5th Nov - Karijini National Park

Another beautiful day to go exploring.   The weather is not so hot here, but out bush the fly population is increasing....  We do a visit to the Karijini visitor centre, a great display on the environment and local history, flora, fauna etc.  We then travel to Dales Gorge, the only 2wd access gorge in Karijini.   The roads to the other several gorges on the western end are dirt, iron ore corros, we decide not to take the ute or the suzi there.    $11 day entry fee at this park.  We start at one end at Circular Pool.

It's a pretty steep walk down the side of the gorge to the bottom.   I was skipping down the rocky steps quite quickly, then realised how easy it would be to fall or twist ones ankle then you would be buggered to go further.    As it is there is on average one to two serious accidents (probably more) each year, some deaths.     So proceed with caution and care.  In one spot there is actually a steel ladder attached to the rocks to get down/up.

We make our way to Circular Pool for a refreshing swim, it is beautiful here.  We debate whether we clamber back up to the car and drive to the other end where another walk down to Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool.   We decide to do the walk along the bottom.   

It is a great little walk, a couple hours all up there and back.    We find a lot of photo opportunities along the way.   This is an interesting rock formation.

This little fellow sunning himself on one of the steps on the track.    Touch wood we have not seen any dangerous snakes on any of our treks.

That's my tarzan Darl swinging from a tree branch, an old river gum had fallen and Darl couldn't resist the challenge.  This is on the way to Fern pool.

Along the tracks you have to follow the round markers on rocks, trees etc.  Some places were a bit of a tight squeeze.

Looking down from the top of Fortescue falls.  We found both this and Fern Pool a bit stagnant and brown looking so didn't swim here.   We figure that's due to the tail end of the dry season and these spots would be truly spectacular after a few days of clensing rains.

We back at almost the beginning, just the climb up to the top left to do.   It was a great day and we enjoyed our experience in Karijini National Park.