A photo essay of arguably one of the most picturesque Outback locations in the country. The Pilbara region up in north-western Australia is a place like no other in the entire world. It has everything that four-wheel drive adventurers…
A photo essay of arguably one of the most picturesque Outback locations in the country.Â
The Pilbara region up in north-western Australia is a place like no other in the entire world. It has everything that four-wheel drive adventurers need. Stunning scenery, remoteness and above all, it’s a fantastic place for you to spend a few weeks exploring over 500,000 square kilometres of off-road paradise.
Take a look at the images over the next few pages and tell us you don’t want to get out there. We’re already planning our next trip!
CLICK HERE for images and to read in the Unsealed 4X4 magazine.
1 The Pilbara has some of the most spectacular red rock escarpments you’ll ever lay eyes on. This is hard to put into words, but it truly has to be seen to be appreciated. The red earth viewed against the brilliant blue sky and vivid green plant life is seriously something else.
2 The low annual rainfall of the area means that introduced weeds don’t do well out here, but the hardy acacia trees and spinifex grasses absolutely thrive; and even more impressively, they are spaced so that they look like some sort of manicured garden rather than one of the most remote areas of bushland on the planet. Animals are in abundance too, with a wide variety of endemic species able to be seen in their natural habitat… making the trip out here thoroughly rewarding.
3 The rock formations of the Pilbara are simply fantastic, and there’s no shortage of gorges and older-than-time rocky tunnels to explore – usually accompanied by crystal clear swimming holes and waterfalls that are straight off a postcard. Karijini National Park offers numerous locations to explore and soak up the area, with gorges that require you to ‘spider-walk’ down the rocky crevasses. It’s an experience like no other and really allows you to appreciate the magnitude of this ancient area.
4 This may sound odd coming from a sustainable, touring 4X4 magazine, but thanks to the mines, the roads out in this part of the world are so well maintained you could drive a Prius down them (although we don’t recommend it). While this is not exactly what we usually look for in an off-road destination, it does mean that towing a camper trailer or caravan out here is easily done. Good roads can make the trip way less tiring (and easier on your vehicle and trailer).
5 The Batavia and Kimberley Coasts are what dreams are made of if you enjoy your beaches, fishing and water activities. Soft white sand, brilliant blue water, plenty of marine life and almost nobody around. What could be better?
These are the kinds of places where you could easily spend a month or two without even realising how long you’ve been gone. Stress is a word that just doesn’t exist out here.
