Welcome to Karijini National Park, certainly one of Western Australia’s most breathtaking outback locations and Western Australia’s second largest nationwide park.
If you’re trying so as to add one thing ‘out of the box’ to your Australia bucket record or to street journey by a much less in style however no much less mind-blowing vacation spot… you’re in the best place.
This greatest issues to do in Karijini National Park journey information is about to get your Australia wanderlust flowing! I went final 12 months and it was insane. You’ll see what I imply from the pictures alone on this Karijini journey information. Karijini National Park is a distant location certainly however that’s what makes it so magic. It’s actually an intimate expertise with the pure great thing about the Australian outback.
You could have seen the photographs of the dramatic crimson gorges, pure swimming holes, and historical landscapes? Yup, Karijini National Park just isn’t wanting distinctive adventures. There are so many unimaginable trails, drives and experiences to select from.
This information will make it easier to navigate the most effective issues to do in Karijini National Park, the place to remain in Karijini National Park, and what to not miss in Karijini National Park – if (when) you make it right here.
Without additional ado…
Our street journey by Karijini National Park was a part of a ten day street journey itinerary by Western Australia, beginning and ending in Perth. We began the drive north after choosing up our motorhome in Perth after which reduce inland at Geraldton, the place we made a beeline for Karijini. Post Karijini National Park we headed west to Exmouth earlier than cruising down the coast again to Perth!
See my high ideas for planning a Western Australia street journey right here.
We additionally recorded a YouTube video with all our ideas and highlights in from the journey. Watch it right here:
How to get to Karijini National Park
Located within the Pilbara area, aka Australia’s wild northwest, Karijini is distant for positive however very accessible. Here are your choices…
Driving from Perth:
Most street trippers touchdown to Western Australia will land and choose up a campervan in Perth (like we did). Karijini is then a 14 hour drive (1,500km) north from there. It’s not the closest however in case you’re searching for off-the-grid exploration and an actual as soon as in a lifetime journey – don’t write it off due to the gap… hear me out!
Flying in:
Visitors selecting to fly in sometimes fly into Paraburdoo Airport, which is 100km from Karijini within the nearest city of Tom Price. Then after all like anyplace in Australia, you’ll must hire a car.
Choosing your car:
A 4WD car is strongly really helpful in your Karijini National Park journey, as some roads and greatest issues to do in Karijini National Park are solely accessible by way of unsealed tracks. That is in case you’re the sort of traveller that desires to do it ALL!
We didn’t have a 4WD for our go to, we had been in a motorhome. We nonetheless managed to get to some beautiful Karijini National Park highlights however there have been positively a few locations we needed to write off that we might have in any other case liked to go to.
For instance, in case you’re touring by motorhome, locations like Hancock Gorge are off-limits on account of tough, unsealed, slim roads (unsuitable for bigger automobiles). With a motorhome you’ll want to stay to sealed or well-graded roads and also you’ll wish to test your rental insurance coverage too to be clear what roads you’re insured to drive on!
It’s positively nonetheless price doing with a motorhome however simply bear in mind there will probably be some restrictions. See a map of the sealed / unsealed roads under.
Where to remain in Karijini National Park
Inside the park itself you’ve got two most important choices:
- Karijini Eco Retreat: This glamping website provides up the choices of eco tents, cabins and campsites that are all nestled amongst native bushland on the fringe of Joffre Gorge (Jijingunha). Additionally there’s an outback restaurant and bar. Click right here to guide.
- Dales Campground (cheaper choice): Located proper within the National Park this camp spot provides 153 gravel floor pitches and is inside shut proximity to Dales Gorge, Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls and Circular Pool (a number of the greatest spots). This is a motorhome-friendly choice with fundamental facilities (showers and so forth) within the close by guests centre. You can guide as much as 180 days upfront – $15 per grownup per evening.
Outside the park:
- Tom Price: Offers quite a lot of resorts and caravan parks, appropriate for motorhomes and travellers searching for extra facilities. One you could possibly take a look at is Tom Price Tourist Park.
Best Time to Visit Karijini National Park
The greatest time to go to is autumn – early spring (between April and October), when the climate is gentle and excellent for mountaineering. However it is very important be aware that the gorge swimming pools could be relatively chilly throughout this era.
Did You Know? Winter mornings in Karijini could be surprisingly chilly, typically dropping under 5°C, so pack layers in case you select winter (June – August).
On the opposite… in case you go to Karijini National Park in the course of the summer time (November–March) it might probably carry excessive warmth and doable flooding, which can restrict entry to sure trails and areas.
In the summer time, you additionally get the rain so there may be excessive threat of flash flooding. Note: you can not go within the gorges when it’s raining, and the possibility of street closures are excessive so this might create some delays in your journey.
In the summer time you additionally must plan your hikes for very first thing within the morning as a result of the noon warmth is nearly insufferable reaching 40degrees each day.
We visited in early December and it was certainly very very popular, with fortunate no flooding. A perk of visiting on the finish of the season is that we felt we had Karijini National Park to ourselves which was loopy particular. The gorge swimming pools had been stuffed with water to swim in and the water was heat (sufficient).
But sure, mountaineering was sizzling and so was sleeping in our motorhome with no a/c. We solely stayed one evening – undecided we may have managed many extra!
Note: Karijini Visitor Centre is closed from early December to early February annually.
1. Hike and Swim at Dales Gorge
This simply accessible gorge is ideal for each motorhome travellers and 4WDs alike.
There are loads of choices to select from relying in your mobility and power ranges! Park up at Fortescue Falls carpark to discover:
- Fortescue Falls viewing space (flat stroll, 15 min return)
- Dip in Fortescue Falls: Descend 400m, swim after which climb again up (depart an hour)
- Dip in Fern Pool: 300m detour from Fortescue Falls to this tranquil oasis.
