The Pilbara - Karijini National Park

Mountains

Pretty impressive mountains, including the Hammersley Ranges - reminded both Neil and I of Wild West Movies! Not like the mountains in the eastern states!

Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool

These are part of Dales Gorge and we were staying at Dales camp site so naturally this was the first gorge we visited. We walked down on the first afternoon and then went back for a swim the next day.

Fortescue Falls

Fern Pool - late afternoon

Liam and Libby in Fern Pool, after that we swam across to the waterfall and let the water crash down on our heads.

Circular Pool - also part of Dales Gorge. We only did the lookout for this one but you can hike to it.

Joffre Gorge

We decided to do the climb/walk at Joffre Gorge. It was supposed to be a level 4 (out of 6 - 6 needing climbing/abseiling equipment). Level 4 was fine and we made it almost all the way to the bottom of the gorge. What we didn't realise was that the climb became a level 5 near the bottom and got a little scary. Neil went down to investigate and we decided that the climb would be too difficult if we had to lift/lower Liam some of the longer reaches. (We had to go back!) In the place where you cross over the water (up higher) there were small waterfalls, so we stopped there and enjoyed the scenery.

The view from the lookout. If you look closely you can see the people climbing up on the other side!

The view back to the lookout. We are in about the same spot as the climbers in the last photo. Below this the climbing is diffficult, and the reaches/steps too high to take a 9 year old down/up.

Kalamina Gorge

This gorge was easy to get to and you could walk quite a long way through the gorge without any difficulty. This first photo is to the right as you walk down into the gorge.

Hammersley Gorge
It was a long drive out to Hammersley Gorge on dirt roads but the views of the mountains were amazing. The biggest reward was the gorge itself. Maddi ran off to the right and started clambering over rocks. We had no choice but to follow her and we were glad we did when we came across a beautiful pool with a waterfall and grotto at the other side. Libby was the first to brave to cool waters of the pool but getting over to the deep round pool and water fall, surrounded by its on rock walls (and who knows how deep) was well worth it.

Libby gets in while the others look on!

See the grotto behind us, a water fall was flowing into it from above and there was a deep round pool inside, about the size of a spa. you can climb over the rocks and walk further up from here.

Another swimming hole, right near the stairs down; the view to the left from there. You could not walk any further in this direction; maybe a boat, or a nice swim would get you to somewhere else you could walk but we couldn't see anything.

The rocks here were pretty amazing too!