With the caravan temporarily fixed up we left Paraburdoo and drove into Karijini national park and picked this spot in the Euro section of the Dales camping area. The whole area is covered in red dust which got into everything and everywhere.
Our camp spot for 5 hot days. No power so the solar panels out to keep us charged.
On our way to the nearby Dales gorge we passed these huge termite mounds.
Looking down into Circular pool at the beginning of the hike through the gorge.
After the deep descent into Dales gorge we walked to Circular pool for a swim and picnic.You can just see me throwing Ayla into the air at the back of the pool.
Toby who by now is filthy from crawling around in the dusty earth, modelling his sister's swimming shorts.
Stef and the girls as we start our hike from Circular pool through Dales gorge.
The path meandered back and forth across the stream flowing through the centre of the gorge.
This pillar of rocks amazingly held up a huge section of the cliff face above us. Bit nervous as we passed it. It has to fall one day!
The tree we did jumps off. Unfortunately there are no decent photos of us doing it.
Passing Fortescue pool on our hike. That's my bald head gliding through the water!
Looking down into Fortescue pool.
The path carried on passed these amazing trees with their exposed roots.
Ayla and Kyra posing by this massive tree spreading in all directions.
Finally we reach the stunning Fern pool at the end of the hike where we swim out to the waterfalls constantly flowing into it.
The girls relaxing at the decking area above Fern pool.
Finally we sadly leave Fern pool and head back taking the path up from Fortescue pool back out of the gorge to do the cliff walk back to the campground.
Looking down into Dales gorge as we make our way back.
The three explores heading back.
The next day we drove to Kalamina gorge along a terrible dirt road full of corrugation and potholes. Another beautiful hike down through this gorge.
At the end of the hike is this pool where we ate our picnic and watched a large lizard roaming around us.
The natural arch at the end of the hike.
Heading back out of the gorge. Just a stunning place full of green healthy looking plants surrounded by sheer red rock cliffs.
Back at the start of the hike where you climb a steep path out of this gorge was this pool which the girls loved a swim in.
For our last gorge exploration day we drove along this rough road to Hancock and Weano gorges which are our favourites. 12 years ago we climbed all through these gorges but unfortunately due to some serious incidents a lot of sections in these gorges have now been closed off to tourists.
Stef and the kids wading their way through Hancock gorge which gets narrower and narrower.
The safest way for the girls to navigate this section is to swim through it still with all their clothes and shoes on! Stef however couldn't swim through this section because she had Toby in the Ergo carrier so she had to navigate the rock ledges above the water. A passing tour guide said he had never seen anyone take a baby along here before! We have a family in-joke that our name is the "adventure family"! We have a song that goes with it and we try and live up to the name!
Making our way through the narrow "Spider walk" section which the girls ended up slipping down part of coming to a heap in a shallow pool in fits of giggles!
Kyra in the last section of the "Spider walk".
Kermit pool which is as far as you are now allowed to go. Deep and refreshing.
Taking the steep steps out of Hancock gorge.
Now we head deep into Weano gorge which has an eerie feel to it as you leave the bright sunlight and descend into the dark shadows of these narrow cracks in the earth.
Handrail pool where we all had a dip surrounded by steep red cliff faces.
This is from where the path is now closed to tourists.
Back out into the sunlight to the viewpoint looking down into the huge gorges.
