Camping in Karijini – 5 Best Campsites, Free Camps & Where to Stay

So, you’re thinking about camping in Karijini? Honestly, you couldn’t have picked a better spot. Camping in Karijini is hands down the best way to experience this part of Western Australia.

With dramatic red gorges, crystal clear swimming holes, and plenty of hiking trails, Karijini National Park is one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve landed on another planet. And the best part? The campgrounds here are next level, and most of them are FREE!

We spent two weeks camping in Karijini, exploring every gorge, swimming hole and hike, and testing out almost every camping option. After all that, I can safely say that camping in Karijini is one of the best experiences we’ve had on the road in Australia. You can choose a campground inside the national park with facilities, or enjoy a campfire at a free camp with million-dollar views. No matter what you’re looking for, I’m sure you’ll find it in Karijini.

➤ If you haven’t planned your trip yet? Start here: Complete Guide to Karijini National Park

➤ Planning a bigger trip or a lap around Australia? Check out our Western Australia Travel Guide.

Let’s dive into the details so you can start planning your camping trip to Karijini.

Know before you go

Before choosing where go camping in Karijini, here are a few things that matter:

Phone reception

Coverage is patchy in Karijini National Park, but you’ll get Telstra service at the Karijini Visitor Centre, Karijini Eco Retreat, Mt Bruce and Hamersley Gorge.

Rubbish

There are no bins in the park, so you’ll need to take all your rubbish with you.

Water

There’s a water tank on Banjimi Drive East near the Dales Gorge turn-off. The water isn’t treated, so make sure you boil it or use purification tablets. You can also buy bottled water at the visitor centre. Ideally, you fill your water tanks and bring enough water from the nearest town, Tom Price.

Karijini visitor centre

I’d always recommend dropping into the Visitor Centre first when you arrive at a national park. They’ve got handy maps, info on trail conditions and the last park updates. The Karijini Visitor Centre is open from 9am to 4pm, March to November.

Campground bookings

Dales Campground is one of the most popular campgrounds in Karijini National Park, and can book out quickly during peak season. If it’s fully booked, don’t give up straight away. Cancellations do happen.

We’ve recently started using Schnerp, which monitors campsite cancellations and emails you the moment a spot becomes available. You still need to be quick once you receive an alert, but it’s much easier than checking the WA Parks website every day.

Once you’ve created your alert, you’re all set. The first few alerts are free, so you can try it out before deciding it’s right for you. If you choose to continue, Bush and Bay readers get 10% off with the code BUSHANDBAY.

Insurance

Karijini is the second-largest national park in Western Australia, and while most of the park is easily accessible, a few tracks are accessible only by 4WD. If you have a 4WD, I’m sure you want to go off the beaten track. Take a close look at your vehicle insurance before you leave. Not every policy covers off-road driving, and the last thing you want is to find that out the hard way. We chose Club 4X4 insurance because they cover that kind of travel, which gives us the confidence to explore everything that Karijini has to offer.

Camping in Karijni National Park

If you want to be as close as possible to the heart of the park, then staying inside Karijini is the way to go. There are only two official campgrounds within the national park: Dales Campground and Karijini Eco Retreat.

Dales Campground (Great location)

We stayed at Dales Campground because it’s perfectly located near Dales Gorge, Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. You can literally wake up, make a coffee and be hiking within minutes. That being said, I’ll be honest… It wasn’t our favourite.

For starters, because it’s a national park campground, campfires aren’t allowed. We visited in July when evenings were getting to single digits, so sitting around without a fire wasn’t quite the camping vibe we were hoping for. On top of that, it was peak season, and the sites were packed one after another. With 153 campsites available, it felt very busy.

Dales campground info

• $15 per adult per night
• 153 campsites split into zones
• No-flush toilets and a dump station
• No showers (but you can pay for showers at the Karijini Visitor Centre)
• Park entry fee also applies

More information and bookings can be done online at the official National Parks’ website.

Karijini Eco Retreat

The second option inside the park is the Karijini Eco Retreat. We haven’t stayed here, but friends of ours did and loved it. Especially the licensed bar. It’s more of a glamping-style setup with permanent tents and safari-style accommodation, but they also have unpowered campsites. It’s located near Joffre Gorge, which makes a great base if you’d rather explore that side of the park.

➤ Plan your stay with our 3- to 7-Day Karijini Itinerary.

Free camping in Karijini

First of all, there’s no free camping within the national park. But if you’re willing to drive a little, you’ll find some of the best free camps in Australia just outside the boundaries of the National Park. Honestly, after trying both, I’d pick free camping over the national park sites any day.

The free camps give you more space, more freedom (fires included), and a real red dirt outback vibe. If you’re fully self-contained, this is hands down the way to go camping in Karijini.

Here are our favourite free camping spots around Karijini, you’ll find them on WikiCamps:

Tiger Eye near Tom Price

This one was probably our favourite overall. While it’s not right next to Karijini, it’s perfect as either the starting point or the finale to your Karijini adventure. Located just 20 minutes from Tom Price, it’s the ideal stop to stock up on fuel, water, and supplies before heading into the park.

