Walk Western Australia’s Karijini & Ningaloo Reef

Day 1: Paraburdoo / Karijini National Park

Welcome to Paraburdoo Airport! After a pickup at the airport, your group will drive into Karijini National Park, home of the Banjima, Innawongka and Eastern Guruma peoples. This is Western Australia’s second largest national park with a landscape that is more than 2.5 billion years old and some of the best hiking trails in the state. Get to know your group over sunset drinks and dinner before settling into your comfortable safari-style tent for the night. 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

• Dinner

Special Information

Please note that the start time for your trip varies according to the day of the week, and the flight schedules on those days. Please read the joining point instructions in our trip notes carefully for more information.

Day 2: Karijini National Park

Your first walk is an introduction to hiking in Karijini National Park, Kalamina Gorge. Don’t forget your swimmers as you’ll have the chance to cool off in one of Karijini’s pristine swimming holes at the bottom of the gorge. After your swim, drop into the Visitor’s Centre to check out the information about the park and perhaps grab yourself an ice cream. From here, it’s off to Dale’s Gorge for the rest of the afternoon and a swim in Circular Pool and Fern Pool, two of the park’s most beautiful waterholes. With deep red rocks, lush ferns and waterfalls, you’ll feel like you’ve discovered your own private paradise.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Karijini National Park – Dales Gorge
• Karijini National Park – Kalamina Gorge walk
• Karijini National Park – Karajini Visitor Centre

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Kalamina Gorge track is a Grade 3-4 (moderate – challenging) 3.2km return walk. The path has some eroded sections and loose stones that can be slippery underfoot, and some moderate slopes.

Day 3: Mt Bruce / Karijini National Park

After breakfast, lace up your hiking boots for a hike to Mt Bruce, Western Australia’s second highest peak. This full day ridge walk has it all, from paths that feel like you’re taking a gentle stroll to rock scrambles and climbs so steep there is a chain for support. When you reach the top of the mountain, the 360 degree views of the Karijini Range, its rich red landscape and a bird’s eye look at a working mine site make the occasional challenging section of this walk completely worthwhile.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Karijini National Park – Mt Bruce Summit walk

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Mt Bruce Summit Trail is a Grade 5 (difficult) walk. This walk is not for the faint-hearted. Some parts of the trail require high level of fitness and experience. The 9.5km return walk typically takes around 6 hours to complete, including near vertical climbs and scrambles over boulders.

Day 4: Karijini National Park

Today’s occasionally challenging walk has four major highlights including two of Karijini National Park’s most famous gorges – Hancock and Weano. The trail to Junction Pool Lookout is relatively flat and has terrific views of Hancock and Joffre Gorges. Your feet will enjoy a cool down as some sections of the walk require wading. Soak up the scenery during a swim in the pristine waters of Kermit’s Pool and Handrail Pool before the return trip to camp for a shower and dinner under the stars.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Karijini National Park – Hancock Gorge
• Karijini National Park – Kermit’s Pool
• Karijini National Park – Weano Recreation Area
• Karijini National Park – Weano Gorge & Handrail Pool

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Hancock Gorge walk to Kermit’s Pool is a Grade 5 (difficult) walk due to some challenging sections, including a series of metal ladders to the gorge floor, wading through cold pools, negotiating rock ledges on the gorge walls and clambering through stony creek beds. When the gorge dramatically narrows, to continue you need a degree of flexibility and nerve by doing what is called the “spider walk” (where you stretch your arms and legs out to straddle the gap and move along the walls). After that, you’ll be rewarded with views of Kermit’s Pool. The total distance is 1.5km but can take around 90 mins. The Handrail Pool Trail in Weano Gorge is a Grade 3-5 (moderate – difficult) 1.5km return walk taking around 2 hours with climbing involved to get down, including steep cliffs and narrow walking passages, negotiating slippery rocks to get down into the chilly waters.

