Ultimate Guide to Karijini National Park: Everything You Need To Know
If there’s one place in Western Australia that completely blew us away, it’s Karijini National Park. Hidden deep in the Pilbara, this rugged red-earth landscape feels like another planet. With dramatic gorges, crystal clear swimming holes, beautiful hikes and epic camping spots, it’s the kind of place you’ll keep on talking about.
We spent two weeks exploring everything that Karijini has to offer. We hiked almost every trail, swam in every pool we were able to, and camped in almost every possible spot you can find in and around the national park. So if you’re planning a trip, this guide is everything we wish we knew before going. Consider it your go-to plan for an unforgettable adventure in Karijini.
Not keen on reading? We also made a YouTube video that gives you a visual peek of the gorges, hikes and camping areas.
Know Before you go
There are a few things worth knowing before you visit Karijini National Park:
Karijini Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre is located just off Banjima Drive on the eastern side of the park. It’s open from 9am to 4pm (March to November), with shorter hours in the hotter months. Sometimes it even closes between December and February, so plan ahead.
Park Permits
You’ll need a WA parks pass to enter. There are daily or annual passes available and you can purchase them online.
Camping permits
Planning to stay inside the national park? You’ll need an additional camping permit. These can also be booked online.
Bring Supplies
Tom Price is the last proper town to stock up on groceries, fuel and water. The national park does have water, but it’s untreated. Make sure you boil or treat it before drinking. The Visitor Centre also sells bottled water.
Safety
Weather can change quickly in the Pilbara. Flash floods are a real risk in the gorges, so always check conditions with the Visitor Centre. If it rains while you’re down there, you’ll need to head out straight away.
Phone Reception
Don’t expect much reception. Here’s where you might get some bars:
- Telstra: Karijini Visitor Centre, Karijini Eco Retreat, Mt Bruce and Hamersley Gorge
- Optus: Karijini Visitor Centre, Karijini Eco Retreat and Dales Campground.
Rubbish
There are no bins in Karijini, so take all rubbish with you. Long-term campers can use a rubbish trailer located 2 km east of the Visitor Centre. Check in with them before using it.
Size
Karijini National Park is huge! It’s the second largest National Park in WA. Distances between gorges, campsites and lookouts can be much bigger than they look on the map, so give yourself plenty of time to get from A to B. It’s easy to underestimate just how spread out everything is, especially when you’re trying to mix in hikes and photo stops along the way. Planning ahead will make your trip way more relaxed.
Karijini National Park Map
Where is Karijini National Park located?
Karijini sits in the heart of the Pilbara region is Western Australia, about halfway between Perth and Broome. It’s closest to the mining town Tom Price, which is about an hour drive from Karijini. At Tom Price, you’ll find a Coles to stock up with groceries, you can refill your water here, and there are showers available at the visitor centre for a small fee.
This national park gives you the real outback vibe. It’s remote, vast and absolutely stunning. It’s one of the best natural wonders WA has to offer.
How accessible is Karijini National Park?
The good news is that Karijini is 2WD accessible!
From Perth, it’s a 14-15 hour drive (around 1400 km). Most people break the trip up over a few days, combining it with other Pilbara highlights or Exmouth.
If you’re coming from Broome, it’s about 10-11 hours (around 1000km).
Do you need a 4WD?
Not really, but, as always, it makes life a lot easier. Many of the main roads in the national park are sealed. The dirt tracks to Hamersley Gorge and Kalamina Gorge are sometimes 4WD only, depending on weather conditions. Most of the best spots at the free camps are only accessible with a 4WD. When we visited in July, the dirt roads were heavily corrugated with a few washouts. Conditions change throughout the season. Best tip? Always check road conditions with the visitor centre. You can either give them a call or hop in before entering the park.
What’s the best time to visit Karijini National Park?
Karijini is in the outback, so weather extremes are real. And don’t forget about the flies…they can test your patience.
Best months: April to September, and very few flies (at least when we went in July) These months are cooler and drier. It’s prime hiking and camping weather, with daytime temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees, but the nights are cold. We had single digit mornings, waking up in two degrees and frost.
I would avoid the summer months (December to March). Temperatures will go over 40 degrees! It’s also cyclone season which can cause flooding, and I can imagine there will be a lot more flies.
If you’re planning hikes or swims, I would aim for winter or shoulder season.
How many days do you need?
If you’re short on time and want to see the highlights only, you can do it in 3-4 days, but ideally, I would recommend 5-6 days if you want to fully experience this natural wonder and do more than just the big name gorges.
- Short trip (3-4 days): Focus on Weano Gorge, Hancock Gorge and Dales Gorge.
- Recommended trip (5-6 days): Add Hamersley Gorge, Joffre Gorge, Kalamina Gorge and Mt Bruce.
Trust me when I say that Karijini is not a place to rush. Chances are low you’ll visit this remote national park again. Every gorge is unique, so give yourself the time to really enjoy it.
Where to stay?
Camping is the most popular way to stay in Karijini, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
Dales Campground (run by Parks & Wildlife):
Basic but well-located near Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls. Basic amenities include drop toilets, no showers. You can shower at the Karijini National Park Visitor Centre for a small fee.
