on either side of you!
The following day, we pack up early and head back to Fern Pool as the kids have convinced us they want to try the icy waters for a dip. So, we climb down again, this time clad in swimmers and with noodles, and to our amazement, they do not lie! It is a quick dip though, Issy lasting the longest. After our swim, we are ready to head to Tom Price, and we are all very excited about having a hot shower! We are very glad we made the trek, although its a big detour, out to Karajini and saw some amazing and unusual sights, only in the Pilbara. Yes, there is more to the Pilbara than meets the eye! Oh yes, and I nearly forgot, the kids did finish their papers and are the proud owners of Junior Ranger Badges!
Tom Price is a town predominately known for mining, but the town itself is a great stop over before going further south, and the van park is grassy and shady, situated at the base of Mt Nameless (I know, wierd name, but I am not even going to attempt the Aboriginal name for it!) A great place to wash all the red dust off! The drive into Tom Price is pretty, (like a little oasis) winding through the Hamersley Ranges with wildflowers spattering the landscape in bright purples, yellows, pinks and reds - gorgeous.
On Thursday, we are booked into a Rio Tinto mine tour for our school day, seeing we are right in the heart of Iron Ore country, and it turns out to be a great couple of hours learning for us before we leave the Pilbara. It is a great way for the kids to see close up what mining is and does, so we can talk more informatively later with them about it all. Its also a great way to see some giant trucks and machinery in action! After a nice relaxing lunch at King Lake, we start our next adventure and head to the coral coast.
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