Week Commencing 15.08.10
Sunday 15.08.10 – Left Pardoo and drove the 220km to Port Hedland. As you drive into the town you notice mines on either side of the road. We also spotted our first huge train, it was that long you could not see where it ended. On the main road there was the Rio Tinto Salk Mine, this huge pile of salt and salt pads , it is amazing. When we got to the visitors centre it was closed but the sign advised no sites at the van parks. We made some lunch which we had in the car park and then made our way to the Golf Course as this is where the overflow go. Sandy was a pleasant lady and said it was ok for us to stay. So we joined the other four or five vans in the car park.
Monday 16.08.10 – We went into South Hedland to doing some chores as well as vote. We had lunch at the local chinese and spent the afternoon feeling very full. John decided to have a game of golf as we were living there. The course is very green and he had a good game. We got on the net and booked our tickets to come home at Christmas. Looking forward to seeing everyone over this period. We will be home 12 December and return back to Perth on 6 January.


Tuesday 17.08.10 – Up early but only on the highway a short time when we were delayed nearly an hour as they were moving some huge equipment which took up the whole road. Finally we were passed and when we turned off to Karijini it was as if everyone was in a hurry. They were overtaking one after another, the cb’s were going nuts it was really strange. Finally this settled down and we were able to enjoy the trip. The landscape was amazing, real red sandy desert, I am nothing just red rocks and dirt. Then you would come across some trees and creeks that were very wide with just sand in them and maybe some trees. We then travelled over some ranges and finally arrived at Karijini. The campsite is red dirt and rocks, we have a site in Bungarra Loop and have settled in nicely. This afternoon we did the Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool walk. You have to make your way down the gorge about 150mtrs deep, lots of steps. There were folks swimming in both pools, but the water is very cold.

Wednesday 18.08.10 – After a great nice sleep up and had brekkie then prepared for our trekking. We haven’t trekked for sometime so hope we both make it. Back in camp by 3pm and had a fantastic time exploring Dales Gorge. The walk starts at the top of the gorge descending the steps down a steep slope to the bottom of the gorge. You then ramble along the gorge floor to the fern-framed pool – Circular Pool. The water is very cold but I am told refreshing. From here we walk along the creek to Fortescue Falls. We had to negotiate creek crossing and large boulders. The banded iron formations exposed in many of the rocks in and around the gorge originated more than 2,500 million years ago as iron and silica-rich sediment deposits accumulated on an ancient sea floor. Over millions of years these deposits were transformed by the pressure of further sediments laid down over them, forcing trapped water to be driven out and gradually turning the sediments into tough, well-bedded rock. Horizontal compression later caused the rocks to buckle, developing numerous vertical cracks, before lifting to the surface to form dry land. A sharp drop in sea-level caused the rivers to cut down rapidly through the land, creating sheer-sided gorges. This, combined with millions of years of erosion, has sculptured the rocks into the present landscape.
The Gorges
In the north of the park, small creek-beds, hidden in the rolling hillsides and dry for most of the year, suddenly plunge down 100 mtr chasms. Farther downstream the gorges become wider and their sides change from sheer cliff to steep slopes of loose rock. Finally the drainage systems emerge as alluvial fans into the Fortescue Valley. The gorges provide a refreshing retreat from the arid plains above.
Karijini’s traditional owners are The Banyjima, Yinhawangka and Kurrama Aboriginal people, the traditional owners call The Hamersley Range – Karijini. The name of the park recognises the historic and continuing significance of the area to these people. Evidence of their ancestors’ occupation dates back more than 30,000 years. During that period, Aboriginal land management practices such as “fire stick farming”, resulting in a diversity of vegetation types and stages of succession, have helped determine the range of plants and animals found in the park. Fern Pool and Circular Pool are special places to local Aboriginal people. The park is situated just north of Tropic Capricorn and its climate can be described as tropical semi-desert.
Wildflowers vary in abundance with the seasons and from year to year. In the cooler months the land is covered with numerous yellow flowering sennas (cassias) nd acacias, northern bluebells and purple mulla mullas. Birds are many and varied , you may encounter red kangaroos, euros (kangaroos that are common to the rocky country), Rothchild’s rock-wallabies, bats and dingoes.


Thursday 19.08.10 – Up early and headed off to Tom Price. We had a 96km drive to our destination. Arrived and found grass, yes grass sites. It is wonderful to have grass. After setting up we headed to the Visitors Centre to see what Tom Price had to offer. We were lucky enough to join the afternoon tour of the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Mine. This tour was very informative and enjoyable. Everything to do with Rio Tinto is big, big trucks, big tyres, big signs, it is amazing how big the whole corporation is. The driver took us for a look around town and then into the Mine site. We could only get out of the bus at the lookout, we looked quite funny with our Hard Hats and goggles. Tom Price was built by Rio Tinto but is now controlled by local council. Rio Tinto owns 90% of the homes in town. They just built a new swimming pool worth some 1.3 million dollars. The population is around 6,000 of which 1,000 are school aged children. We were told there are more than 1,000 pre schoolers. Not much else to do in a town like this.

Friday 20.08.10 – Today we are heading off to Hamersley Gorge in Karajini National Park, Mt Sheila, and then Nameless Mountain. We head along the main highway and then turn off onto the Rio Tinto Mine access road. This road runs from Tom Price to Karratha about 100kms of dirt road. You need to go to the visitors centre and watch a video to get a permit to travel on this road. We did this before we headed off this morning. From the turnoff of the highway we travelled 27kms and then a further 10kms to Mt Sheila. We then travelled another 2.5km to the top of the Mountain. The views were spectular unfortunately the pictures do not give it justice. Then we backtracked and got back on the access road and headed to Hamersley Gorge, this was another 29kms of red dirt.
Hamersley Gorge – On arriving we decided to do the rim walk first, only problem the track lead to nowhere. So up the hill we go back to the carpark. We then find the right track which was alot of steps down into the Gorge. The Gorge was really really nice, well worth the effort. The rocks were quite tricky to get over, very smooth and slippery in places. John continued on further upsteam and when he returned he said he was glad he had made the effort. So we were very impressed with Hamersley Gorge. As there was nowhere to have a picnic lunch we ate as we drove back to town.


This time it was another 50kms along the red dirt road. We certainly had a day on the red roads around Tom Price.
Nameless Mountain – This mountain is the backdrop to our caravan park. Once again on a very rough dirt road. It was a very rough and steep road to the top. I think John had a great day doing all the 4WD driving stuff. The view from the top was really nice. You overlooked the town of Tom Price, the Caravan Park, the rolling hills and mountains. You could also see the mine, a great 360 degree view from up here. We are both so glad we did all these things today.

Saturday 21.08.10 – Rest day. Off towards Karratha tomorrow. Wow I am up to date again. Hope everyone is well.