Karijini Eco Retreat
A more comfortable option with glamping tents, cabins, and unpowered campsites. There are showers here, plus a licensed restaurant and bar.
Free camping outside the park
If you’re self-contained and you really want the full outback experience, free camping is the way to go. There are a few incredible options just outside the national park if you don’t mind a little drive. And honestly, these were one of the best free camps we’ve ever come across when travelling Australia.
We created a full rundown of camping options in our Camping in Karijini Guide.
Which gorges and hikes to prioritise?
This is the big question! Karijini is packed with incredible gorges. Each one is unique, but here are the highlights:
Hancock Gorge
Our favourite one… The entire trail is an adventure. The iconic spider walk leads you to Kermits Pool, it’s fun and a must do when you’re exploring the national park.
This is a Class 5 hike, where you’ll need to descend ladders to the gorge floor and hike downstream to Kermits Pool. There are numerous natural obstacles, and hiking through water will be required.
Weano Gorge
Experience the spectacular views at Oxer Lookout, or walk the upper Weano Gorge (1km return) or go on another adventure to the famous handrail pool. When we visited handrail pool in July, it was stagnant and we weren’t allowed to swim here, hence the reason why it’s not part of our favourite gorges.
Knox Gorge
If you want to see how the power of water can shape landscapes, this should be on your list. Incredibly impressive, unreal colours and less crowded. You’ll need to rock scramble next to a very deep and cold pool. If you want to see Knox Gorge from above, you can! Knox Lookout gives you stunning views and geological interpretation.
Joffre Gorge
A natural amphitheatre with a seasonal waterfall. There was no water running when we were there, but it was still pretty impressive to just sit and watch. You can either enjoy the view from the lookout, or cross the Joffre Creek when the water is not flowing strongly. You’ll need to descend some steep stairs to enter the gorge.
Dales Gorge
See the tranquil sunken gardens, deep sedge-fringed pools and permanently cascading waterfalls. Here you’ll also find Fortescue Falls, Circular Pool and Fern Pool. A must visit and only walking distance from Dales Campground.
Hamersley Gorge
This gorge has dramatic colours, textures and reflections. And the Instagram-famous Spa Pool. Even though it’s a bit out of the way, I’d highly recommend it.
Kalamina Gorge
A great introduction to the gorge system with its delightful trail and a picnicking area. This Class 4 hike is a 3km return and one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve done in the national park. Descend the steps into the gorge to explore the waterfall upstream. You’ll hike on lemon-scented grass beside the stream, and you may see fish in the rock pools. The trail ends at Rock Arch Pool, which is a beautiful place to soak in the beauty before returning. Even though there wasn’t enough water for us to swim, it was still one of the most beautiful trails we’ve done.
Mt Bruce
A long 9km and challenging return hike, but a must do. Being the second largest mountain in Western Australia, it’s a bucket list item for many. A lot of people are doing this hike for sunrise, but we would argue that with a west facing trail, an afternoon hike is the way to go. We started at 2pm, reached the top at 4pm and walked down while seeing the sunset. Mt Bruce was lighting up completely on our way down and it was truly magical. I would never do it for sunrise. The path is also very uneven, and doing it in the dark must be extremely hard.
We’ve written a full blog where we dive into the best ones: Top 5 Karijini Gorges and Pools.
How difficult are the hikes?
Hikes in Karijini range from Class 2 (easy) to Class 5 (challenging). Here’s what it means:
- Class 2-3: shorter walks, relatively easy with some steps.
- Class 4: a bit more demanding, often with some rock hopping
- Class 5: technical and challenging, expect some climbing, water crossings and narrow ledges.
Even if you’re not super fit, you’ll still find plenty of accessible gorges and lookouts to discover. Personally, we found the Class 5 hikes weren’t as intimidating as the signs made them sound. But it’s all about common sense. Wear proper shoes, take your time and stay safe.
Things to do Karijini national park
Besides hiking, there are a few other things to do in Karijini National Park.
Swim in natural pools
If you’re into ice baths, you’re in for a treat. The coldest pool we plunged into was Kermits Pool. Fern Pool was fresh, but still pleasant for a swim.
Photography
The red rocks are spectacular in any light, but with sunrise and sunset, the colours light up and it becomes a photographer’s dream.
Stargazing
With zero light pollution, Karijini’s night skies are incredible. You’ll surely spot the milky way and might see some shooting stars when camping.
Wildlife spotting
Keep an eye out for dingoes, rock wallabies and heaps of birdlife.
Are dogs allowed in Karijini National Park?
Sadly, no. Like most national parks in Australia, dogs aren’t permitted in Karijini.
Is Karijini National Park worth visiting?
Without a doubt: yes! It’s one of the most unique places in Australia. The combination of ancient gorges, crystal clear waterholes and the remoteness makes it unforgettable.
Karijini is not the kind of place you stumble upon. You’ve got to make an effort to get here, plan it properly and you’ll understand why it’s so special.
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