Welcome to Exmouth. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 8.30 am this morning, then you’ll set off through the beautiful Outback landscape to Nanutarra Roadhouse. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. When you arrive at the roadhouse, stop for lunch before continuing to Cheela Plains Station, where you’ll stay tonight. This afternoon, maybe set off on one of the station hikes to explore the area. Tonight, enjoy dinner at the station under the Pilbara night sky. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today is an early start as you travel from Cheela towards Karijini National Park. On the way, stop at Tom Price and spend some time walking the streets of this small mining town. This is also your opportunity to buy yourself a picnic lunch for later on in the national park. Continue to Karijini National Park – land of the Banjima, Innawongka and Eastern Guruma peoples. This is Western Australia’s second-largest national park, with a landscape more than 2.5 billion years old. Your first stop is Dales Gorge, a diverse and rewarding walk with time for a swim in Fern pool. You’ll visit Knox gorge next, slightly more challenging, rugged and very deep, before checking into your accommodation at Karijini Eco Retreat. This afternoon, explore Joffre Gorge – a curved waterfall forming a natural amphitheatre. When you arrive, take in panoramic views from the lookout platform or maybe walk down into the gorge to see the towering cliff faces reflected in the calm water. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. The hike at Dales Gorge is a 5km class 4 (moderate-difficult) walk. It starts with a rim walk which is relatively flat before the steep descent into the gorge, which requires slow steady steps. Along the gorge floor you will follow a creek line to explore fern pool, before ascending back to the top. Knox gorge is a short, but challenging 2.5km class 5 (difficult) walk. The descent and ascent is the most challenging so take it slow and you’ll be rewarded with a flat shady walk along a creek line at the bottom. The Joffre Gorge walk is a 1.6km class 5 (difficult) walk that leads hikers to the foot of Joffre Falls. The trail crosses the watercourse near the top of the falls before a steep scramble into the gorge itself. UPDATE 2026: Over the past wet season, the Karijini and Pilbara region has experienced significantly lower-than-average rainfall. As a result, water levels in the Gorges of Karijini National Park have been impacted. At present, Dales Gorge - featuring Fern Pool and Circular Pool - is the only location with consistent flowing water. In all other gorges we visit, water is limited to standing pools, many of which are becoming increasingly stagnant due to natural conditions, including algae growth. In line with official guidance swimming is no longer advisable at Hancock, Weano, Knox and Joffre Gorges on departures for the remainder of 2026. We will continue to explore these spectacular locations, but some walking routes may be shortened depending on conditions, and access around certain pools may be restricted where safety is a concern.

Today is a full day of exploration in Karijini National Park. Travel to Hancock Gorge this morning for your first hike of the day. After climbing down a ladder, you’ll walk through the narrow rock passages and shallow pools to the well-known Spider Wall. Weave your way through the tight, twisting gaps in the rocks before arriving at the green waters of Kermit’s Pool. This afternoon, set off on a hike through Weano Gorge. Follow the trail through the towering red walls, along the stepping stones to the Handrail Pool. Spend some time relaxing among the cool rocks or take a dip in the clear waters. The hike at Hancock Gorge is a 1.5km class 5 (difficult) hike, descending a series of solid metal ladders to the gorge floor. From there you wade through cold pools, negotiate rock ledges on the gorge walls and clamber through stony creek beds. You then continue with the so-called "spider walk" (where you stretch your arms and legs out to straddle the gap and move along the walls) to the end of the gorge. Weano Gorge offers a 1.5km class 5 (challenging) scramble over boulders and through narrow passages to Handrail Pool. For the less adventurous, there is an easier option, as the first part of the trail is class 3 (moderate).

After breakfast, you’ll start your journey back towards Cheela Plains. On the way, stop for one final walk at Hamersley Gorge. As you walk, take in the swirling rock formations and the colourful layers of stone. At the bottom, maybe cool off with a swim in the pool or relax under the shade of the trees beside the stepped waterfalls. Then, leave the landscape of gorges and waterfalls behind, and return to your station stay Cheela Plains. When you arrive, enjoy your last dinner with your fellow travellers to celebrate the last night of your adventure. Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. The Hamersley Gorge Walk is a 1km class 4 (moderate-difficult) walk. The Hamersley Waterfall Walk is a 400m class 4 walk.

This morning, travel back to Exmouth, stopping at the Charles Knife Canyon along the way. From the lookout soak up the panoramic views of the surrounding terrain of rocky gullies, narrow gorges, open spinifex (coastal grass) bushland and over the Exmouth Gulf. After lunch at the canyon, you’ll continue to Exmouth, where your trip will come to an end. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time. Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours. Your trip will come to an end upon arrival back into Exmouth at around 3pm. Please take this into consideration when booking your onward flights. On the way into town we can also drop you at Exmouth Learmonth Airport. Swimming with whale sharks is not included in the price of this trip and is an optional activity that can be done after the end of the trip. It is very important that you pre-book any whale shark experiences with a supplier of your choice, as these can sell out far in advance. Keep in mind that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so it’s important to make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip. Please book your whale shark experience for a date after the trip has ended.