This adventure took place in the latter half of 2024. Come with me on a zig‑zag tour of the country — an inside lap, an outside lap, the inner and outer corners, the extremities, the highs and the lows, the good roads, the bad roads and sometimes not even any roads at all.
Day 77 is a quiet transition day — leaving Tom Price, topping up the groceries and fuel, and pointing the nose east toward Karijini National Park. It’s only a short run, but it’s one of those drives where the landscape shifts around you: the Hamersley Range rising and folding, the colours deepening, and the country starting to feel older and more dramatic with every kilometre.
A quick stop at the Karijini Visitor Centre sets the tone — the geology, the culture, the scale of the place — and then it’s on to Dales to set up camp for the night. With the heat easing off in the afternoon, there’s time for a wander down into Dales Gorge, following the trail through the ironstone walls to Fortescue Falls. Cool water, shaded rock, and that sudden contrast between the harsh Pilbara above and the quiet green pocket below.
A simple day on the map, but a good one — the moment the trip settles into Karijini’s rhythm.

00:00 Intro
01:48 Tom Price
03:43 On the road to Karijini
20:03 Entering Karijini, National Park, IUCN II
23:20 On Dales Road

The Days Drive: 114.6km @ 51km/h over 2h14m gave 13.2l/100
Terrain: On Road - 111.5km (96.0%), Off Road - 4.7km (4.0%)
Fuel: 87.24L @ $2.30/L = $200.56
Elevation: Max - 858.1m, Rate - 11.1m/km
Curve Density: 33.9°/km
Coverage: Telstra - 68km (59%), Optus - 53km (45%), Vodafone - 0km (0%)

https://www.australiasnorthwest.com/explore/pilbara/tom-price
https://summerstar.com.au/caravan-parks/tom-price
https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/parks-and-wildlife-service/parks/karijini-national-park
https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/parks-and-wildlife-service/places-to-visit/karijini-national-park/dales-gorge
https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/dales-campground