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Karijini & Millstream NPs
Rather than take the bitumen access route to the National Parks why not use our trek note to travel alongside the Hamersley Iron Railway.

This trek is located in the Pilbara region.

Start Finish Distance Min Days Rating
Karratha Tom Price 200 2 Trek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 1.5 of 5 - Click for details
» Description
» Preparation
    Fuel Information, Best Time to Visit
    Permits, Supplies/Facilities
» Things to See & Do
» Driving Notes
» Waypoints
» Related Shop Items
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1 Plot
Researched By ExplorOz - Michelle Jacka   Latest Update 18 Nov 2005

 Description


Mud Map


The usual access to Millstream and Karijini National Parks is via the Roebourne Wittenoom Road, which heads south off the North West Coastal Highway 28km east of Roebourne (68km east of Karratha). Overall this road is more reliable and less hard wearing on your tyres that the route we are about to describe here. Karijini is also reachable via the Great Northern Highway which breaks away to the south just 45km west of Port Hedland.

But if you are at the coast and looking for a shortcut from Karratha into Karijini or are looking for a the most scenic route, then you can't miss this wonderful opportunity to travel along the Hamersley Iron Railway Access Road.

You will need to arrange a permit, available from Karratha and Tom Price Visitors Centres. See the Permits Page for more information. The permit is a formality so they know who's in the area as its a private road. You will be provided with with a detailed map, showing side tracks and entry points to the National Parks.

The service road runs almost alongside the railway track although it cuts through the mountain ranges in places. There is no need to engage 4WD although the terrain is hard on tyres and can be scoured if there have been heavy rains. There are plenty of opportunities to watch a passing train (some up to 1km long) on route from the Tom Price mine to Dampier where thousands of tonnes of iron ore is exported to sea. You will come to a number of level crossings so beware!

The Railway Access route takes you directly to Millstream-Chichester National Park or, as you will see from your mud map, you can bypass this turn-off and go direct to Karijini National Park. Our recommendation is to allow a day or two to explore Millstream, especially Crossing Pool, where you can enjoy cool river swimming besides an idyllic camp under the trees.

Millstream-Chichester offers excellent visitor information, free gas barbeques and hotplates and a historic station with relics and collectibles.


Hammersely Gorge and Joffery Gorge


Once you enter the Karijini National Park, be sure to stop at Hamersley Gorge. Upstream is the "Spa Pool" and below is a delightful green tunnel that you can swim and laze about in (as pictured above). Many people don't bother with this gorge as it is more out of the way if coming from the Roebourne Wittenoom Road and entering Karijini from the other end. However, if you are travelling near the end of the season and temperatures are hot, you will appreciate that the walk to this gorge is definitely the shortest and least difficult of all in Karijini and the water below is permanent and lush. (No camping).

There are 2 main camp areas in Karijini, with Dale's Gorge and camp ground a good base from which to explore the eastern side of the park - Dales Gorge, Fortesque Falls, Fern Pool and Circular Pool. There is a very long ridge walk or you can choose to walk down into the gorge for a day of swimming. This area is extremely hot at the best of times and there are no trees to offer any shade. Late in the dry season it is dusty and unpleasant so long walks are not advised. Many visitors select just one gorge and head off early, returning after the heat of the day has passed.

If the season is particularly hot you can still get a full appreciation of this magnificent area by viewing the gorges from the many lookouts on the ridge top. Late in the wet season, the gorges would be full and the long walks offering cool respite would be perfect.

Joffre, Knox, Weano and Hancock Gorges are all quite close together and there is another camp ground here, similar to the one at Dales.

You can depart Karijini on Karijini Drive either to the west to Tom Price or east to pick up the Great Northern Highway 197km north of Newman.

If you want to head to the coast, take the bitumen road direct to Tom Price (about 70km), where you can fully restock as it's a large centre and possibly stay for a day to take in a tour of the massive Tom Price mine. All tours are handled from the Visitors Centre in town.

From Tom Price you can either take a trip out to Paraburdoo, the residential part of Tom Price or head up to Onslow or Exmouth on the West Australian Coast.

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies

None

Best time to visit

Mid dry-season (too early and its humid, too late and its dusty and gorges are drying up)

Permits

Permission must be sought from the Hammersly Iron office before entering the route. Park entry and camping fees apply at Millstream and Karijini.

Supplies/Facilities

Karratha, Dampier, Tom Price, Paraburdoo

 Things to See & Do

Gorges

 Driving Notes

We need new driving notes for this trek note. See our How to Submit a Trek Note page.

 Waypoints

WaypointDescriptionTypeLongitude
WGS84		Latitude
WGS84
57421 Mount Nameless Populated Place, , Mountain,Peak,Hill, Place Name, Point of Interest117.762040ºE22.718160ºS
76863 Mount Bruce Mountain,Peak,Hill118.140570ºE22.606280ºS
76918 Fortescue Falls Point of InterestN/AN/A
77098 Joffre Gorge, Karijini National Park Camp Fee, Gorge, National Parks,Reserves, Pass,Gap, Toilet, Track,Road, Walk Track118.283333ºE22.350000ºS

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