Karijini National Park from Perth - mid February
Replies: 19 - Last Post: Nov 8, 2012 2:47 AM Last Post By: sabi2012
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Karijini National Park from Perth - mid February
I and my future husband are planning our honeymoon in Australia (from Italy). We are going to hire a campervan and travel during the first 2 weeks of February from Melbourne to Adelaide, reaching the Findlers Ranges, and then fly from Adelaide to Perth and hire another campervan and spend the last 2 weeks of February in Western Australia.We would like to reach the Karijini National Park (it looks wonderfull), but we read almost everywhere that it isn't the best season to go there (very hot temperature, long distances, heavy rains and possibility of serious cyclones, closed roads...and so on).
I would like to understand if this second part of our travel is really a "crazy idea", so if someone have some suggestion about our travel plan (travel period: *from mid February to the end of February*), I will really appreciate!
- hire a campervan in Perth, is it necessary a 4WD veicle? Is it easy to find one directly in Perth, or it is better to book it in advance?
- drive from Perth towards the Karijini National Park along the Great Northern Highway (2-3 days)
- once reached the Karijini National Park, stay there for visiting it (2 full days)
- drive towards Exmouth and drive back to Perth along the coast visiting the points of interest (remaing 5-6 days).
Edited by: sabi2012
2
Yep, it's hot at that time of year north of Perth and inland. Doable but you need to take account of the extreme temperatures. Up at 4 am to do sightseeing, find some shade from about 10 and then spend the day under cover until it cools down. And it stays hot at night so sleeping unless you find some aircon isn't all that much fun. A campervan, even after the sun goes down will resemble an oven so make sure you have a tent with decent airflow and an awning to make your own shade. And take lots more water than you think you'll need.Apart from that your itinerary is perectly doable although there frankly isn't a great deal of interest to justify 5-- days return trip. I'd go Ningaloo (2 days) and Shark Bay (2) and then back to Perth.
3
Yes, Karijini is a very scenic and interesting place, better for weather and comfort June to October. If it is a "dry wet season", you might be lucky, but if not, and you can check that when you arrive in Perth, consider doing a loop south from Perth. You can swim with dolphins, visit Margaret River, the huge trees, Wave Rock and maybe see as far north as the Murchison River----very "outback" looking gorge with hiking tracks and also very scenic. Hope you have a happy experience.4
Thank you!@redwhitewine
Could you explain me what you mean when you say "I don't think a 4WD is warranted"?
That we should take a 4WD but it is difficult to find it?
Or that it isn'y necessary a 4WD?
...or maybe you mean something else...
Thank you again!
@iolanthe
Yes, I wrote 5 days return trip but with the purpose to stay some days through Exmouth and Shark Bay. Maybe if the weather and the temperature are not so "bad" we can try to go towards Karijini via Tom Prince and back.
5
@graymareThank you! The loop in the south is the alternative trip we will consider once arrived in Perth (altough we hope we can go north).
6
I'll answer for Redwhitewine - you don't need a 4WD in Karajini. It's mostly unsealed but graded so a 2WD is fine. But if you do go keep the speed under 30 km in the park otherwise you are guaranteed a puncture as the roadbase is sharp rocks and at speed they go straight through. Should mention that the water in the deep gorges is ice cold even in summer so you can cool down if you get into a gorge for the day.12
Some of the gorges have quite steep entrances but they are marked and have plenty of hand and foot holds so it's not even close to rock climbing and shouldn't present any problem to anyone who is physically able. Having said that, every other year or so people do die at Karajini falling into gorges so take care. Another tip, some gorges will require swimming as part of getting through them so take a dry bag or a couple of good garbage bags to put your daypack in and float through the swimming sections if you are carrying anything that you don't want to get wet.13
Thanks for your replies. If you look in internet almost all websites are full of warnings: don't drive at night, take plenty of water, flash floods in the gorges, high temperatures etc etc. I supposed that visiting a place with gorges isn't the same as walking on a white beach...even hiking in our mountains (Alps) requires a lot of attention.The thing I really don't know is if at mid February the weather conditions are so extreme to avoid going there, because it is a kind of place that is completly different from the one I us to know.
14
I couldn't find weather for Karajini but the town of Newman is only a few hours drive away so is possibly not a bad proxy for temperature. Average February high is 37.2 degrees with 79 mm of rain and average minimum of 22.4. But the record high is 46 and record minimum is 17. It will be at least high 30s and could get into the mid 40s easily and it won't get all that cool at night. As I said above, doable but make sure you have a cool and shaded place to be during the heat of the day and do any activity early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Wear a broad brim hat, drink lots of water and you'll be fine. If I really wanted to see the place (and it is stunning) and February was the only time I could do it, I'd go. If I could shift even a few months later in the year, I'd do that instead.
