Karijini National Park was next in line for our attention. Didn’t know what to expect but it was on the road back to the coast from Newman. We’d perhaps heard it mentioned in conversation with others along the way but best to have a look. It is/was a surprise. Like so many other parks and places we weren’t expecting what we got. Even the Visitor Information Centre was a surprise….
beautifully blended with the landscape. We were directed to Dales Gorge Campground which turned out to be good value at $13.20 per night (National Parks standard fee). Nice spot, well laid out, new long drop dunnies, all very well kept and serviced. Of course no water or power but we were allocated a “Generators Allowed” site which meant that we didn’t run the risk of running out of power. We didn’t really need it with the new batteries running on full, but one never knows!
Well, on to the sights. Obviously close by the first chasm was Dales Gorge….
and most notable is the tree clinging to the side wall and that it all appears to be built of bricks and pavers. In a flat surrounding landscape this is a gouge in the face of the Earth not a gorge. We caught up with a young couple riding mountain bikes down the walking trail surrounding this chasm and thought “how clever”. Then the trail became a lot less defined so they had to carry their bikes for most of the distance – as it turned out “not so clever”. Bikes get bloody heavy as you scale 1.5 km of mountain trail. We didn’t offer to help! This completed day one in Karijini.
On the advice of the camp hosts (volunteers who man the traps) we headed straight out to Hamersley Gorge the next day. This is at the far western end of the Park and can only be accessed via dirt roads so it was to be a bit of a long haul, a round trip of 200k. As it turned out we were able to travel some 70 odd k on bitumen and the dirt roads weren’t too bad so we made good time. Worth the trip – absolutely. Its stunning as a geological/geographical sight….
As it turned out the road condition left us with more day than we were expecting so it was back into the middle of the park to attempt to see some of the other gorges and rockpools. About 2 kilometres into the centre on the track that gets called a drive we decided we needed to keep poor Suzi alive for a lot longer. This track wouldn’t pass for a goat trail – wide enough for 20 goats but they’d trip over the corrugations. So back to camp for a nosh-up. Lots of people about but the layout of the campground was not conducive to good neighbourliness so we pondered the clear skies by ourselves for the rest of the aftern0on and the magic star filled heavens later. It gets seriously dark out here!
Next day had us in Tom Price. Another mining town albeit a little older than Newman I think. Not a lot to see here particularly after having already done a mine tour at Newman so we took ourselves up to the top of Mount Nameless along naturally enough Mt Nameless Rd. The views were spectacular (the road less so)……
Whilst taking in the views we got chatting with Chris and Ron Wellington from Qld. They headed off before us but we caught up later when we found them stranded on the downward journey, the car stopped in the middle of the track. Can you imagine calling the RAC to tell them they were broken down on Mt Nameless – “you’re where, on what road, whats the nearest intersection?” – “its Nameless, there isn’t one” – Who’s on first, what’s on second! It took some time for the RAC to decipher, but it was funny along the way. In the meantime dear little Suzi winched the big bad broken down car out of the middle of the road to let the poor confused Telecom worker heading up the mountain to pass. Once clear we went back to Winnie and not half an hour later Chris and Ron turned up. Just an air lock in the fuel line from low fuel in tank bounced around too much on the track. And thanks for the bottle of wine and chokkies.
We overnighted in a caravan park in Tom Price at a cost of $46.00 for a site on which we didn’t fit. Most times we are able to get a drive through site which will allow our 16.5 metres to be housed and also allow us to take the car off the trailer. In this case we said to the lass on the counter that we were 16.5 metres long to which she responded “no problem”, allocated our site and sent us off. Of course 16.5 metres is beyond the comprehension of young women – we didn’t fit. As we were contemplating our options on site the owner appeared and suggested that we take up two sites (the one behind us) but we would have to pay another $46.00. Or we could disconnect and park the car on a different site beside us at no additional cost. DUH! Anyway we disconnected took up two sites and the one behind us remained vacant for the night. Some people just don’t understand the meaning of service!
Anyway, Tom Price got more of our money than we wanted to leave despite not paying for two sites. On the point of costs, this trip so far has been far and away the most expensive. Notwithstanding the repair costs, the tourist attractions and caravan parks and meal costs have all been far and away more costly than any we have experienced in the prior years.
We’ve covered close on 23000 km between the Winnie, Suzi and Robyns Prado. The one saving grace is the Winnie fuel economy, now sitting on 19.3 l/100km – down from 21.8 in previous years. This represents a fuel cost saving for this trip of around $$700.00. Still not enough to make up for all the other high costs though.
This roundabout way to get back to the coast was sort of necessitated by our desire to see Newman and Karijini – pretty much a 800km detour. So back to Karratha, Dampier, Cossack and Roeburne on the coast. One priority was to pat Red Dog at Dampier…..
Luvved the movie had to get to the source of the story.
Got a new router today. Still working it out. Internet is incredibly slow and preparing this has already taken some hours so time to publish and go to bed. A quick rush forward, we’re in Denham and have been waiting on confirmation of a tour to Steep Point, the most westerly point of continental Australia. Its now on in the morning and we are to be picked up at 6.00am so early to bed.
One Response
Ah Tom Price…. when I was at Coles the router died in the Liquor Land there and they had to close as there was almost a riot. It took the repair people a few days to get a new router out there, and we sent a spare to stay one site just in case it happens again! It was the 2nd higest grosing Liquor Land store in Australia!
Also been to Denham and then onto Monkey Mia to see the dolphions, but they never came and it was too hot and boring to wait. I do recall driving for about 3 hours straight up that way and not seeing another thing on the road at all. Loved the red dirt though, was awesome!
Regards,
g@z.