Stone structure in Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park, Australia

© Frank Krahmer/Corbis Documentary/Getty Image

A beautiful mess. One of Australia’s hidden treasures

Much like a fine wine, the evolution of the landscapes in Karijini National Park has only gotten better with age – over 2,500 million years, to be exact. Throughout this time, sediments were overlaid, creating immense pressure and transforming into tough rock. Today, the park measures around 62,744 hectares, making it the second largest national park in Western Australia, and home to Hammersley Gorge. It’s not uncommon to see beautifully colourful layers of rocks as you walk down to the gorge floor. Many of these rocks have bent and buckled as they pushed their way to the surface – creating stunning natural works of art. Once you make it to the bottom, you can even go for a cheeky dip in the gorge pool!