- Circular Pool: A hidden gem nestled on the finish of the gorge.
If you’re in search of a much bigger hike, we did the Gorge Rim Walk mixed with the Dales Gorge Walk Trails which is a 5.1km loop path within the Karijini National Park, beginning and ending at Fortescue Falls carpark.
You’ll comply with the rim of Dales Gorge all the best way to Three Ways and Circular Pool Lookouts, earlier than descending into the gorge. From right here your comply with the Dales Gorge Trail to Fortescue Falls, take a dip (doubtlessly extending the stroll to discover Fern Pool) earlier than returning and climbing again as much as the Fortescue Falls automobile park to complete.
Travel tip:
Keep a watch out for rock-wallabies and native birds just like the spinifex pigeon. The swimming pools are additionally surrounded by historical ferns and gum bushes, including to the serene ambiance.
2. Explore Hancock Gorge (4WD Only)
Located throughout the Weano recreation space, Hancock gorge is for these with a starvation for journey. The difficult spider stroll entails scrambling by slim rock partitions, resulting in the beautiful Kermit’s Pool.
To entry, enter the park by the Western entrance.
You’ll stroll by water, scale the rocks and as you go deeper into the gorge, the crimson rock partitions get narrower and narrower which is the place you’ll modify your climbing type and also you’ll expertise the place the well-known Spider Walk will get it’s identify.
Fun Fact: Hancock Gorge is nicknamed the “amphitheater of the outback” due to its acoustics and towering partitions, which create a dramatic and echoing surroundings.
Get lifetime entry to my countless hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the most effective locations to eat, drink, loosen up and discover within the space. You merely open the Google Map in your gadget and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.
3. Discover Hamersley Gorge (4WD Preferred)
Hamersley Gorge is an accessible gorge for 2WD, although it’s an unsealed street so permit further time for the drive (from reminiscence the roads is in want of grading and was very bumpy). A 4WD if typically preferable.
I’m so completely satisfied we may entry Hamersley Gorge thought as a result of the long-lasting layered rock formations and swimming holes, within the sundown gentle had been past beautiful.
The automobile park is simply 200m from the gorge and it’s solely a 1-1.5km hike down and again as much as get pleasure from a dip in between the traditional power of those crimson rocks.
Fun truth: The swirling rock layers right here at Hamersley Gorge date again over 2.5 billion years and supply perception into Earth’s early historical past. It’s one of the crucial photogenic spots within the park, simply check out my pictures under…
4. Visit Weano Gorge
Weano Gorge is a favorite amongst travellers for its easy-to-moderate trails, accessibility and the well-known Handrail Pool, which requires solely a brief descent into the gorge. The most important entry factors are motorhome-friendly (phew) however having a 4WD once more supplies that further flexibility for parking nearer to trailheads.
Be positive to take a look at:
- Junction Pool Lookout
- Junction Pool
- Upper Weano Gorge Trail (1km)
- Oxer Lookout
- Hancock Gorge – Kermit’s Pool path (1.5km)
- Hancock Gorge – Kermit’s Pool path (1km)
Note: This gorge is dwelling to distinctive flora like ghost gums and spinifex grass, in addition to lizards basking on the sun-drenched rocks.
5. Take time to look as much as the celebrities
Karijini’s distant location makes it a main spot for some stargazing. Staying at Karijini Eco Retreat or Dales Campground offers you the right likelihood to admire the evening sky beneath the Milky Way.
Did You Know? Karijini lies in one of many least light-polluted areas of the world, making its evening skies a number of the clearest you’ll ever see.
6. Do the Joffre Falls stroll path
I’d actually wish to return to do that one as I’ve heard this stroll in Joffre Gorge is likely one of the greatest issues to do in Karijini National Park.
From what i’ve learn, the hike is deceptively straightforward up till the rim of the gorge. Here it turns into more difficult as you descend down into the underside of the gorge. But for these agile and adventurous there are rewards await. Views of the amphitheatre-like panorama, the cascading waterfall and the aid of a dip within the swimming pools under to call just a few.
Get it in your Karijini National Park bucket record!
Other ideas and issues to notice:
- FOOD AND WATER – There are minimal assets throughout the park itself so be sure to plan forward for meals and water provides.
- FUEL – Similar etiquette to most of WA, be sure to are stuffed up with gasoline earlier than you enter the park. Tom Price is your nearest replenish.
- PHONES – Signal was far and few between so be sure to have all of your necessities downloaded!
- VISITOR CENTRE – The employees listed here are nice in case you want recommendation / assist planning your trails and so forth. They even have some necessities to buy.
- RUBBISH – There are not any garbage bins throughout the park, so carry garbage baggage with you. Also be sure to don’t depart your garbage baggage exterior in a single day – we learnt our lesson and spent the morning cleansing it up!!
They won’t be the most effective issues to do in Karijini National Park however they’re important components of conserving Karijini National Park as stunning as it’s.
Karijini National Park is actually an out of doors adventurer’s dream, whether or not you determine to reach in a rugged 4WD or a motorhome. Because of it’s crazily distinctive landscapes, Karijini is the sort of vacation spot you’ll keep in mind without end.
Is there anything you’d add to the most effective issues to do in Karijini National Park bucket record?
Have any questions or ideas of your individual? Leave them within the feedback under, we’d love to listen to from you.
Get lifetime entry to my countless hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the most effective locations to eat, drink, loosen up and discover within the space. You merely open the Google Map in your gadget and all my pins are on the contact of your fingertips.