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Karijini

A 20-day adventure by Mohrtravels Read more
  • Trip start
    September 23, 2021

    Perth Dalwallinu

    September 23, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    After months of planning a busy couple of weeks at work and school we were ready for our 3 week trip exploring WA's Karijini NP, Exmouth and Monketly Mia.
    We picked up the girls early from school once we were packed. We were on the road at 3pm for an easy 250km drive north to Dalwallinu.
    We stayed at a friendly caravan park and walked 900m to enjoy the local hospitality at the pub.

    With most of the country in lockdown or under COVID restrictions we are pretty lucky to be travelling freely.
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  • Karalundi

    September 24, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    First morning means first bako stop... pies and sausage roll all around from Jenny's Bakehouse, they were very tasty too.
    It was our first big day of driving, 569 kms and 6 hours. Although with the caravan and a few stops it took 7 hours til we arrived at Karalundi CP.
    We stopped for lunch in Cue where Lauren found a ladybird. The wildflowers along the side of the highway were beautiful and broke up the mostly flat and red landscape.
    Karalundi is a lovely small park and adjacent an Indigenous school. Almosy everyone seemed to be overnighting on their way to Karijini. A great camp kitchen meant we barely had to setup. After buying an ice cream from the cafe, the girls enjoyed the air conditioning in the van while doing some crochet. After yummy dinner and our last good shower for a while we all had a good sleep before an early morning start.
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  • Fern Pool

    September 25, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    After 3 days of driving we finally arrived and setup at Dales Campground. About 15 minutes walk and plenty of stairs took us down to Fortescue Falls. Another few hundred metres walk along the gorge floor is the most amazing swimming hole, Fern Pool. It is a sacred place for aboriginal people and just beautiful. As it was late in the afternoon we almost had the pool to ourselves. We swam across to the waterfall and sat under there.
    It was absolutely gorgeous 😍 and made the driving already worthwhile.
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  • Dales Gorge

    September 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We were up early and excited to start exploring. We packed up again and drove a few hundred metres to the Dales carpark.
    We walked 2km along the top of the gorge before our first adventure really began. Although Circular Pool is permanently closed theres is a steep rocky track and ladder down to the base of Dales Gorge near the pool. We then walked the 2km creek side trail back to Fortescue Falls . It was hot, hard and fantastic. The girls even practised their Jazz dance for a few surprised hikers. After a cooling swim at Fortescue Falls we had another cooling dip in Fern Pool.Read more

  • Fortescue Falls

    September 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    At the end of a 4km gorge walk is the cool and gorgeous Fortescue Falls. Jarrad, Isobel and Lauren enjoyed a cooling swim and explored the waterfall. It was busy with families, backpackers, farmers and grey nomads.

    We went and enjoyed another dip in Fern Pool although it was very busy. There was then about 100 steps back up to the top of the gorge as we made our way to the next gorge, Kalamina.
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  • Kalamina Gorge

    September 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After completing Dales Gorge we stopped in at the visitor centre. Karijini is so busy during school holidays they had run out of maps so had to use the download on my phone and photos of maps.
    We learnt some more about the aboriginal history of the park and also some of the flora and fauna.
    After the visitor centre we went to Kalamina Gorge, about 20km on gravel road.
    It was probably the easiest gorge we did and not the most exciting as there wasn't much water and we didn't go for a swim at the end. It is graded as an easy class 3&4 and was a good gorge to increase our confidence before we tackle the grade 5 gorges.
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  • Dales Campground

    September 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    An early start and we were on the road about 7.40am. We discovered the battery for the Waeco fridge isn't working so we need to get to Autopro in Newman by 12pm to get a new battery.
    We top up our supplies at the Woolworths supermarket and have a tasty lunch at Dome Cafe.
    Next stop is Dales Campground, another 2 hours from Newman. It is a national park campground so no power, water or flushing toilets. It was a long day with 6 hours of driving and finally arriving at Dales about 4.15pm.
    Discovered a new tree species... washing tree! Perfect for drying swimming gear without setting anything up. The weather was perfect, warm in the day with a breeze and cool overnight.
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  • Karijini Eco Retreat

    September 26, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Karijini Eco Retreat is our first chance to unpack properly after 3 overnight stays in a row.

    Although unpowered and no water to the van, the eco retreat has been upgraded since we last stayed in 2017. There are now flushing toilets and drinking water plus bbqs and washing up space. With our car battery sorted it was pretty easy camping although it took a while to get used to the freezing or scalding water in the showers.

    We had a great site with afternoon shade, close to BBQ facilities and toilets/showers. There was also a Cafe for good coffee and ice creams.

