Hamersley Gorge

Hamersley Gorge is a broad, remote gorge in Karijini's north-west, known for sweeping folds of coloured rock, stepped waterfalls and pools. I'd make time for the water-level visit if you want to swim and see the rock close up; the constructed lookout gives you the big view without the descent. DBCA lists the gorge walk at about 1 kilometre.

The lookout is about a 300-metre return walk from the car park on a barrier-free path. Getting down to the gorge floor is a separate, steep descent of roughly 400 metres one way, on rough-hewn steps. It's short, but uneven and tiring; if that doesn't suit you, the lookout is a good visit on its own.

A permanent pool shaded by trees sits at the bottom of the gorge. Spa Pool is farther along at the western end, tucked into a narrow chute in the rock. Reaching it means using a short ladder and scrambling over rocks beside the water. It's not a formal trail, and the scramble can be slippery, so treat it as a separate challenge from the walk to the main pool.

Look across the rock bands and you'll see how dramatically they bend and buckle. In the wider Hamersley region, ancient collision between the Pilbara and Yilgarn cratons folded, faulted and compressed the rock over a period from roughly 2.2 to 1.8 billion years ago. That's the regional geological story, not a precise date for the layers exposed in this gorge.

The lower car park has 14 bitumen bays, including one accessible bay, plus four extended bays for long vehicles. A concrete path of about 150 metres connects the parking area with the toilets and constructed lookout; the toilet is wheelchair accessible. You still get the sweep of the gorge from above, while the close rock patterns and pool are down on the floor.

At water level, include the bent rock bands around the pool; reflections and the stepped falls are what make this place look different from another red-rock canyon. The lookout gives you a broader panorama if you don't want the climb down.

The pools can be extremely cold, especially from April through September, and DBCA says not to jump or dive. Flash floods can come through the gorges: don't enter if it's raining in the area, and leave if rain starts nearby.

Hamersley Gorge sits farther from Karijini's other gorges. Sealed access reaches the lower car park, but the broader approaches include both sealed and unsealed roads, so choose your route with that in mind.