Karijini 20h August 2012

20th August 2012

We drove to Karijini National Park from Port Hedland, about 270 km. It was more or less a very arid region, little rain, but we ended up in the Hammersley Ranges. Of coure this is where Tom Price and the huge iron ore bodies are. Although they keep the mine sites fairly well hidden, yet behind the hills and all around the area the Iron ore bodies, hidden in the red rocks of the Hammersley Range are enormous. This ore is carried to Port Hedland where it is slightly crushed and shipped to China for further processing. There are over 500 ks of railway lines to transport the ore to Hedland. The roads are constantly closed down to allow large loads through on enormous trucks. Some loads are very wide, some very high like platforms and others downright dangerous explosives in unbelievable quantities. These trucks try and pass one another on the road when they can.

We ended up at Karijini NP which is under the control of the Aborigines. There is no power or water. You have to carry everything including food and water. Pit toilets are there and are very functional and work well. There is even a shower for $2. It is very nicely set out, but with vast distances between everything. We started out at Dales Gorge. There was a waterfall amongst the iron ore rocks and this was contained in a gorge which ran along for a way until it ended up in a circular pool in a deep gorge. If you are nimble enough to climb into the gorge you can also see Fern Pool, which is very attractive. 

 Swimming is allowed in these places. Apparently no crocodiles get this far inland! We also drove to about 3 or 4 other gorges on dirt roads with fair distances between each spot. There are no rails to hold on to when climbing, so its quite challenging to climb into the gorges and some are near impossible as they are so deep and cavernous. There was running water and waterfalls in all the gorges we visited. We did not visit them all. We were glad of a $2 shower by the time we were through. Everyone had their own little private camping area and we made friends with the couple next door and now we keep running into them as we travel down the coast.

We had a book of photographs on Karijini before we went in there. These photos, of course, taken by a professional who had abseiled into the gorges, were pure magic and probably were taken in the wet season. I was disappointed that the reality was not quite like the book. 

                                                     Iron Ore in Hamersley Ranges

                                                   Dales Gorge

                                             

                                                Karijini Kalamina Gorge

                                                        Karigini iron ore cliffs Dales Gorge

                                                Mulla Mulla

Following this effort, it was a 750 km drive to Exmouth. All desert country again, like a stoney desert. Graeme was a brick as he did the driving. We did one free camp which was fun, with lots of nice people. Our eventual journey brought us to Exmouth through even more desert country. The sun shines 360 days a year in Exmouth. Once again it is a peninsula with a road up one side and down the other. Its a likeable little town with a small shopping centre.