Exmouth to Karijini National Park

From Exmouth we headed inland to explore the Karijini National Park near Tom Price. Over the last few weeks we had heard mixed feedback about the how good Karijini was, which made us anxious about the 600km drive inland. Although we do find ways to amuse ourselves during those long drives…

The boys toys

Measuring ourselves on a floodway height indicator between Exmouth and Tom Price

It turns out that those who had knocked Karijini mustn’t have got out of their cars and explored the park because we did a bit of serious trekking and saw some amazing, naturally beautiful scenery.

Our first day in Karijini N.P we checked out Dales Gorge which has two crystal clear pools (Fern Pool and Circular Pool) at either end of it which although a little cold were good fun swimming in.

 Trekking

Fern Pool 

Dales Gorge 

 Circular Pool showers

Circular Pool

From here we headed to a nearby gorge where we only checked out the lookout then headed to the next gorge, Knox Gorge, which is apparently beautiful to see when the sun is setting. We arrived at the Knox Gorge carpark, walked to the back of the cars and saw something that would make our day very shit… Skeat’s back canopy door had opened during the drive and quite a bit of stuff had fallen out. This stuff included our big first-aid kit, a tackle box, a chair and Skeat’s longboard. We headed back to the other gorge hoping to find the stuff along the way but it turns out we were too late and some prick had taken the lot. This is on top of two pairs of thongs we have lost and 2 pairs of boardies and 3 T-shirts that were nicked off the clothes line at Margaret River.

After another night of dodgy free camping (in National Park) we got up at 6am (so we wouldn’t get caught) and decided since we were up we would do some early morning trekking. The first gorge we tackled was Hancock Gorge which blew us away with how awesome it was.

Extreme trekking 

 It was a good idea here 

There were some nervous moments during this walk though, which were caused mainly through our keenness for adventure (or stupidity). After about a k’s walk along this gorge we came to a part where the stream drops straight down 2m into a pool and if you wanted to continue you needed abseiling stuff. For some reason we brought rope (Telecom or cable rope) and decided we could keep going down the gorge with the thinking that we could use the rope to climb back out. So Skeat, Matti and Bennett jumped off into this pool (Fussy was on stand-by to call the ambo’s) and soon found out we couldn’t climb up the rope and were potentially stuck. Not to worry though mum’s, after some rock climbing up a cliff, which judging by the rings in it is usually abseiled down, we got out safely in the end… Bear Grylls would have been proud!

Poss trying to get up the rope

 Safely out

After a short break to reflect on our Hancock Gorge experience we moved on to nearby Weano Gorge but this time left the rope behind to reduce the temptation for more adventures. Weano Gorge was just as amazing as Hancock Gorge.

Weano Gorge

Weano Gorge

Weano Gorge

Our final trek for the day was through Knox Gorge and again, even though it sounds repetitive, it was amazing. I think we just hope the photos do the place justice and make you all jealous back home.

Knox Gorge

Knox Gorge... amazing colours!

Poss about to jump into one of the many pools

The end of Knox Gorge... pretty scary walk along that trunk!

The next day again saw us rise early to again avoid being caught doing a dodgy free camp in the National Park. This time our early morning trek was through the Hamersley Gorge. Not as spectacular as the other gorges but still awesome.

Hamersley Gorge

Hamersley Gorge

Hamersley Gorge

Jesus?

We have now left Karijini and the countdown has begun till the Broome bender.