The longest shortcut-Karijini National Park (6)

Karijini National Park (6274 square km area) is relatively close to the Pilbara iron ore mining towns of Newman and Tom Price. Travelling the Great Northern Highway, it is also situated about 1000 km due north of the Eastern Goldfields towns of Mt Magnet, Meekatharra, Cue, and Leonora which we had visited over the previous few days. It is certainly an isolated part of WA when you also consider that Karijini is around 845 km due east of the Indian Ocean seaboard town of Exmouth. Karijini is one of those iconic national parks that must be experienced. Clear and cool winter weather, wide open desert vistas, red rugged cliffs, amazing gorges and plenty of red dust that is adept at getting into every nook and cranny of vehicles, clothes and tents. We camped at the Aboriginal-run Karijini Eco Retreat (https://www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au/), one of 2 accommodation facilities in the park. The retreat offers accommodation levels from basic camping and caravans to glamping suites. The restaurant is highly recommended, offering dishes including kangaroo and barramundi. We spent 2 days exploring many of the park gorges including Joffre, Hamersley, Dales, Weano and Hancock. Each is different, but all are magnificent. Most gorges contained bodies of water, somewhat a surprise given that we were camping in the desert. One can only imagine the importance of the water resource to the Indigenous population that have lived in the Pilbara for millennia. While the gorges are the highlight of the park, walking Mt Bruce (1234 m high) was also interesting as it provided a better overview of the region and of some of the iron ore mining being undertaken by Rio Tinto.

North from the Eastern Goldfields to the Pilbara and Karijini National Park

KARIJINI

Camping at Karijini Eco Retreat-a good spot to camp with an excellent retaurant

Sunset at the Eco Retreat located in Karinjini National Park

Joffre Gorge, Karijini NP

Joffre Gorge, Karijini Gorge NP

Joffre Gorge, Karijini NP

L: Ancient ripples, R: Spinifex Pigeon-a beautiful and colourful local bird and one of only 2 pigeons in Australia that sport a top notch.

Joffre Gorge, Karijini NP

Landscapes on the walk between the Eco Retreat and Joffre Gorge, Karijini NP

Hancock Gorge, Karijini NP

Heading down to Handrail Pool in Hancock Gorge, Karijini NP

Handrail Pool, Hancock Gorge, Karijini NP

Weano Gorge, Karijini NP

Hamersley Ranges, Karijini National Park

Hamersley Gorge parking area

Hamersley Gorge-beautiful clear water and amazing red cliffs

Water nymph in Hamersley Gorge

Hamersley Gorge, Karijini NP

Hamersley Gorge and the amazing rock layers

Hamersley Gorge

Dales Gorge, Karijini NP

Dales Gorge, Karrijini NP

Dales Gorge, Karijini NP

MT BRUCE

Mt Bruce, Karijini NP

Mt Bruce walk, Karijini NP

Rio Tinto's Marandoo Iron Ore mine, from Mt Bruce

Marandoo mine from Mt Bruce. A dry and apparently a barren land-but ldeceptively oaded with riches

Rio Tinto was looking at ways to utilise surplus water extracted from the Marandoo mining operation. The company established an agricultural enterprise a few km from the mine to grow Rhodes Grass under centre pivot irrigation. The hay produced from the green patches seen above is now used to feed cattle on nearby cattle stations. The water is also piped another 50 km to suppy the opoulation of the mining town of Tom Price with potable water.

Ore train about to depart Marandoo for the coast with another load for ore for export. It is a bit tricky to see but the trainis situated about half-way up the image and extends across about 70% of the image, likely around 4 km long.

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