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 have only gotten better with age – over 2500 million years, to be exact. Throughout this time, sediments were overlaid, creating immense pressure and transforming into tough rock. Today, the park measures around 627,44 hectares, making it the second largest national park in Western Australia, and home to Hammersley Gorge. It’s not uncommon to see beautifully coloured layers of rocks as you walk down the 400m 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 quick dip in the gorge pool!