Karijini

We take a 700km detour to visit Karijini National Park along the north-western highway. The side winds are hefty and the procession of  mega haulers and mining machinery from Port Hedland passing regularly make for an intense and blustery journey. We arrive at dusk and welcome the stillness. 

This far south the nights are cold and we wake to rain for the first time in months. We've been bombarding Princess with lectures about being positive while hiking but they've failed to rub off on us. We grumble about the miserable weather and lack of signage... clearly we've been spoilt! We wander aimlessly in the rain struggling to find the start of the track. There's silver lining in walking Dale's Gorge with not a soul in sight! There's lush greenery and stepped, layered ironstone with strips of natural blue asbestos slipped in. Fortescue Falls are biting cool and even Fern Pool, a few degrees warmer takes a little bravery to enter. We come back the next day with wetsuits though still Princess takes a while to accept the presence of the "nibble fish". 

The campsites are quiet and half empty. Covid has its hand in everything it seems. We spot a few lonely dingo and a strange bird that looks like a dwarfed emu with a swollen neck. Apparently called a "bustard".... who knew?!

There's a number of track closures and devastating stories of fatalities here.  We take on Weano and Hancock Gorges the next day and can understand why. The narrow rock gaps, steep descents and wet, slippery surfaces are great fun though hazardous. Spider climbing is necessary though my skill is lacking and I slip more than once into the freezing water below. I'm so chuffed it's caught on camera so the kids can watch it on repeat later and mock! By the time we reach stunning Kermit Pool, I'm shivering and reluctantly pass on a swim.