Day 17: Tom Price - Karijini National Park (Fortescue Falls & Fern Pool)

We are all relatively awake early and use the morning to pack up. Today we are heading to Karijini National Park. We are really looking forward to our next destination. The pictures we have seen so far remind us a lot of Bryce Canyon in the USA, and we really liked it there in 2000.

From Tom Price to the entrance of Karijini National Park, it is about 40 km. In the park, there are two camping sites (one in the east and one in the west). We want to check out the first one, the Eco Retreat in the west. The road to the campground is not paved, but apparently suitable for 2WD. After about 1-2 kilometers, we turn back. Unfortunately, the unsealed road is not as good as at Quobba Station. It's simply too rough. It feels like being in a washing machine on spin cycle in the motorhome. We also try the unpaved access road to Mount Bruce. But here it's the same. Not suitable for our Maui. Just like in Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks in 2016, we realize that all-wheel drive would simply be a hit in northern Australia. We agree that on our next trip to Australia, we will explore the north with a 4WD and roof tent. Samuel is already very excited.

We continue driving to the east of the park and check in at Dales Campground. We easily get a fixed spot (No. 95 on Euro Loop). There are many campers here, but there is no talk of an overcrowded camp with accommodation on an overflow site.

On our campsite, we cook pasta with tomato sauce and play with Lego. Later in the afternoon, we walk down from the parking lot to Fortescue Falls, which involves more than 280 steps. We only take a short photo stop there and continue on to Fern Pool. Elija falls asleep in the carrier, so only Michi and the older kids go swimming. Only Michi dares to go into the water. The kids find the pool too dark. Maxima has been quite anxious about swimming since we arrived. So we just let our feet dangle in the water. We go back to Fortescue Falls (a short, easy walk with a bit of climbing - the older kids really enjoy it) and test the pleasant water there. This time, Samuel and I also go in. We really like Fortescue Falls. It's a beautiful waterfall with a great swimming area, and the stone steps are a nice place to relax before or after swimming.

Back at the campground, we have ham and cheese toast for dinner. We're all pretty tired. Before going to bed, we look through the skylight at the sea of stars in the night sky several times. Absolutely magnificent! The older kids quickly fall asleep, but Elija has some difficulties falling asleep today, which is unusual for him. But after two hours, he also manages to fall asleep.

September 28, 2018

Overnight stay: Dales Campground / Karijini National Park (1 night 22 AUD, national park campsite with 140 pitches, simple site on red sand, very spacious and expansive, good distance to the neighboring camps, pit toilet available)

Weather: sunny, 29 degrees

170 daily kilometers out of a total of 2,650 km