Karijini National Park is located in Australia’s North West and is accessible from Tom Price, Roebourne, Port Headland or Newman. The National Park is Australia’s second largest National Park and has been formed through erosion out of rock that is over 2.5 billion years old. The NP is full of incredible gorges, swimming holes, waterfalls & rock-formations.
The park is the traditional home the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people. When visiting this park please respect it. The Banjima Cultural Rules within Karijini NP ask that you please do not throw any objects into the groges or pools, and do not take materials from the park. They ask that you are careful & respectful around the water, springs & gorges as they have deep cultural significance. Please respect the park by observing all park signs.
Where is Karijini National Park located?
Karijini is a 14.5 hour drive from Perth City, or a a 7.5 hour drive from Exmouth. We travelled to Karijini from Exmouth on our lap of Australia. We would recommend stopping in Tom Price to fill your water tanks & stock up on groceries before going to the National Park as there is no access to food there.
How much does it cost?
- Park entry fees: $15.00 per vehicle or $8.00 concession
Things to be aware of:
- The nearest fuel is over 80km from Dales Campground at Munjina Roadhouse or Tom Price.
- No pets are allowed in this National Park.
Where to stay?
- Dales Campground: These campsites are in high demand from June – September and we recommend booking in advance. You can book online at Department of Parks and Wildlife WA. If there is no sites available, there is also an overflow campground, however, this also fills up very quickly.
- The cost of Dales Campground is $11 per adult or $7 per concession and $3 per child. You will also need a parks pass for each vehicle. We usually purchase the Annual Parks Pass for Western Australia which works out to be better value as it gives you access to all parks in WA for a year.
- If you are unable to find a campsite, don’t stress, there are a few free camps on wikicamps just outside the National Park which you could day-trip in from.
Karijini National Park Itinerary:
Day 1: Hancock & Weano Gorge
- Junction Pool & Oxer Lookouts: This is an easy 800m return walk.
- Upper Weano Gorge: This is a walk for experienced bushwalkers and includes short steep sections with no steps. It is a 1km return walk.
- Lower Weano Gorge: This is for very experienced bushwalkers. The trail includes steep, irregular steps to the bottom of the gorge. You will be required to walk through water & the rocks can be slippery. It is a 1km return walk.
- Hancock Gorge & Kermits Pool: This is for very experienced bushwalkers with a high level of fitness & agility. You will need to negotiate uneven rock steps & descend to the gorge floor. You will be required to walk through water & over slippery rocks. The trail ends at Kermits Pool. It is a 1.5km return walk. We would recommend visiting first thing in the morning as this gorge gets VERY busy & can get conjested.
- Head back to camp & watch the sunset at Fortescue Falls Lookout
Day 2: Joffre & Knox Gorge
- Joffre Lookout: This walk is a short 100m return, with rock steps that take you down to the lookout.
- Joffre Falls: This is a 3km return walk and bushwalking experience is recommended. The walk follows the route down to the bottom of the gorge where the beautiful waterfall is.
- Knox Lookout: This is an easy 300 metre walk return. This is a beautiful spot to view in the morning or late afternoon light.
- Knox Gorge: This is a 2km return trip which requires bushwalking experience. You will be required to climb down the gorge, which is uneven and can be slippery. You will need to climb arond the edges of pools of water and mjust turn around once you reach the “Gorge Risk Area”. This was our FAVOURITE gorge in the National Park. It seems to be one of the quieter gorges and is quite large so you are able to get space between other bushwalkers to enjoy the beauty of the gorge. The colours and formations of this spot will amaze you.
Day 3: Dales Gorge
- Fortescue Falls: The walk down to the Fortescue Falls is a short 800m return and some bushwalking experience is recommended.
- Fern Pool: Once you have reached Fortescue Falls you can then walk upstream to reach Fern Pool, which is an additional 300m return.
- Dales Gorge: This walk is for experienced bushwalkers and links one end of the gorge to the other. This trail has limited signs & has obstacles & uneven terrain. The walk is 2km return.
- Circular Pool: This walk is for experienced bushwalkers. The walk is 800m return and has many obstacles & some ladders that need to be navigated.
- Gorge Rim: This walk is around the top of Dales Gorge and gives amazing biews of the gorge from above. It is an easy 2km return and some bushwalking experience is recommended.
We would recommend moving campgrounds to a free camp that is located outside Hamersley Gorge.
Day 4: Hamersley Gorge
- Hamersley Waterfall: This walk is a short 400m with steps taking you down to the gorge where the waterfall is.
- Take a floaty with you and float down the gorge to the left after visiting the waterfall.