Karijini National Park – day three

by inka on Mai.13, 2011, under Pilbara Region

Friday, 13th May 2011

On the third day it was Goodbye early in the morning since the other group was on a schedule and had to be back in Perth the following day. Fortunately, we could stay longer and after having gotten the reassurance from the visitor centre that we could climb into the gorges with a little bit of forecasted rain off we went again to the next gorge.

Kalamina Gorge was quite a relaxing track mostly flat through the gorge to the rock arch and in the other direction towards a little waterfall. The challenge was to find a dry way through the gorge since it was often flooded. But this only makes it more fun!

: Kalamina Gorge -not too exciting but nice

: The Gorge was the walking trail but it was possible to stay dry

: Me at Kalamina Gorge

: Rock got stuck

: Sometimes not too easy to find a dry way

: The Arch at the end of Kalamina Gorge

: Trying to get a little further but only around the corner was possible

: A small little waterfall along the way

: Hiker’s art and we contributed of course

: Kalamina Gorge close to the waterfall

: Sweetie close to the waterfall

: Kalamina Gorge waterfall

Joffre Gorge started off over the top of the waterfalls and the class 5 track led about 30 metres down to the bottom of the waterfall.

Here’s a view right from above the falls into the Joffre Gorge:

Interesting enough it just started to drizzle when we were on our way down – imagine how we felt climbing down on Friday the 13th…!! I know you didn’t expect anything else but all went well and we finished the walk being a little bit exhausted and filled with lots of great images of the landscape.

: Joffe Falls from the Lookout

: The walk was over the small creek that turned into the waterfall

: Us at Joffre Falls

: Down the waterfall

: View down the waterfall

: At the Joffe Gorge waterfall

: The only way is down… but not for us : )

: Walking track – see the little round sign that we had to follow?

: The steep track down into the gorge – and it started drizzling…

: View into Joffe Gorge

: We made it! At the bottom of Joffre Gorge

: Joffre Falls now from below

: Photo proof

We decided to skip Knox Gorge and went back to Tom Price to get fuel and groceries and thinking we would leave the National Park to head north. After a chat with the information centre we decided to make the quite heavy detour and drive the dirt road to the Hamersley Gorge and it was the right decision! This gorge impressed us with its colours and shapes as well as having everything the heart desires – a gorge filled with water, small waterfalls, a pool to swim in and rocks to climb over – simply amazing.

: Waterfall one

: Hamersley Gorge rock walls

: Beautiful water and rocks

: Hamersley Gorge

: Waterfall two and the amazing force of water molding stone

: Lake and waterfall two at the far end

: Sweetie at Hamersley Gorge

: Is it me or is something a little crooked here?

: Waterfall number one and again the question how to get up there?

: Hamersley Gorge

: A small lake in between the two waterfalls

: Hamersley Gorge

: Amazing layers of rock

: Hamersley Gorge’s magnificient colours

: Hamersley Gorge

Conclusion: I have to say this was the most amazing and fascinating National Park in terms of the beautiful scenery and challenging tracks that I have seen in Australia and (and in my life), I am already working on the plan to take it home to Germany! Awesome!

PS: Interesting enough one factor was incredibly bad – the camp spots. Actually not worth to be named camp spot; camping was hardly possible since the hard iron ore soil sabotaged all attemps to put pegs into it. A very frustrating experience and very much in contrast with the other experiences in the park.

Bookmark It