Adventure Destinations: Hamersley Ranges, WA

  • By CTO Admin

A little off the beaten track in the Western Australian desert is the awesome george country of the Hamersley Range. It's well worth the detour to explore the huge georges that cut through the surounding plains.

 

After traveling through otherwise baron,featureless, mostly flat country, it is surprising contrast when you approach these deep rock chasms. Walking tracks wind down to the bottom to reveal crystal clear cool streams of fresh water surrounded by lush gardens of palms and eucalypts within the red cliffs. There are many individual walks to choose from, most with walkways, stairs and guard rails for safety. More difficult trails are available for the adventurous at heart. Amazing photo's can be captured throughout the day as the colours change with the shifting sunlight.

 

The nearby oasis of Millstrean Chichester National Park is another attraction of the area. Permanent pools are fed by springs that draw water from an underground aquifer within the porous 2.5 billion year old bedrock. Abundent animal and bird life are supported by the pressence of the permanent water creating a unique native ecosystem. Fringing the deep pools, ornate natural gardens of sedges, palm groves and paperbark forest create a striking contrast from the surrounding ironstone hills. The Karijini area can be easily accessed via the Warlu Road from the Norht West coastal Road or the Nanutarra Road and through Tom Price from the west. Some of the access roads are dirt but are generally in good condition. This is an excellent detour to break up the long drive from Perth to Broome. Care should be taken to check fuel supplies in the area before traveling.

 

 

 

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