Karijini Magic

As I have mentioned, I get into questions about my favourite places in Australia from time to time, and always enjoy the discussion. One place that would regularly feature in such discussions was almost unknown to me until a few years back - Karijini National Park in the north-west of WA. Only a few years back the national park was called "Hammersley Ranges" instead of Karijini, and I reckon the new name somehow captures the magic of the place better.

Karijini is famous for its gorges. It also contains the highest two peaks in WA, but its gorges are really special. There are plenty of gorges around Australia - you can almost get gorged out when you are travelling, but don't miss these. They are particularly deep and particularly narrow.
They contain flowing water year round, through beautiful pools and cascades. But this is all much more dramatic due the contrast between the tropical feel in the bottom of the gorges and the arid dryness of the plains outside the gorge. The two images here are both of the same section of Dales Gorge. Down at the bottom, the gorge is a wonderful playground. Dales is wider than Hancock of Weano Gorges by some measure, so there is some space for this wider pools and gentle waterfalls. The trees are large - well watered and healthy. But, just 100 metres away on the tops of the gorge, the rocky ground and lack of water enables only stunted occasional growth to survive. This is typical of the surrounding district, and leaves you all the more amazed at the environment inside the gorges.

Karijini is no picnic. The road in is tough, the camping facilities are basic, and exploring the gorges is at times pretty demanding. But the rewards are fantastic. At least a part of its appeal is that sense of isolation, I suppose. Although it is 200 km from the coastal highway, I won't drive past again.