Karijini National Park

The basics

Part of the rugged Hamersley Range, Karijini has been inhabited by the Banyjima, Yinhawangka, and Kurrama Aboriginal people for over 30,000 years. Now a protected national park, it is famous for being the home of the second-highest peak in Western Australia, Mt Bruce. Accommodation options include camping at Dales Gorge Campsite and glamping at Karijini Eco Resort. They can be very popular, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Due to its remote location—and the fact some of the gorges are over 70 miles (113 kilometers) apart—Karijini is best explored over a few days. Popular activities include hiking, climbing to the summit of Mt. Bruce, swimming, canyoning, and camping. You can also join a 4WD tour, try glamping under the stars, or enjoy unrivaled views of the park on a scenic flight.

Things to know before you go

• Karijini has very limited amenities and services—the nearest fuel station is over 50 miles (70 kilometers) away—so you’ll have to bring plenty of fuel, food, cash, and water.

• While Karijini enjoys pleasant winter temperatures, it can get very cold at night so remember to pack warm clothes and layers.

• Karijini Visitor Centre and some of the rim walks are fully accessible for wheelchairs, but much of the park’s gorges, waterfalls, and pools are inaccessible for people with limited mobility.

• Many of Karijini’s hikes include ladders, steep descents, and scrambles. Do follow any safety instructions, wear proper hiking shoes, bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen (especially in the summer), and stay as safe as possible—the limited accessibility means any rescue attempts can take hours.

How to get there

Located just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, Karijini National Park is 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) northeast of Perth—or about 14 hours of non-stop driving. You can also fly into Paraburdoo, Newman, Tom Price, or Karratha. A lot of the park’s roads are unsealed, so a 4WD is the easiest way to navigate, especially in the rainy season. Joining a tour is a great way to avoid all the hassle of self-driving.

When to get there

The best time to visit Karijini National Park is during the cooler autumn and winter months (April to September). School holidays are also very popular times to visit Karijini, so you’ll want to plan ahead to snag a campsite. June to September see the park filled with colorful wildflowers and purple mulla mulla. During the summer months, Karijini can be subject to flash flooding as well as cyclones—if it starts raining, you should leave gorges and pools as quickly as possible.

Exploring the gorges of Karijini National Park

Karijini National Park is so jam-packed with hikes, gorges, and waterfalls that it can be tough to squeeze them all in. A popular place to start is Dales Gorge, home to Fortescue Falls—Karijini’s only year-round waterfall—and Fern Pool, one of the park’s most accessible swimming spots. The Spa Pool in Hamersley Gorge is another fan favorite, although true adventurers won’t want to miss Hancock Gorge, where you can ’spider walk’ your way through a rocky channel to the emerald waters of Kermit’s Pool.