After a bad night for me with my arthritic back flaring-up, I sadly had to call-off today’s walk but Catherine and our travel buddies, Lloyd and Jill continued 58KM on tarmac and then another 50KM on a relatively smooth, comparatively speaking, unsealed road to Hamersley Gorge with just a 2KM drive into the National Park, the first half being very rough.

The geology of Hamersley Gorge is quite different to the other gorges we’ve explored in Karijini. Hamersley Gorge is comprised of very different rock formations with much thinner layers and far more contorted. Very unlike the ‘Jenga’ block formations at Dales Gorge.

After a short climb up to the gorge lookout, we made our way down the Grade 4 steep and uneven steps down into the gorge. Summoning up our courage, when then decided to tackle the Grade 5 hike to Spa Pool. Immediately we came across a 30-degree incline on a large slab of rock, thankfully, though, there were some upright rocks close by to use as hand holds. We all managed our way up and over the next few rocks to a steel ladder, which leads to the main pool.

Access to Spa Pool is easiest as a swim through the main pool during the dry season. After taking a few photos we took the plunge, rather inelegantly, into Spa Pool for a quick, and somewhat cold dip. And the easiest way out being just as inelegant with a short swim back to collect our gear perched on the rocks.

After a quick dry-off in the warm sun, we made our way back down into the gorge. While the ladder was the easy part, we were challenged again by the 30-degree slab of rock wearing wet shoes. A shimmy down on our buts cleared the obstacle without injury, though bruises may follow, and we all high five’d our completion of this confronting, though rewarding Grade 5 walk. Our reward was a climb back to ground level in time for a well earned lunch and some much needed relaxation.

Rested and armed with pool noodles we climbed our way back down the steps for a float along the river that follows the line of the gorge. Little of the river receives sunlight so the water was somewhat refreshing but it was a unique, enjoyable and worthwhile experience before returning to the car park and making our way back to our camp at Dales Gorge – Happy Hour is calling.