Karijini National Park in one massive day.

Well with heavy rain overnight and quite an overcast morning we had a sudden feeling that our plan to move to Dales Campground in Karijini National Park was probably not going to be the best move for us.  Most of the many gorges in the park have lookouts, however there were a few walks that Jason and I wanted to do and you can’t do them if there is rain around.  So the decision needed to be made as to if we go out and risk a miserable camp in there or sit out the bad weather in Tom Price as it was meant to be sunny by Monday.

Just a little puddle to contend with.

Spectacular drive.

Looking out over the National Park.

It was so hard to work out what was the best move as originally the worst of the rain was meant to pass over whilst we were in Tom Price so it seems to be continually getting pushed back, so what happens if we sit here until Monday and it still isn’t good weather.  Then we had heard from Ian and Gwen that it was a bit muddy the morning they had left the campground but on the flip side we really wanted to see the place and do all the walks we had planned.  In the end we decided to book into the caravan park for one more night and spend a full day out in Karijini National Park seeing as much as we could.  It was mainly trying to get Jason to have the opportunity to do the Hancock Gorge walk as it is one he had wanted to do for some time.

Obviously we couldn’t hit the road until 8am as we needed to check with the reception of the caravan park that it was okay if we stayed another night.  There were no dramas there and if anything I felt we had made the right decision to stay as she said a person had checked in the day before, moving from Dales Campground as their site had become a bit flooded.  Jason and I probably wouldn’t have minded but I think the kids would have gotten bored and obviously our solar panels would probably not charge in the cloudy weather.  Before heading out of town we stopped in at the mechanics to see if there was something we could get to prevent our lovely crack in the windscreen from spreading further.  Jason also wanted a tyre deflator that was a bit quicker than the one we already had.

Hmm this crack is ruining my photos.

 

Unfortunately the windscreen repair kit Jason bought would not help us this time around as it said it couldn’t be used on cracks over 10cm in length and ours would have to be at least 20cm, if not a bit more.  Though the biggest factor was that it needed sunshine to dry it… hmm that might be harder to get.  Whilst it wasn’t raining it was still overcast with the odd little drizzle.  Still we weren’t deterred and headed to Coles to try the next tip a friend gave me, contact.  Hey it was worth a try and with the dirt roads we were about to go on we were willing to try anything.  It did look funny with the contact on it but the main thing was it didn’t affect Jason’s line of sight so we continued on and out to Karijini.

The drive out to Karijini is over 50km until you reach the start of the National Park and then it is a further long drive in to any of the gorges.  Our first point of call was Hancock Gorge as this is where the walk was that Jason really wanted to do, but it was also one of the gorges that had a dirt road in so we thought we would focus on those ones in case the heavy rain came and we couldn’t get in.  I had to admit I was a bit nervous about what state the road would be in as it looked like they had received heavier rain out there but there was no need to worry, the road was in a great condition really and you just had to take it nice and easy.  We also took it a bit slow so not to upset our lovely cracked windscreen.

I wasn’t sure what the gorges were going to be like but if the scenic drive in was anything to go by we certainly weren’t going to be disappointed.  As soon as we arrived Jason packed his little backpack with the SAT phone (just in case) and headed off on his walk.  I noted the time as it was only meant to take two hours so wanted to know roughly when he would be back.  The kids and I then took our time to walk down to the two lookouts.  We could have driven closer but we had the time to fill in and it was only 800m down a track.  At one stage I was a bit confused if I was on the right track and it wasn’t too obvious.  Being close to a cliff edge I opted to walk along the road with two little kids.

I felt a lot more secure there and we continued down the road until we saw the path more clearly and returned to it.  The lookouts were spectacular.  First we came across Oxer Lookout which the first thing I noticed was the massive gap until the railing which could (like Kalbarri) easily let a kid slip under.  Mind you there wasn’t much point really as the railing didn’t go far so unsupervised kids could easily just walk off the ledge a bit further on.  I am really surprised with all the money out in the area that they couldn’t spend just a little bit more money on the safety side.  They have warning signs but I think a little bit more would go a long way. 

Pretty flowers.

Off on a walk we go.

Spectacular views.

The walkway to the lookout.

Jason is down there somewhere.

 

There was also a memorial for a local SES volunteer who had died there rescuing an injured tourist.  Apparently a flash flood washed him away.  I wasn’t worried about Jason before but now I really was.  There was no rain around but I had no idea how far away the water comes from nor how long it takes to come down (so could it take a day or two).  I think their warning signs are there to cover any people suing but really I think they need to provide more clear information as if a local SES member can get caught out I can only imagine how easy it would be for tourists.  Still it was such a sad story for an obviously very brave man.

Down the bottom of Handcock Gorge.

I don't know how Jason did this.

The colours in the rocks.

More of the pathway.

Imagine what it would be like after heavy rain.

Tranquil at the moment.

No you are not there yet.

Glad we didn't take the kids on this one.

My favourite photo.

A nice little pool area.

Looking back up.

The ladder out.