The campsite itself is surprisingly scenic, with those classic Pilbara views of red dirt and spinifex. We spent a couple of nights here unwinding and getting ready for the next part of our travels.

Note: there’s no mobile phone reception here.

Buddha’s overnighter

If you have Hamersley Gorge on your list (and trust me, you should), this is the place to stay. Hamersley gorge is a little out of the way compared to other gorges in Karjinii, and a lot of travellers skip it because of the distance. But it’s home to the famous Spa Pool, one of the most photogenic natural pools in Australia. So yes, it’s 100% worth the drive.

Buddha’s Overnighter is only five minutes away from the gorge itself, making it the perfect base. We camped here the night before and hit Hamersley Gorge first thing in the morning. Having the place to ourselves for a while before the crowds arrived was absolute magic.

➤ Combine this with planning the gorges and pools you want to visit.

Going Overland (Near Mt Bruce)

If you’re planning to tackle Mt Bruce, the second highest peak in Western Australia, this is where you’ll want to stay. The hike itself takes up almost your entire day, and camping nearby makes it much easier to either get there early, or find a place to stay overnight after sunset.

➤ Add Mount Bruce to your itinerary.

Karijini Free camp (Best base camp)

Location wise, this one wins. It’s about a 20 minute drive from the visitor centre and is the ideal base to explore most of the main gorges in Karijini. There were so many beautiful spots to choose from. If you have a 4WD, head up the hill for the best spots with incredible views. Plenty of room to spread out, campfires are allowed and that proper outback vibe. We stayed here the longest and used it as our base for the eastern side of the park.

What is Camping in Karijini really like?

If you’re picturing total silence and solitude, just be aware that Karijini is a popular travel destination, especially in the dry season (May to September). You might find some peace and quiet at the free camps, but inside the park it can feel a bit busy during peak times. Exploring the gorges and swimming holes early in the morning is the way to go.

That being said, it’s still one of our favourite places we’ve explored in Western Australia. Waking up early, putting those hiking shoes on, icebaths, and being surrounded by one of the most incredible landscapes in Australia. One day you’re spider walking through Hancock Gorge, the next day you’re floating in Fern Pool, and in the evening you’re watching the milky way shine bright above camp.

Camping in Karijini is the best way to truly experience this place. You’re not just passing through, you’re living in it. It gives you the full outback experience.

Where should you go camping in Karijini?

Short trip of 2 to 3 days:

• Stay at Dales Campground OR Karijini Free Camp
• Add Buddha’s Overnighter if you’re doing Hamersley Gorge

4 – 6 Days

• Base at Karijini Free Camp
• Move to Buddha’s Overnighter for Hamersley Gorge

Longer Trips

• Mix free camps with Dales Campground or Karijini Eco Retreat
• Add Going Overland when hiking Mount Bruce

➤ For proper planning (permits, best time to visit, etc.), read the complete guide to Karijini National Park.

What should you bring when camping in Karijini?

Luckily, because we’re lapping around Australia, we brought everything we have. But if you’re just visiting, here are a few things you need to know before you go camping in Karijini:

Bring warm gear

Even in winter the days can be warm, but the Pilbara is known for its cold nights. We even had 2 degree mornings and the frost symbol appeared in our car.

Stock up in Tom Price

There are no shops once you’re in Karijini National Park. The nearest town is Tom Price where you’ll find a Coles and fuel.

Firewood

Fires aren’t allowed inside the national park, but you can have a nice campfire at the free camps. You can get firewood from Mitre 10 at Tom Price. If you’re planning on having a fire, just use a bit of common sense. Always check the local fire restrictions first, only light up in designated spots, and never leave it unattended. Whenever you head off or go to bed, make sure it’s completely out.

Don’t skip the lesser know gorges

Everyone goes to Dales Gorge and Hancock, but places like Kalamina Gorge and Knox Gorge are just as jaw-dropping, far less crowded and definitely worth exploring

Allow time

Two or three days isn’t enough. We stayed almost two weeks and it still felt like it was rushed. If you want to do the hikes properly and don’t feel rushed, give yourself at least 5 to 7 days.

➤ For full itinerary planning, read our 3- to 7-Day Karijini Itinerary.

If you’re on the fence about camping in Karijini, let me just say: do it!
This part of Western Australia is unlike anywhere else in the country. The red cliffs, crystal clear pools and the outback skies at night, I guarantee you, you don’t want to leave. The Pilbara is something magical.

For us, the free camps were just incredible. They are spacious, you can make a campfire, and the raw Pilbara outback experience just made it an unforgettable experience. Wherever you decide to stay, camping in Karijini is an experience you’ll be talking about for years..

Plan your Karijini Trip

➤ Full Guide: Karijini National Park,

➤ Explore the highlights: Top 5 Gorges & Pools

➤ Find the Karijini itinerary that suits you best.

➤ Plan your route across the state: Western Australia Travel Guide

FAQs about Camping in Karijini

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