Hi all, south of Karratha is Karajini National Park, a place we had been advised to visit by many a fellow traveller and it turned out to be another highlight. Deep gorges with water filled rivers and pools, great swimming areas enhanced by the National Parks of WA with steps and platforms, and well kept camp sites within the Park itself. We chose to head to Karajini along the Tom Price Railway Road south of Karratha, which is an unsealed road running alongside the railway line all owned by Rio Tinto, so hopefully more well kept than the public dirt road we could have chosen. We had to view a 15 minute education film made by Rio Tinto in the Karratha Visitor Centre before obtaining a permit to drive on the road - all common sense really, be safe and aware, watch for trains, other users and animals, watch the weather conditions, all things Paul would have taught in his 4wd driving courses !! The road was well kept, a little corrugated here and there but overall better than what wed heard of the other dirt road. Many iron ore trains travel along here, I counted 256 carriages on one, and theyd all be about that long !! In Karajini we visited Knox Gorge and Joffre Gorge but the best one was Dales Gorge (photos) which had 3 swimming areas, 2 that we visited being Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. Warm water in which we spent an hour at a time in, the four of us with our trusty floaty noodles - dont go anywhere without those around here !! This area has been said to be our mini Grand Canyon, and it certainly lived up to that name with spectacular deep chasms. Karajini was also the first place we saw clouds and had spots of rain since Alice Springs, over 2 months ago. We have had cloudless blue skies throughout the Top End and clouds looked out of place !! But the rain was refreshing, 2 evenings of it, although it wasnt even really rain, 10 minutes of drops that then evaporated once they hit the ground. We spent 3 nights in this National Park, could have spent longer but the need for shops for food and refuelling was drawing near. We drove from there to Exmouth over 2 days, stopping at 2 rest areas on the way for one night each, happy in the company of Mike & June, also stopping at roadhouses along the way for takeaway fried food for lunch - gotta have some vices !! Cheers, T&P ;)
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 06:43:29 +0000