Colleen McCutcheon is a Canadian photographer who moved to Australia in 2010. She and her hubby are avid campers. The scenery on Australia's Surf Coast inspired her to take her camera everywhere and study photography. Explore her work on her website.
Three months ago, my husband and I embarked on a six-month road trip through Australia's central and western regions. There has been a lot of driving, setting up, and packing up and various scenes along the way. Our destinations were usually beaches, hikes, and gorges. I want to tell you about Karijini, located in the Hamersley Range in Western Australia.
Karijini National Park, a place that's truly off the beaten path, offers a unique adventure worth adding to your bucket list!
We set up camp at Tom Price and Dales Campgrounds for five nights. Tom Price is on the park's west side, closer to Mount Nameless, Mount Sheila, and Hamersley Gorge. It is a mining town, so we took a fascinating mining tour there, learning about its history and mining operations.
It's difficult to pick a favorite, so I'll break it down to hiking and swimming versus just hiking. It's important to note that these are challenging hikes, involving steep ascents and descents and sometimes requiring the use of your hands for balance. Younger people were scrambling over the rocks with more speed and agility than us, but we managed pretty well.
Gorges for Swimming
- Dales Gorge - Allow half a day and take your swimming suit and hiking shoes.
- Hamersley Gorge - Allow a half day. It is a short walk from the car park and you will need your hiking shoes, some water shoes and your bathing suit.
- Weano Recreation Area - This takes a full day and there are two different parking areas. You will need your bathing suit and hiking shoes.
Mountains to Climb
- Mount Bruce - This is a 10 km Class 5 hike with 1235 meters of elevation. It generally takes 4-5 hours to hike.
- Mount Nameless - This is a 3 km Class 5 hike located in Tom Price. It takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
One of the most memorable experiences at Dales Gorge was the walk through the gorge, which we accessed from two spots: Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. The steel ladders added a thrill, and the sunrise view from the rim was breathtaking.
Hamersley Gorge is an hour's drive but a short walk from the car park. This gorge is the perfect place to swim with a pool noodle. The rocks here are all at a 45-degree angle, so don’t go in thongs (flip-flops)! I slipped on the wet stones, and it was not pretty. The Spa Pool is located here and requires a swim or some mountain goat action to get to it.
Weano Recreation Area has lots to offer. Pack a lunch and a waterproof phone case! We started with the dry lookouts, then went into the gorges to swim. Not all areas were open, so I can only talk about what we had access to.
Hancock Gorge takes you deep into a narrow water passage that has you spanning the sides in a spider walkway, a narrow section where you have to walk with your hands and feet on opposite walls.
At the end is Kermit's pool, where you have the option of a cold dip or scaling the wall with the assistance of a chain to get around and see the view beyond.
Joffre Falls is a large curved waterfall with little water flowing in winter but still full of color and beauty. You follow the water downstream to another excellent swimming spot that is also great for floating around with your trusty noodle. Beware though. It might be cold enough to stop your heart for a second!
Upper Weano Gorge is a dry hike that takes you down into the gorge with the trees.
Due to closures, three areas were inaccessible: Lower Weano Gorge, Kalamina Gorge, and Handrail Pools, which would have required another day of hiking.
Would I go back to Karijini? Absolutely! The allure of its rugged beauty and the thrill of its adventures are calling me back.
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