Day 1
7:00am RED DOG AND PARABURDOO
Depart Cheela Plains Station and travel to Tom Price via Paraburdoo (birthplace of Red Dog). Visit the Red Dog statue in memory of the famous ‘Pilbara Wanderer’ and take in wonderous views of the Hamersley Ranges.
[LE's Photography]
9:00AM MORNING COFFEE AND INDULGENCE
Arrive in Tom Price and enjoy a freshly brewed coffee and a delicious treat at the Wildflower Café (directly opposite the Tom Price Visitor Centre).
9:30 AM GET THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE – TOM PRICE VISITOR CENTRE
Visit the Tom Price Visitor Centre and check in for your Rio Tinto Iron Ore Mine Tour. Whilst there, talk to the friendly staff and get all the information you need about the local area, directions, maps and brochures for your trip.
[LE's Photography]
10:00AM MINE TOUR – TOM PRICE OPEN-CUT IRON ORE MINE
Depart the Visitor Centre on an air-conditioned coach bound for Tom Price Open Cut Iron Ore Mine, one of the largest open-cut iron ore mines in the world. You will have full commentary and get to view the Haul Truck workshop area, trucks, shovels, drills, crushing and screen plants and the train loadout area. You will also disembark the bus at the lookout over the pit.
[LE's Photography]
11:30AM PACK A PICNIC
Arrive back in Tom Price and head over to Coles to grab what you need for a picnic lunch at Hamersley Gorge. Depart Tom Price for Hamersley Gorge (approximately a 45 minute drive).
12:45PM HAMERSLEY GORGE - IMMERSE YOURSELF IN AN ANCIENT LANDSCAPE
Arrive at Hamersley Gorge and enjoy the cool fresh water among the fascinating ancient rock formations. Picnic by the water and swim in the gorge directly below the lookout, or wade upstream for about 400 metres to clamber over rocks to the famous Spa Pool. This picturesque swimming hole is spring-fed and has an all-year-round waterfall. Depart Hamersley Gorge and head back to the Tom Price Tourist Park to check-in to your cabin or campsite.
[Kevin Mitchell Photography]
4:00PM CHECK IN AT TOM PRICE TOURIST PARK
Arrive at Tom Price Tourist Park and check-in. Take in the majestic backdrop of Mt Nameless and the lovely natural surroundings.
[LE's Photography]
6:30PM DINE AT WINDAWARRIE LODGE
Head over to the Windawarrie Lodge for dinner. Windawarrie Lodge is a licensed restaurant and dinner is buffet style with a great selection of foods from soups through to dessert. Children are also catered for.
Day 2
7:00AM BREAKFAST FROM BRUMBY’S
Check out of the Tom Price Tourist Park and head into town to Brumby’s Bakery for a coffee and a Danish or whatever takes your fancy. Set off for the Weano Day Use area, Karijini National Park where you will meet up with your tour operator Spacechameleon Adventure Co.
9.00AM JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH
Gear up and commence your adventure journeying into the deepest parts of Karijini to explore the Centre of the Earth with Spacechameleon. Descending into Hancock Gorge and through the Spider Walk you will traverse Kermit’s Pool to the start of the Class 6. You will receive instructions on how to use the Ferrata lanyards and descend into Regan’s Pool and to the top of the Chute. You will then journey even deeper into the centre of Karijini and look out into Junction Pool. Then it's time to make your way back to the carpark. Your journey will take approximately 4 hours.
[Andrew Wilk]
1:30PM LUNCH AT THE ECO RETREAT
After your adventure head to the Karijini Eco Retreat Restaurant for lunch and refreshments.
2:30PM CHECK IN TO KARIJINI ECO RETREAT
Check in to your accommodation or campsite and take time out to relax after your morning’s adventures.
[LE's Photography]
4:00PM JOFFRE WATERFALL AND LOOKOUT
Take a short 10 minute walk (approximately 500 metres) across to Joffre Waterfall. You can take a walk down to the waterfall and pool or enjoy the spectacular views from above.
[Kirsty Rumball]
6:30PM DINE AT THE FAMOUS OUTBACK KARIJINI RESTAURANT
Enjoy a-la-carte dishes with an outback twist and your favourite chilled beverage from the Eco Retreat’s fully licensed bar. Finish your day’s outback indulgence with something sweet from the dessert menu and a coffee or tea before retreating to your accommodation for the evening.
8:30PM STAR GAZING AND THE MILKY WAY
Take advantage of the clear night sky, free from light pollution and wonder in amazement at the breathtaking depth of the Milky Way, all from the doorstep of your accommodation.
[LE's Photography]
Day 3
7:00AM BREAKFAST AT THE OUTBACK RESTAURANT
Start your day with a continental breakfast or a hot cooked breakfast and grab yourself a takeaway picnic lunch for later in the day.
9:00AM KALAMINA GORGE
Check out of your accommodation and head across to Kalamina Gorge. Kalamina has a seasonal waterfall and a permanent freshwater pool at the carpark end. The walk trail follows the watercourse downstream past magnificent lemon-scented gums, rock pools and ancient rock walls to Rock Arch Pool. The gorge itself is wide and lends itself to a relaxing, adventurous walk for families. On your return to the carpark enjoy your prepacked picnic lunch in the picnicking area.
[Annette Davis]
12:30PM KARIJINI VISITOR CENTRE
After lunch head across to the Karijini Visitor Centre. The building has been designed to represent a goanna moving through the country and is symbolic to the local Banyjima Aboriginal people. Inside there is a range of displays that take you on a journey past and present, of people and places, geology, plants and animals.
[La Shabish]
1:30PM DALES GORGE - FORTESCUE FALLS AND FERN POOL
Head to the Fortescue Falls carpark and follow the path to the Fortescue Falls Lookout and then the steps down to the glorious Falls. Fortescue Falls is a natural rock amphitheatre with a year-round waterfall. From the bottom of the steps at Fortescue Falls, take the bush track (approx. 300m flat walking) through to Fern Pool. Fern Pool, which also has a waterfall, is the ideal place for a refreshing swim. The pool is surrounded by shady trees and ferns and has plenty of space to sit, relax and take in the picturesque views.
[Kevin Mitchell Photography]
4:00PM HEAD OFF TO YOUR NEXT DESTINATION
If you are heading towards Port Hedland and Broome, then your next stop could be the Auski Road House. If you are heading back to Perth then Newman is only 180km drive from Dales Gorge. Alternatively, if you are heading over to Millstream Chichester National Park or Karratha, you could stay another night in Tom Price before resuming your travels. The possibilities are endless.
[Andrew Stevens]