If I am being honest, I found Karijini National Park when I mistyped Kalbarri. A small mistake that led to a great adventure. We were planning a trip from Perth up to Exmouth and Karijini quickly became part of our plans. We did not have a four wheel drive and we were not sure about heading too far into the outback.
Undeterred, we found The Flying Sandgroper Tour (the Hoppa Bus) and joined them in May 2025 for a few days in Karijini. It turned out to be an amazing choice.
The route
The Flying Sandgroper tour runs a loop that starts and ends in Exmouth. As we were driving up from Perth and already planned to visit Coral Bay, we decided to skip one day and night from the loop.
Day 1
The bus usually departs from Exmouth but Pete and the team kindly collected us from Bullara as it was more convenient. We left our car there and jumped on board, storing our larger bags at the back of the bus.
We stopped at Nanutarra Roadhouse and then travelled on to Cheela Plains. Nanutarra would also be a good pick up point for others.
Cheela Plains is a rugged and beautiful area with open land stretching for miles. There are a couple of short walks you can do, one down to a cave which takes about ninety minutes return, and another up to the sunset point which I would highly recommend. The cave walk is quieter but still nice to stretch your legs.
We had chosen to camp and brought our own tent, so we set up before heading out for our walk. Others stayed in rooms or semi permanent tents which looked like great value.
Cheela has a small restaurant that can be busy so booking ahead helps. We cooked at the camp kitchen while some others used the fire pit for a barbecue.
The team are very good at arranging different pick up and drop off points so it is worth asking if you have a more convenient spot in mind.
Day 2
We packed up early and were on the road by seven thirty. We stopped in Tom Price to collect a few day passengers and had about an hour of free time. We had brought our food so went for a short walk in the bush behind the town. Tom Price is quite unique, a small place shaped by mining but with its own charm.
After regrouping we headed to Hammersley Gorge where we spent about three hours. There is not much walking but you can swim a little way down the gorge and sit in a small natural waterfall pool. I would suggest bringing a book or podcast as it is a lovely spot to relax.
We then returned to Tom Price Tourist Park, dropping a few people in town. We had about ninety minutes of free time and took a walk towards Mount Nameless though we did not have enough light to reach the top.
That evening we met again at six thirty and went to Wanawari Lodge for a buffet dinner. It was great value and a fun evening with our group.
Day 3
This was my favourite day of the tour as there was more flexibility. We enjoy walking so were glad to have the choice to do a bit more.
We started at Weano Gorge and Handrails Pool, exploring both. The loop walk took under two hours at a medium pace. It is not difficult but not suitable for anyone with mobility issues. We did not swim as the water was stagnant but the scenery was amazing.
Back at the bus we enjoyed a welcome cup of tea or coffee before continuing.
Our next stop was Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. We went for another walk and swam at the second pool. The walk took about ninety minutes and was easier than the morning one. The schedule is tight so it helps to keep a steady pace to allow time for a swim.
That night we stayed at a rustic camp set up for the Sandgroper team. There were portable toilets and no running water but it was a beautiful place. We got up at two in the morning for stargazing and it was magical, with shooting stars and even a meteor shower.
If you bring your own tent, make sure you have a thick sleeping mat as the ground is very hard.
Day 4
The final day was a long drive from camp back to Bullara. We stopped a couple of times for food and drinks but mostly drove through. We left the group at Bullara while they continued on to Coral Bay. We drove the hour up to Exmouth for a well deserved shower.
Need to know, food and drink
There is a fridge on the bus for storing food but space is limited so plan accordingly. There is also water on board but I recommend bringing at least two litres per person and topping up when possible at Cheela or Tom Price. There is no drinking water in the park and it can get very hot.
On day one there are few food stops. You can grab lunch from Bullara or Nanutarra but I suggest packing dinner or booking at the Cheela restaurant. Breakfast is often included with rooms but bring your own if camping.
On day two you pass through Tom Price which has a Coles and bakery. This is the best place to restock. We went out for dinner as a group and it was excellent value.
On day three you might not pass through town again so pick up supplies earlier. The team cooked a barbecue for us but vegetarian options were limited so plan ahead if needed.
On day four there are no shops until Bullara which offers pizza and a few other options.
On day five there is a small shop and bakery in Coral Bay. We had already spent time there but it is worth a visit.
Opinions
Overall I enjoyed the tour but there was a lot of time on the bus – kind of inevitable in this area. One of the guys who was using the Integrity Coaches pass had the best option in my opinion. Joining us for the legs out of Tom Price which were by far the two best days, then continuing his journey onto Broome. If I was doing it again I would probably do this. If you have a car and are willing to drive to Tom Price, that’s another option, or you can fly in/ out of Karratha which one couple did, heading back to Perth.
For us on our schedule, trying to sandwich this in a little last minute, this was the right option.
In terms of the actual tour, the team are lovely and I’m very glad we did it. Are there things I’d change and recommend? Yes, but that’s personal preference.
The one other thing I’d add is that we saw the Kimberly Safaris bus a few times and that seemed incredibly well organised and like they were having an absolute blast. It’s a longer, and more pricey tour by some margin but if you’re looking for something broader I recon it’s worth a chat.
