Travelling to Karijini from Perth via Gt Northen Hwy

[foxxx+888]

Hi from Russ and Debbie
We are planning to travel to Karijini for the first time at the end of July.

16'6" Nova semi offroad Van with shower toilet and sola power. Pajero 4x4 Diesel vehicle.
We can go for 7 days without powered site using gas and sola power.

We plan to go via Great Northern Hwy inland route departing Perth 27 July 2015.

Any tips on the best stopovers and fuel available along
that route and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also info and advice on best camp site in Karijini would be great.
We plan to stay 3 nights 2 days from 29 July depart for Coral Bay 1 August.
Thanks
Russ & Deb

[Motherhen]

Dales Gorge is the campsite Russ and Deb; pit toilets and no power. If you look at the Main Roads rest areas brochure, there are a number of good 24 hour rest areas along the way https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/USINGRO ... Areas.aspx although there are plenty of place to stop overnight along the Great Northern Highway.

Fuel is readily available.

Karijini is one of the best places to visit in WA. Lots of walking down into the gorges and up again but well worth the effort. Get a brochure about the walks from the visitor centre when you get into the park. As well as the Gorges in the central area of the park, be sure to visit Hamersley Gorge for the west side of the park as it is different to the others.

[Azhure]

We stayed at Dales Gorge campground last year. There are generator and non generator loops within the campground, with drop toilets located throughout the loops. Not a lot of shade and no other facilities, but the nearby gorges and walks are spectacular. There is a camp host through the main season. There is no water available in the campground, there are taps where you can fill water containers, but not caravan tanks, in the toilets at the visitor centre which is about 11k away. There are also showers available at the visitor centre, not sure if there was hot water or not. The roads are all gravel with some corrugations, but ok for vans. http://parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au/camp-fin ... ales/77/en

There is also the Karijini Eco Retreat which is 35k from the visitors centre in the other direction, again along gravel roads. We didn't stay there, just saw it when looking at some of the gorges in that area. Its considerably more expensive but does have hot showers, but again no power or water connections.

The gorges around the Dales Gorge campground are the more accessible ones for walking into. Most of those nearer the Eco Retreat are more difficult walks, though there are some good lookouts that are easy to get to. I'll also agree with Motherhen about not missing Hammersley Gorge, and take your swimming gear with you there.

[foxxx+888]

Thanks for the info appreciated.

One more question we are travelling from Karijini to Coral Bay the next weekend. Is it possible to do that trip comfortably in one day
say 6 - 8 hours driving with van. If not what is best stop for overnight to break up trip ?

Thanks Russ & Deb.

[ALAN1963]

Hi,

In June 2012 we drove from Tom Price to Exmouth towing our poptop caravan with our previous Dmax. It is a fair drive but no real problem to cover the ground. Due to very quiet roads and not much traffic mostly I was able to do 100kmph or slightly better. There were very few trucks on this section of road unlike coming up from Perth. I suspect it would be closer to Coral Bay than Exmouth.
All good roads and we were lucky enough to have tail winds. We filled at Paraburdoo and Nanutarra Road house on the way across..... which is not a place you want to spend much time at!!
I found it to be an enjoyable drive in the main.
If you don't have a decent UHF radio may I suggest you get one to monitor channel 40 re trucks. I found it very handy.
You may know this already but if you hear something like 3.5 southbound it means a over width truck at 3.5 metres wide is heading towards you if your going north. For example if you hear on the radio 6 wide southbound then look for a place to pull over as no doubt it will be a truck with mining equipment taking up most of the road width in each lane.
Wish it was me heading north....
Have a good trip.
Cheers AL

[Motherhen]

Possible, but it would be a very long day, with no time to stop and enjoy the scenery. The area around Tom Price is beautiful.

If you find it too tiring, there is a good Main Roads 24 hour rest area at Beasley River. On the Tom Price/Paraburdoo to Nanutarra road, 171 kilometres east of Nanutarra Roadhouse. On a loop of old road which crosses the generally dry Beasley River. Pit toilets and dump point. A pleasant Main Roads WA free camping rest area.

[Brenda_PRC]

Hi Russ & Debbie

Newman in WA is the first town in the North West to become RV Friendly. They published a brochure with some things to do in the town and a map with the necessary RV amenities. URL to the brochure: http://www.prc.wa.gov.au/wp-content/upl ... -Final.pdf

The Pilbara region also has many roadside rest stops in between towns. There's a map on the Pilbara Regional Council’s website that shows you where the rest stops, free Wi-Fi spots and sullage points are. Link to map: http://www.prc.wa.gov.au/project/prc-welcome-wi-fi/

Port Hedland and South Hedland have recently become “RV Friendly”. Short-term low-cost ($11 per night) parking now available at Port Hedland Racecourse and South Hedland Golf Club as well.

If you are stopping by Newman, the top things to do include
1) East Pilbara Arts Centre (Martu Milli Artists)
2) BHP Billiton Mine Tours
3) Cape Keraudren National Park
4) Wildflowers
5) Outback Waterholes

Hope this helps!

[Motherhen]

Hi Brenda, Russ and Deb last posted here in June 2015 with plans to visit the Pilbara in July 2015. They have not visited this forum for quite some months. However your news is good, and you have posted in full detail on another thread.