A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

Fly to Per th and then onto Paraburdoo or Karratha with Qantas, pick up a hire car and spin those wheels.To recreate the trip in this article, go Paraburdoo-Karijini-OnslowMackerel Islands-Karratha-Burrup Peninsula, or vice versa.

Staying there

Stay in one of 73 luxury apartments at THE RANGES

KARRATHA, set within landscaped gardens with a resor t-style pool. therangeskarratha.com.au

Glamp in the hear t of the national park at KARIJINI ECO RETREAT. karijiniecoretreat.com.au

Enjoy a coastal outback stay at

ONSLOW BEACH RESORT before being cast away to a beachfront cabin at its sister property in the nearby MACKEREL ISLANDS. onslowbeachresort.com.au Ninety kilometres west of Paraburdoo, CHEELA PLAINS STATION STAY provides travellers in the Pilbara with rustic outback comfor t. cheelaplains.com.au

Exploring there

The Aboriginal-focused KARIJINI

EXPERIENCE runs for five days each April (6-10 April 2021). Between events, self-drive to as many gorges as you can, prioritising a climb into Hancock Gorge. karijiniexperience.com Canyoning fans should join WEST OZ ACTIVE ADVENTURE TOURS based at Karijini Eco Retreat. westozactive.com.au Understand the age and Aboriginal significance of the Burrup Peninsula on a tour with Clinton Walker of NGURRANGGA TOURS. ngurrangga.com.au

Get an aerial perspective of Karratha’s coastline and the Burrup Peninsula with a

HELISPIRIT helicopter tour. helispirit.com.au Pre-book the quirky HIDDEN TREASURES ONSLOW TOUR with Onslow Visitor Centre’s Jan Bevan. facebook.com/onslowvisitorscentre

Hot tips

4WD vehicles are recommended, but you can manage – even in Karijini – with a 2WD, weather depending.There are no petrol stations within Karijini so you must bring enough fuel for travel within the park, as well as to it (get supplies at Tom Price, 80 kilometres west). Optus is the only provider that works in Karijini, whereas Telstra is best elsewhere.