Karijini National Park in Western Australia, an amazing place in the Australian Outback. Here's what not to miss to see, where to sleep and the tips to experience this place in the best way.
Australia, land down under - one of the most visited countries in the world, renowned for its cities full of life, for a large amount of animals that, when they are not able to kill you, still make you take a good scare, but above all known by all for its beautiful landscapes. From the turquoise of the ocean, to the red of the desert and the green of the tropical forests, there are so many places in Australia that will leave you speechless.
Among the many recommended destinations, the Karijini National Park it is certainly one of the most surprising destinations. Located in the state ofWestern Australia, is literally located "in the middle of nowhere", 140km from the nearest town, Tom Price, and more than 1000km from Perth (about 15 hours by car according to Google Maps). I recommend going along the coast, stopping at Kalbarri and Coral Bay, and, if you have time, also at Monkey Mia and shell beach. While breaking the journey, reaching Karijini remains really "uncomfortable" and the question arises: is it really worth going?
Yes, yes, yes, and a thousand other times yes. For me Karijini was truly one piacevole sorpresa. When you think Australia can't really amaze you any more than it already has - here you find you were wrong. It is the perfect place to go on an adventure and rediscover yourself as a child. There are many routes of varying difficulty, where you can run, jump, climb and swim between rocks and waterfalls, or drive to the top of the gorges and enjoy the sunset with families of kangaroos jumping over the horizon.
Among the various routes proposed, these are my favorites.
Dales Gorge it is a gorge at the base of which there is a natural round swimming pool. The rocks have a thousand shades of different colors, and the green vegetation frames the rays of the sun reflecting on the water - a truly must fantasy movie. From here you can walk until you reach another natural pool bathed by a beautiful waterfall. The water is quite cold, but you really have to take a dip - really nice and refreshing on hot days. The route, excluding the bathroom, takes about 2 hours and is not particularly difficult. But keep in mind that you have to "go down" and then "go up" the gorge.
Weana Gorge it is already more difficult because it starts with one small swimming pool deep enough water. If you don't feel like rolling up your pants and getting almost wet your only option is to climb the rocks on either side. Having overcome this first obstacle, the walk proceeds quite easy until towards the end, where you reach a very narrow gorge crossed by a small river that makes the surface very slippery. From here you go down a few meters with the help of a pole and steps carved into the rock to finally arrive at yet another natural pool from which you continue swimming. The sun's rays do not reach the gorge and the water is really cold, but the path, which follows the course of a stream between waterfalls and rocks for about 150m, is truly impressive.
Hancock Gorge it is one of the shortest walks, but also one of the funniest because you climb almost all the way, which follows the bed of a small stream between walls that get narrower and higher on the sides. The last part of the route has been baptized with the name of "spider", precisely because you have to hang your arms and legs from the walls, walking like a spider over the flowing water.
Accomodation
There are two areas where you can spend the night: in the west, an eco-resort "glamping style"For lovers of comfort in the midst of nature, complete with rooms / tents, restaurant and bathrooms with running water - I'm not even going to tell you the prices because the zeros are too many to remember, but it's definitely a nice place to stop for a few day. At the east end of the park, however, there is a large area for camping lovers, only equipped with pitches to pitch the tent, a bathroom without running water (I guess it's a hole in the ground, but I didn't have the courage to use it and I'm not 100% sure), and of course gas barbecues at every corner. THE prices are much more reasonable, AUD10 per night per person (payable in cash).
Useful Tips
Bring lots of drinking water. The park provides rainwater which can be used for washing dishes and cooking (after boiling it for a few minutes), but you should arrive prepared because the nearest supermarket is more than 100km away. To take a shower, as well as the natural pools for a "more basic" cleaning, you can go to the public toilets of the park's tourist center.
Just because of the great distance from population centers, remember to fill up the car and, if you have the opportunity, bring some fuel to avoid the risk of walking between one gorge and another. A 4 × 4 is recommended, but even a normal car, if it hasn't rained much, is just fine. I did great on board my Nimbus 2000 (stage name of a very old Mitsubishi Nimbus). Obviously, it is good to always have a spare tire, because the roads are not asphalted and it is easy to puncture.
And finally, in the evening, before falling asleep, stop and look at the starry sky and listen to the silence ofAustralian outback, interrupted only by some dingo howling in the distance.