 

Next we moved onto the second Oxer Lookout which was again an absolutely stunning view and was a little more protected once you were on the actual lookout.  Here you could see where three gorges all met up and it was such a drop down.  Being a bit scared of heights I pretty much took my photos and got out of there, even just leaning over to get some photos freaked me out a bit.  This place is just amazing and is some of the oldest rock formations in the world.  I definitely couldn’t wait however to get back up to the carpark where I could relax a little more with the kids.  Obviously I was carrying Kayla and I just had to instruct Hamish to walk closer to the left or right as the path wasn’t wide enough for me to walk beside him holding his hand. 

Back in the main carpark we enjoyed some morning tea before just sitting in the car and waiting for Jason.  Another couple came back from the walk and I asked them what it was like and they said amazing.  I then said how they would have seen my husband to which they replied no.  Oh dear that can’t be good.  Not that I needed to worry as only about ten minutes later Jason returned from his walk.  He said it was amazing and that it was definitely not one to take the kids on (class 5) as he had to scramble over rocks and wade through water that came up to his chest, not to mention that he had slipped over on a slippery rock as well.  We then quickly drove up to the lookouts so Jason could see them and then headed back out to the Karijini Eco Retreat.  There we quickly stopped for a coffee.  It really wasn’t worth it as it was just instant coffee and we should have just kept going whilst the weather was good.

We had been lucky and the weather seemed to be clearing a bit so we did start to second guess our decision not to move out to Dales Campground.  Though we reassured ourselves we would have spent half the day packing up, driving out and then setting up.  After our coffee we stopped in a Joffre Falls.  This was an amazing view and you were glad for the rain so that it was running and you could take it all in.  Then it was back in the car to continue on the dirt road down to Knox Gorge where we just did the lookout.  We just took it in turns whilst the kids stayed in the safety of the car.  There was another big walk later on that we wanted to take the kids on so didn’t want them to get over walks before then. 

Do you feel safe.

So peaceful.

Obviously the red dirt has washed down.

 

From there it was back out and another 29km or so of dirt road to reach the Visitor Information Centre and Dales Gorge.  The road was pretty good and other than big muddy puddles and a little bit being slippery it was still way better than I expected and we just drove to the conditions.  At the Information Centre we had a quick look around and I organised for a new yearly pass sticker for our car.  Obviously with getting the windscreen replaced on Monday we are going to lose that sticker and there are still quite a few national parks that we want to visit.  Thankfully the ladies were really lovely and the process was really easy to get a new sticker.

Now it was time to head into Dales Gorge with a quick stop to look at the campground.  The kids were coming on this walk with us.  I thought they would really enjoy it and to tell the truth they loved it.  I on the other hand was worried out of my wits with them and the drops and lack of safety rails.  There were two warning signs as we headed off from the carpark.  One being the normal cliff edge one and then there was an asbestos one!  Wow, did I really want to do this walk!  We of course missed the first turn and walked a couple of hundred metres before second guessing the track.  Jason went back to double check and called us back.  I thought that track was bad, but what we were meant to take was worse. 

Yes we took the kids on this one.

Making our way down.  This is the only place I would let go of Hamish's hand.

Half way down.

From the top of the waterfall.

The kids and I waiting back up top.

Down the bottom.

Guessing Jason was getting creative.

It was large steps down and a poor little fence held by pegs down the side.  I carried Kayla down as that to me was the safest way and Jason helped guide Hamish down.  Getting up and close to Fortescue Falls would have been beautiful and relaxing to sit and watch it but getting down to the bottom looked a bit slippery and dangerous for our kids.  So Jason went down the bottom and I stayed with the kids.  This was not a good move as of course the kids did not want to stay still and just sit there when there were all these rocks to climb over.

I was certainly not enjoying this at all.  Thankfully the walk to Fern Pool was a lot easier and safer, yet for some reason WA National Parks has rated it harder and risker than the one we climbed down.  Who on earth rates these things? I am guessing it is someone who sits at a desk in Perth who has never done the walk.  Once at Fern Pool I really wished that we had brought our togs and some floatation devices for the kids as it really did look inviting.  Even if I had them in the car I don’t know if I would have been keen to go all the way back up to get them.

Making our way to fern pool.

This walk was really nice.

Yay, we made it.

By now it was time to head back up, especially as Kayla was just trying to run everywhere and constantly falling over.  Jason got the task of carrying her back up whilst I guided Hamish back up.  Once back up on top I could admit it was a beautiful place but I just felt like I couldn’t relax and enjoy it.  Way back in Port Lincoln SA we had crossed paths with another family and the mum had told me how she didn’t feel she could enjoy Karijini as she was worried about her young kids.  I didn’t fully understand what she was saying, but now I totally get it. 

Fern Pool.

See there are ferns.

Dad and his kiddies.

There was one last look out that we had to knock over and that was overlooking Fern Pool.  It looked so impressive and it would have been awesome to walk down there.  However after the last experience we were not keen to take the kids down there so headed back to Tom Price.  We will definitely be back here, either when the kids are older or without the kids as there are so many more walks that we want to do.  Had the weather been better we might have still come out here and done them on our own and then swapped, but with the weather predicted to get worse we felt we had done all we could do and decided to move on.

Looking down into Circular Pool.

Hamish is showing how we all feel.