Karijini National Park

Temperatures:  June

The evolution of the Karijini landscapes we see today began over 2500 million years ago, when fine, iron-rich sediments accumulated on an ancient seafloor. Over a period of millions of years, further sediments overlaid, creating immense pressure on the sediment layers and transformed them into tough layers of rock. Horizontal compression caused the rock to buckle and crack before rising up out of the water to form dry land. A drop in sea level caused creeks and rivers to cut down through the rocks, creating the deep gorges that we see today.

The types of rock that can be seen especially well in the gorges are the banded iron formations, dolomite (similar to limestone with a grey or pale brown colour) and Mount McRae shale (very soft purple or pink rock). 

Karijini National Park is on the traditional lands of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga people of the Pilbara region and Karijini is the Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range. The National Park was first created in 1969 incorporating lands around the Dales Gorge area. Subsequent additions to the park included Hamersley Gorge, when the park was renamed to Hamersley National Park. In 1991, the park was renamed to Karijini National Park in recognition of Aboriginal history and the continuing association of traditional owners, in particular through the Karijini Park Council.  

Today the park measures 627 444 hectares, making it the second largest National Park in Western Australia after Karlimilya National Park, also in the Pilbara.

Visiting the park gives us the opportunity to experience the ancient cavernous gorges, traverse some of the oldest rocks on the planet, paddle in crystal-clear waterways and cool off with a swim beneath cascading waterfalls whilst enjoying the comforts of the eco-retreat each evening. The park also has an amazing network of walking trails, ranging from easy to challenging, that wind through some of Australia’s most awesome scenery.

(australiasnorthwest.com)