Day 5: Mt Nameless / Cheela Plains

This morning you will say farewell to Karijini and begin your journey toward the West Coast. The rocky peak of Mt Nameless (Jarndunmunha) dominates the landscape as you drive to Tom Price. Follow the trail, along the ridge line to the top of this significant mountain. The hike has some challenging sections but rewarding views! For those after an alternative to hiking Mt Nameless, there is a mine site tour that leaves from the visitors centre or you may wish to spend the morning relaxing in the township of Tom Price at a local cafe. In the afternoon depart Tom Price for Cheela Plains, a true outback station stay where you will enjoy a delicious meal under the spectacular desert night sky!

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Tom Price – Mt Nameless (Jarndunmunha) Trail walk

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Mt Nameless (Jarndunmunha) Walk Trail is a Grade 4 (challenging) 4.5km return walk taking around 2 hours to complete, requiring some steep climbing and scrambling over rocks.

Day 6: Exmouth

Grab your favourite tunes or a good book and settle back and rest your legs on the drive from Cheela Plains to Exmouth. There will be time to stop and stretch your legs along the way and have lunch together before you arrive in Exmouth in time to watch the sun set into the Indian Ocean.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

Today’s driving time is approximately 6 hours.

Day 7: Exmouth

Less than 1 in 3 million people have swum with whale sharks and today that person could be you! Book early for the opportunity to go on an (optional) experience of a lifetime and swim with whale sharks, the world’s biggest fish, off Western Australia’s Coral Coast. It’s not unusual for these gentle creatures to grow up to 10 metres in length which makes swimming alongside them an incredible experience. The tours are optional, but highly recommended. Alternative activities are available and can be arranged if you don’t want to join one of the whale shark tours.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Special Information

Please note that swimming with whale sharks is not included on this trip and is an optional activity. It is very important that you pre-book any whale shark experiences, as these can sell out far in advance. You are able to book this service with us (subject to availability). Please let us know well ahead of time if you would like to add this option to your booking. Please also note that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so please make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip.

Day 8: Cape Range National Park / Ningaloo Reef

Get set for a day of adventure in Cape Range National Park, with a series of short walks, snorkels and swims along the coast. Highlights include exploring Mandu Mandu Gorge on a walk that follows the route of an ancient riverbed and spotting rock wallabies in Yardi Creek Gorge. From here, you’ll head to Turquoise Bay on Ningaloo Reef, part of the traditional lands of the Baiyungu, Thalanyji and Yinigurdira peoples, for swimming and snorkelling before a group dinner back at Yardi Homestead Caravan Park.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Cape Range National Park – Mandu Mandu Walk
• Cape Range National Park – Yardie Gorge Trail
• Ningaloo Marine Park – Turquoise Bay

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Mandu Mandu Walk & Yardie Gorge Trail are both Grade 3 (moderate) walks of 2-3 km each, taking around 2 hours each to complete.

Day 9: Cape Range National Park / Ningaloo Reef

You’ll begin your adventures on dry land walking the Badjirrajirra Trail, a 6.8km walk with gorges cut into the limestone karst and spinifex country offering views that seem to stretch on forever. Compared to some of your walks in Karijini National Park, this trail is relatively easy but it can be extremely hot, so your leader may have to augment today’s itinerary if this is the case. Once you’ve explored Charles Knife Canyon, cool off in Ningaloo’s sparkling waters and go in search of turtles around the small islands known as the Oyster Stacks. After another full day of exploring, it’s back to camp for the last night of the trip.

Today’s walking distance is approximately 7kms.

 

Accommodation

• Semi-permanent tented camp (shared facilities) (1 night)

Included Activities

• Cape Range National Park – Charles Knife Canyon & Badjirrajirra Walk trail

Meals Included

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Special Information

The Badjirrajirra Walk trail from the Thomas Carter Lookout is a Grade 4 (challenging) 6km loop walk, taking approximately 3 hours.

Day 10: Exmouth

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Exmouth airport for your flight back to Perth. Alternatively, you are welcome to make your own onward travel arrangements. 

Meals Included

• Breakfast

Special Information

You can choose to be dropped off either in the town centre of Exmouth (Ningaloo Centre) at approximately 9.30am or at the airport with an estimated arrival time of approximately 10.15am to 10.30am. If you have an afternoon flight, you can also book an airport transfer coordinated with your flight departure time with Exmouth Bus Charters.