    There is no phone reception in Karijini so it was nice to be able to switch off completely for a few days.
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  • Weano Gorge

    September 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Weano Gorge was our first grade 5 hike and the reward at the end was a swim in handrail pool. The girls were excited to finally get to wear their wet shoes and walk through water. We were there by 8.30am so beat the crowds which was great.

    There was lots of climbing and wading and balancing. The water at handrail pool was cold but Jarrad and Isobel braved the cold water and swam through the narrow opening to see another waterfall.

    It was fantastic climbing and our favourite gorge so far.
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  • Hancock Gorge

    September 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    After a break for morning tea our next challenge was grade 5 Hancock Gorge with Kermits Pool at the end. This was much harder and longer than Weano Gorge and quickly became our favourite. We all had a swim in Kermits Pool which was chilly but so refreshing after the hike in.Read more

  • Knox Gorge

    September 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    After a quick lunch break after Hancock Gorge we drove 20km on gravel to Knox Gorge. Another grade 5 walk. The steep descent in to the Gorge was the toughest we had done especially after already completing 2 gorges that morning. As Knox Gorge is not as well known or popular, the descent and steps were not very well maintained and it was hard going.

    It was a long but scenic walk and it was a great sense of achievement just to finish it. Doing 3 gorges on the one day meant we could have a relaxing final day in Karijini on Tuesday.
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  • Back at camp

    September 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After completing 3 Grade 5 gorges in 1 day we were all exhausted. We each enjoyed a good shower and cooked dinner early and enjoyed steak, bacon, eggs and salad!! I think we were all asleep by 8pm.

    Lozza was dirty and exhausted, sweat mixed with sunscreen and red dirt 😀
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  • Joffre Gorge

    September 28, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    After a morning of relaxing at camp, Megan had a morning nap while Jarrad, Isobela and Lauren went for a ride and had a cold drink at the Cafe. After lunch we walked about 800m to Joffre Gorge which used to be a grade 6 walk. It is now a grade 5 walk as there are ladders installed all the way to the bottom. It was a great final walk with a quick swim at the end.

    We walked back to camp via the Cafe and enjoyed an ice cream to cool down.
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  • Karijini Eco Retreat

    September 28, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Our final night in Karijini was very relaxing as we cooked Burgers and enjoyed the final sunset.

    Karijini was amazing and definitely worth the drive and we were looking forward to our next stage of our trip, travelling to Exmouth after a night at Bullara station.Read more

  • Bullara

    September 29, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    After leaving Karijini at 7am we stopped for breakfast at the servo near Tom Price and then took the shorter drive via the local mine... but this meant 60km on a gravel road instead of bitumen if we had driven via Paraburdoo.
    On the NW Hwy we then saw a car pulled over and them pulling out all their luggage etc. We stopped to see if they needed help and they did as they had shredded a rear tyre. They were an older couple and their family were in front so didn't know they were in trouble. Jarrad helped get the car jacked and tyre off. They then had to drive on their spare at max speed of 80km/hr.
    We had a good break and lunch at Nanaturra Roadhouse before arriving at Bullara station about 4pm. We had power and they served freshley cooked damper to about 120 eager campers.
    After a good night's sleep and a fantastic hot shower we enjoyed homemade scones in their Cafe before driving to Exmouth.
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  • Exmouth

    September 30, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    It was only 80km drive to Exmouth and we checked in to the RAC Exmouth resort. Some friends were staying so the girls were excited for the swimming pool and air con. As soon as we setup we headed about 10km south of town to Pebble Beach. The Hugos and Meadens were already setup and the water was amazing. We spent the afternoon swimming, kayaking and snorkelling. It was a perfect arvo.
    We then followed Gavin and Kelly back to their family holiday house for a drink and catch up. We ended up staying for dinner and the kids having great fun feeding the fish and having a dance.
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  • Exploring Exmouth

    October 1, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We went exploring Exmouth including the shipwreck and lighthouse. The area was beautiful but windy and we ended up at town beach for a kayak, swim and some fishing.

  • RAC Exmouth

    October 2, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    The girls drove the car on Pebble Beach as it was too windy to swim. We then chilled at the caravan park and prepared for our stay at Cape Range NP.
    That afternoon the Meadens joined us at the caravan park where the kids played and had a swim in the pool while the adults chatted and had a few drinks. It was a great night and a great end to our stay at RAC.Read more

  • Osprey Bay

    October 3, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Osprey Bay in the world heritage listed Cape Range National Park was our next stop.

    Our camp-site was steps to the amazing turquoise water. On the first day we went for a snorkel and saw brightly coloured fish. While walking down to Sandy Bay beach we saw a turtle 🐢 swimming along about 5 metres out.Read more

    Trip end
    October 12, 2021