MUNJINA (AUSKI ROADHOUSE) TO TOM PRICE (VIA KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK

DAY 71 – AUSKI ROADHOUSE – TOM PRICE (VIA KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK)

                                                                                               Sunday, 11^th September

At Knox Lookout early on in the day

Joffre Falls

Our beautiful babies at Hancock Gorge

The intrepid Hansen adventurers at Hancock Gorge (Class 5!)

Sarah and the kids at the start of the Hancock Gorge (Class 6) walk - which we didn't do!

The kids with Fortescue Falls in the background

Fortescue Falls

That's our family swimming in the pool at Fortescue Falls

Fern Pool, Karijini National Park

David under the warm water at Fern Pool

We made perhaps only one serious error in judgment regarding our itinerary and today was it!  Karijini really needed more than one day of our time but for a myriad of reasons, we only have one day – but better than nothing. Tried to get up early today but kids were tired so a bit slow off the mark!  Packed up the van and headed to the Visitor Centre at Karijini National Park.  We left the van there as most of Karijini is dirt roads.  Of course it was very safe – no one stole the chocks from behind the wheels – we just damn well left them behind!  Dammit!

There must be more red dirt in the Pilbara than in the rest of Australia put together!  Car and humans are totally filthy.  EVERYTHING is coated in a not-so-fine blanket of red dirt! 

First, we headed straight to Knox Gorge.  The amazing thing about Karijini is that, unlike other places, you don’t have to climb huge mountains to then peer down into the gorge.  The rim of the gorge is at ground level.  So when walking to the gorge along the track it suddenly comes to an abrupt stop – AT THE GORGE!  Knox Gorge was beautiful

From there we went to Joffre Falls where we saw many people climb down into the gorge and swim through the pools and then climb up to the waterfalls.  It was absolutely gorgeous, but unfortunately we did not have time to climb down into the gorge.  We really haven’t had a day of proper hiking since Fitzroy Crossing.  Two and a half weeks of lazing on the beach, drinking wine and eating cheeses has not only expanded my waistline but we are definitely no longer “match fit”! 

From there we went to Oxers Lookout which overlooks Junction Pool.  This is where Hancock, Weano, Knox and Joffre Gorges all meet.  There was a memorial there to an SES volunteer who had been killed in a flash flood while attempting a gorge rescue of an injured hiker.  It was a timely reminder and good lesson for the kids to learn that such gorges can be very dangerous.  We took a walk into Hancock Gorge which was just gorgeous.  David tried to prevent me from noticing that it was a Class 5 walk (it only goes up to Class 6 – and THEY require special permits!)  But it actually wasn’t very difficult and we all enjoyed the peacefulness of the gorge.  We had it all to ourselves!

We had lunch there and then drove back to the Visitor Centre, changed into bathers and then drove to Fortescue Falls which was absolutely stunning and everyone (except Mummy, that is – it wasn’t THAT hot!) jumped into the beautiful crystal clear pool at the bottom.  After warming up a bit on the rocks, we walked further on to Fern Pool which was just stunning.  A kind man let the kids have some of his biscuits to feed the tiny fish in the pool.  It was gorgeous watching the kids squeal with delight as the fish nibbled the biscuit – and then their fingers!!  David swam over under the waterfall and found the water so warm from the hot rocks above.

As it was 3pm, we decided it was time to leave.  By the time we went back to the visitor centre, attached the van, and drove to Tom Price Tourist Park it was 5pm.  By the time all the kids had had a shower, David had set up the caravan and the tent and cooked dinner, and I had been to the supermarket and filled up the car, it was 8pm before we got the kids into bed (very late for us!) 

It is getting much cooler at night (which is displeasing me no end!).  At Eighty Mile Beach, I got out the winter pyjamas again as it can get down to zero inland at night – especially during “winter”.  (Sorry but these people up here have no idea of the meaning of that word!   Their winter is better than our summer!!)  Not looking forward to the day when we need the jeans out again!!  Our constant catch-cry to David is “Dad!  Take us back to Broome!!”