Tues 11 to Thurs 13 June – Karijini NP

We loved Karijini!  Over three very full, energetic and adventurous days we:

• Walked to Fortescue Falls and then the Fern Pool for a swim in the pool and waterfalls
• Went to the three ways lookout
• Walked across the top of Dales Gorge, then back along the gorge to Fortescue Falls for a swim
• Walked down to and along Dales Gorge, swimming and wading to get to Circular Pool.
• Walked down and along Hancock Gorge to Kermit Pool, twice.  First time we almost got there and were caught out because due to the recent rains, we had to swim to get to Kermit Pool.  Back along and up the gorge, grabbed bathers, back down and along, swimming and wading through chest deep water past the Ampitheatre and through Spider Walk, to get to Kermits Pool. Magnificent!  (There's something crazy about having to swim to get to the swimming pool.....)
• Walked along the top of and along the bottom of Weano Gorge.
• Walked down and along Weano Gorge and swam/waded to Handrail Pool,
• Checked out the lookouts at Joffre Falls and Knox Gorge …… PHEW!      
• We gave Kalamina Gorge a miss.

We certainly had our share of exercise and fun here. 

 

All these photos are out of order.... blog was giving me trouble.



All the walks here are graded class 3, 4 or 5. (5 being indistinct trails, rough terrain, high level of fitness required.  The trails to Kermits Pool and Handrail Pool were Class 5.)

Trying to stay dry

Gave up and started wading

Rest stop

Clive in wet bathers, with his shoes and socks still on (left his crocs at the campsite), negotiating a narrow section before Handrail Pool.  There were too many sharp small rocks to go barefoot.

Wading through to Handrail Pool

The top of the handrail.  It was about a 7 metre drop to the pool, negotiating the handrail and steps stuck to the sheer rock.

Helen at the base of the handrail

Clive on the edge of Handrail Pool

 

Clive walking to Dales Gorge

Steps down Hancock Gorge

Gorge rock formations

Helen under the waterfall, Fern Pool

Precarious rock formations, Dales Gorge

Amazing patterns

Three ways lookout

Dales Gorge

The sign said it all.... 

Circular Pool from above

On the way to Kermits Pool, the first time

Massive chunks of slate, on the way to Circular Pool

More slate

Massive blocks of slate and boulders

Clive on way to Circular Pool

Circular Pool

Trying not to get our feet wet... this was before we realised we'd be wading/swimming to our destination!

This little rock formation was holding up a massive cliff!  We carefully checked it out.

We were almost rock climbing in some sections