Tom Price to Karajini

Sunny, 24 degrees.

This morning we drove into Karajini National Park, about 80 km away, so an easy drive today. First up we set up camp in Dales Campground, one of the two campgrounds in the park. Unfortunately a fire had gone through the area a while ago, so most of the trees were burnt, it would have looked lovely and green before.

We then went to have a look at Dales Gorge- first up Circular Pool. The access to the pool was down a very steep lot of steps down the sheer cliff face and I was very apprehensive at first as I worried about the return journey. But in the end I managed it quite easily. Once down in the gorge there was still quite a trek to get to the pool over lots of rocks and boulders. But once there it was just beautiful! And indeed circular! Almost encircled by the gorge walls, a very deep pool of extremely cold water! As it gets very little sunlight! Ben was going to take a dip but decided this pool was just too cold!

We then headed on through the gorge in the other direction for a couple of kilometres towards Fortescue Falls. This walk was still over lots of rocks but most of it was much easier. Fortescue Falls are permanent falls and very pretty. You then climb the rocks to the top of the falls and then head up a very easy track to Fern Pool, which is a gorgeous deep pool, with a small waterfall. Crystal clear water, and this time Ben decided to venture in for a swim. It was not as cold as the other falls, but still pretty chilly! But he swam over to the waterfall, which he said was lovely and warm as it was tumbling down the warm rocks.

Then it was time to climb back out again, but on this side of the gorge there was stairs to the top so was a much easier ascent.

We then drove to have a look at some of the other gorges in the area. Although we only saw them from the top this time as we were starting to run out of time, it was getting late in the day. Absolutely breath taking scenery, the gorges all meet up at a junction.