Karijini National Park


Park of the Month - August 1996
Karijini (formerly Hamersley Range National Park) is the second largest national park in WA.
A party led by explorer F.T. Gregory explored the area in 1861. He named the Hamersley Range, on which the park is centred, after his friend Edward Hamersley.
Situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the park's climate can best be described as tropical semi-desert.
A highly variable, mainly summer rainfall of 250–350 mm, often associated with thunderstorms and cyclones, is accompanied by temperatures frequently topping 40 degrees Celsius.
The ideal times to visit the park are late autumn, winter and early spring. Winter days are warm and clear, but nights are cold and sometimes frosty.
Karijini National Park protects many different wildlife habitats, landscapes, plants and animals of the Pilbara.
Wildflowers vary with the seasons. In the cooler months the land is covered with yellow-flowering cassias and wattles, northern bluebells and purple mulla-mullas.
After rain many plants bloom profusely.
It is also home to a variety of birds, red kangaroos and euros, rock-wallabies, echidnas and several bat species.
Geckos, goannas, dragons, legless lizards, pythons and other snakes are abundant.
Huge termite mounds are a feature of the landscape and the rock piles of the rare pebble mound mouse may be found in spinifex country.
... What to see and do:
... Fortescue Falls
Walk down through the changing vegetation of the iron-rich gorge walls to the park's only permanent waterfall. (800 metres, 2-hour return walk.)
The Fortescue falls are spraying over into a green pool, cool against the red walls.





10 Day North West Explorer (1999-2000 )
safaris.net.au
This 10 day Adventure from Perth to Broome, is full of fantastic scenery, excellent wildlife and great activities.
The tour is a combination of our "West Coast Explorer" safari and "Karijini" safari,
and combines the best of Western Australia's coastline with the spectacular Pilbara outback.
The tour is fully accommodated (budget accommodation), with all meals supplied.
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Day 8: Today we head for Karijini National Park.
This area contains some of the World's oldest rock formations and is renowned for it's spectacular scenery.
Once inside Karijini National Park, we travel to Oxer Lookout which is the junction of 4 spectacular gorges.
We then descend into Weano Gorge and take the short trek through the bottom of the gorge to Handrail Pool.
If time permits we will take a look at Knox Gorge and Joffre Falls Lookout.
Moving on through the park we take another walk into Kalamina Gorge before heading for Fortescue Falls where we walk along the cliff tops to Circular Pool lookout,
then take the steep descent into Dales Gorge.
We then take the interesting trek from Circular Pool to Fortescue Falls, keep your eyes open for some Water monitors basking on rocks along the way.
The pool at Fortescue Falls is perfect for cooling off after your walk before climbing the steps out of the gorge back to the vehicle at the top.
These is time for a browse through the Aboriginal Centre in the park before taking one of only two breaks in the Ranges to get to the other side. (Overnight - Auski).
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4WD Safari Adventure


Karijini Gorges Safari 2 DAY SAFARI ADVENTURE
DAY 1 Karratha - Karijini National Park

Follow the Hamersley Iron Railway as it traverses the Pilbara countryside
and watch the two kilometres long iron ore trains as they haul their massive loads on their way to port.
After lunch travel to Circular Pool which is surrounded by ferns.
Swim at the base of the waterfall at Fortescue Falls

DAY 2 Karijini National Park - Karratha
Travel to Kalamina Gorge with its rock platform overlooking the pool and waterfall…….



Hamersley Range Air Safari

Experience the breathtaking sights of the Pilbara.
Land near the ranges and be met by your tour guide.
See Hamersley Gorge,Oxer ’s Lookout,Dale ’s Gorge, Circular Pool and Fortesque Falls.Returns to Port Hedland approx.6.00pm.

The view down Dales Gorge from Fortescue Falls
JPEG image 256x384 pixels










17 Day West Coast Wildflowers & Kimberley (1997 )
swagmantours.com.au
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Day 7 - (BLD) Pilbara Gorges Full day touring in the Hamersley Range. Visit Fortescue Falls, Wittenoom,
Dale and Vampire Gorges each with their own rugged individuality.
See wonderful waterfalls cascading from great heights and see the old Wittenoom mine works.
Overnight: Millstream National Park campground.
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9 Day Perth-Pilbara-Perth (1997-2000)

travellersclub.com.au



Day 7 - This morning we take a leisurely walk along the bottom of Kalamina Gorge,
then head to Dales Gorge for a hike from the beautiful (and icy-cold) fern-fringed Circular Pool to the stunning Fortescue Falls.
Mid-afternoon we depart Karijini to a camping park at Newman for the night.