Another place we weren't going to go, but so many travellers said we should that we did. And we are glad we did! Karajini National Park is the epitome of the Pilbara, red dirt and towering red cliffs from the gorge floors, with beautiful clear pools along the bottom.

We headed for Dales Campground, which is a DEC - Dept. of Environment and Conservation camp with basic facilities. There is another campground called Karajini Eco Retreat, but we were warned the road out there was very corrugated. Although basic, the facilities at Dales are clean and good - toilets and gas bbq's surround each of the camping 'loops'.

We headed first out to the Weano Gorge area for Oxer Lookout which provides a spectacular view over three gorges. The sun was getting low so it was hard to get good photos down inside the gorges, so we walked down into Weano Gorge itself.

This is a short-sharp downhill climb down steps to crystal clear waterfalls and pools and there were quite a bunch of people swimming, perfect for a hot day. The water was a little cool for us to swim, but it was peaceful sitting there just watching everyone else.

Joffre Gorge has a spectacular waterfall at the end and you can walk right around to it and down into the gorge - with warnings all the way about not walking the gorges if rain is nearby - a few people have met their end this way.

Some of the wildflowers were out, and of course the spinnifex grasses which are again a Pilbara Icon.

After a hearty bbq and a good nights rest, we headed in the morning to the Dales Gorge area, firstly looking down onto what they call Circular Pool, a large pool at the end of the gorge.

We walked down to Fortescue Falls, which is beautiful to sit on the natural steps and soak in the ambience of the gorge, or cool off with a swim. A little further along the gorge floor is Fern Pool which has a swimming platform and felt a bit warmer for swimming.

We explored only a part of Karajini, there are many more unguided and guides walks you can take and gorges to explore, and this is certainly a place to experience the peacefulness and beauty of the Pilbara.