We decided to se the closer areas to our campsite and walked down from our campsite to the Dales Gorge area.
Our first stop was at Circular pool lookout. This gave our first spectacular look into the deep, dark red gorges of Karijini. It afforded a spectacular look down into Circular Pool itself. This lovely pool, surrounded by dramatic cliffs is entered by walking along a shady bottom of the gorge. Sadly, this was the only view we would get of this pool as the walk is closed at the moment. There have been rockfalls and more large rocks are at risk of falling at any time.
We met one of the rangers here and had a bit of a chat. It seems that he spends a lot of his time policing the park rules. He visits here and check’s that no-one is down there putting themselves in danger.
Interestingly, the local traditional owners actually have their ceremonial land in another group’s area. They were moved off of here, formed firm bonds with the people from the area they moved to and were gifted some land of their own in that new area to use near Cane River. The ranger also gave us a bit of a heads up about birds to watch out for on the area. Apparently they see white winged fairy wrens near our campsite sometimes.
Three Ways lookout was the next stop. From here we could see where the three gorges meet.
Not much further along was the pathway down into the gorge. Trevor, Ev, Al and Craig took the rocky steps down into the gorge, while Zita and Erica took the rim of the gorge, looking down into the gorge to the lovely shady path and the pools down below.
The gorge offered mostly shady flat walking with some rock hopping. The path followed the floor of the gorge beside quiet pools and paperbarks.
Meanwhile I was enjoying the joys of the rim walk.
Aren’t these cliffs spectacular!
We met up at Fortescue falls where there is a lovely (cool) pool below the falls. Zita snd I had taken stairs down to the top of the pool. Trev and the others walked in to the bottom of the pool and then negotiated their way around it to meet us.
From here we went past the flying foxes in the trees to Beautiful fern pool. This was also cool, but Trev was ready to swim and took the plunge- even treating himself to a cool massage courtesy of the waterfall.
We walked back via the stairs and dropped in to see the campground host on our way past.
We have booked for Millstream national park (Stargazers campground) for one night after we leave Karijini. This will at least give us a brief look at it. After that we are planning to stay at a camp ground called “40 mile” which is almost 40 miles west of Karratha (at Gnorrea Point) and then Emu Creek Station on way to Exmouth.
By the time we get to Karratha, Thom and Laura should be on the ground in Oz and doing their time in quarantine in Darwin. Hooray. We were very mindful of them madly packing to leave the UK.
In the meantime we have received a photo of Sophia (3 months today). This leaves us with mixed feelings of joy, pride and sadness at being so far away. It will be wonderful to get back home and build up our relationship with her when we can.
Luvapuzzle 