Karijini National Park - 30 August - 2 September

We had planned to stay four or five nights in Karratha to visit Steph and Simon but we were told by Steph that we had to do Karijini National Park and, "there's not much to see and do in Karratha"!  So off to Karijini NP we go.  

Phi, Remtrek Astronomy, is a passionate astronomer who has been visiting Dales Gorge at Karijini NP since 2007 with his three powerful light collection telescopes; so we managed to get the last two places for the night's session and how fortunate we were.  We got to see deep into space. We got to see the "Jewel Box" which is just bright enough to be seen with the naked eye but it comes to life when viewed by the telescope.  The Jewel Box is located just near one of the pointers of the Southern Cross. Clusters such as the Jewel Box typically contain anything from a few stars to thousands of stars that are loosely bound together by gravity.  Many of its stars are located behind the dusty clouds of the Milky Way and therefore appear red. It was simply a magnificent sight. 

The Jewel Box cluster is about 6,400 light-years away and is approximately 16 million years old.

We also got to view the bands of Jupiter and several of its moons and the rings of Saturn - wow! And for the finale, we saw the moon through each of the telescopes; the Sea of Tranquility, the spot where Armstrong stood on the moon,

Showing the Sea of Tranquility

"One small step ..." And more wow!  

We hiked the grade 4 and grade 5 Weano Gorge.  The flyer says, "Experience the spectacular views, precipitous cliffs and narrow passages.  Banded iron rock formations tower over the valleys far below". The flyer is correct. 

We hadn't intended to do any grade 5 hikes as our fitness levels and abilities are far below the recommended: "Class 5 - These trails are difficult and a high level of fitness and agility is required. Trail markings are minimal, and steep sections with vertical drops are common. Expect to encounter natural hazards including large boulders; pools of water; slippery, wet rocks; and narrow, high ledges."  However, we drove the 45 kms along one of the worst 4WD roads we have encountered and hiked into Weano Gorge. Indeed it had all, and many of the aforementioned hazards.

The hike into the Gorge.

Testing times!

We hiked the Upper Weano Gorge, then the Lower Weano Gorge and then the hike down to "Handrail Pool". A handrail has been provided for access to Handrail Pool.  You have to straddle the pole and then monkey-climb down a vertical rock face using rocks that have been bolted into the side of the cliff face as steps!  

The final bit - getting straddling the handrail to get to the pool!

It was scary but exhilarating. I didn't want to be front page news or on every ABC news bulletin like the poor 64 year old woman who slipped and hit her head in Karijini NP last Saturday and had to be carried out of the Gorge by SES rescuers and 12 volunteers!  I fought very hard to push that out of my mind while hiking Weano Gorge. 

The Gorges here at Karijini are very different to the other gorges we have hiked; these gorges have been created from flat plains, unlike Kings Canyon etc.  We walked down an iron staircase to get to Fern Pool and Fortescue Falls; both places were breathtaking.

At the rim overlooking Fortescue Falls.

Fern pool.

After swimming in Fortescue Falls we headed off to hike into Dales Gorge, a two kilometre grade 4 hike that was certainly challenging in parts.  

Hiking into the Gorge from Fortescue Falls.

The brochure tells us that, "The banded iron formations exposed in many of the rocks in and around the gorges originated more than 2500 million years ago as iron and silica-rich sediment deposits accumulated on an ancient sea floor. Over millions of years these deposits were transformed by the pressure of further sediments laid down over them, forcing trapped water to be driven out and gradually turning the sediment into tough, well-bedded rock. 

Horizontal compression later caused the rocks to buckle, developing numerous vertical cracks, before lifting to the surface to form dry land. 

A sharp drop in sea level caused the rivers to cut down rapidly through the land, creating sheer-sided gorges. This, combined with millions of years of erosion, has sculpted the rocks into the present landscape."

Turn your head - an interesting formation of rock.

The gorges certainly provide a refreshing retreat from the arid plains above. The park is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and its climate is tropical semi-desert. A highly variable, mainly summer rainfall of 250-350 mm is often associated with thunderstorms and cyclones that produce spectacular water flows in the gorges. The hike finished at Circular Pool and Sandy, Jim and I enjoyed a swim in the (freezing) cold water.

"Angel" Jim!

We had to climb back up to the rim via a steel ladder then a steep, rocky path.  It was exhausting - clearly!

Sandy and Jim after the climb back to the top of the rim.

We haven't seen any wildlife here although there are legless lizards, pythons, goannas and dragons inhabiting the park. We have a large termite mound at the back of our site and some beautiful wildflowers: yellow siennas, northern bluebells and purple mulla mullas. 

On our last night we unfortunately had our car burgled - our Canon 35 ml EOS digital camera, some money and our compressor and all associated bits were stolen.  A sad way to end our fabulous stay at Karijini.