Karijini National Park
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Karijini National Park

Difficulty: Trek rating 2 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 2 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD 
Located in the northwest Pilbara region and covering over 6200 square kilometres, Karijini NP is the second largest national park in Western Australia. People from all over Australia and around the world come to marvel at the impressive gorges within the park.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesGreat Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve
Trek
FinishTom Price
Distance290.48 kmMinimum Days2
Average Speed42.4 km/hrDriving Time6 hr 51 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 8 Jan 2009
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 Description

Many consider Karijini along with its harsh and unspoilt natural beauty - a ‘must see’ - being an absolute delight for photographers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts. Karijini National Park is awash with rich earthy red colours and spectacular scenery - famed for its sheer gorges, waterfalls and cool swimming holes. Some of the highlights in this park include: Dales Gorge, Circular Pool, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, and Oxer Lookout, which lies at the junction of Weano Gorge, Red Gorge, Hancock Gorge and Joffre Gorge. Karijini is very well maintained. The park provides plenty of amenities, excellent picnic areas, designated camping sites, modest accommodation, and an informative visitor centre. The park also features a system of walk trails of varying levels, for the beginner to the adventurous, with some trails leading deep into the subterranean gorges and through waterfalls and sparkling rock pools.

Karijini National Park may be isolated, but there are many access routes to get there. From the west you can head towards Tom Price after leaving the North West Coastal Highway near Nanutarra. Those coming in from the east can use the Great Northern Highway from Newman and then onto Karijini Drive. Those coming from the north from Karratha and Roebourne can also take in Millstream Chichester National Park before reaching Karijini. Although many people self-drive to Karijini, many tourists enjoy accessing the park via 4WD tour groups. There are a number of reputable and experienced tour operators that provides this service.

 Interactive Route Map

Great Northern Hwy & Karijini DveKarijini Dve & Banjima DveKarijini Visitor CentreFortescue FallsDales CampgroundDales Rest AreaDales Gorge LookoutCircular Falls and PoolDales Gorge LookoutDales Rest AreaKarijini Dve & Banjima DveKarijini Dve & Banjima DveBanjima Dve & Weano RdBanjima Dve & Kalamina RdKalamina Gorge LookoutBanjima Dve & Kalamina RdKnox GorgeBanjima Dve & Weano RdWeano GorgeKarijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground)Banjima Dve & Weano RdKarijini Dve & Banjima DveRIP LookoutTom Price
Great Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve
Junction for Great Northern Highway and Karijini Drive
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.7016ºE   22.6684ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Distance: 29.34km
Average Speed: 68.94km/h
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Junction for Karijini Drive and Banjima Drive. Leads to Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls, Circular Falls, and Gordon Falls.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.4561ºE   22.5592ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Visitor Centre
Distance: 10.35km
Average Speed: 51.24km/h
Karijini Visitor Centre
The award winning Karijini Visitor Centre, which is built to represent a goanna, features interactive natural and cultural heritage displays, as well as a theatre.
Features: Populated PlacePoint of Interest
Position: 118.4630ºE   22.4810ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Fortescue Falls
Distance: 9.3km
Average Speed: 40.54km/h
Fortescue Falls
Fortescue Falls is located in the Karijini National Park. One of Western Australia's most beautiful parks, which is located in the Pilbara region.
Features: Water Body,River,Stream,FallsPoint of Interest
Position: 118.5409ºE   22.4804ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Dales Campground
Distance: 2.33km
Average Speed: 25.26km/h
Dales Campground
Dales Campground has picnic tables, toilets, firepits, room for caravans, and trails for hiking.
Features: Camp Fee
Position: 118.5521ºE   22.4703ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Dales Rest Area
Distance: 1.01km
Average Speed: 12.47km/h
Dales Rest Area
Dales rest area is not too far from Dales Campground.
Features: P-Bay
Position: 118.5514ºE   22.4754ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Dales Gorge Lookout
Distance: 0.37km
Average Speed: 33.27km/h
Dales Gorge Lookout
10 minute flat walk from campground, then steep descent to gorge floor, left to Circular Pool or right into main gorge and Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. Circular Pool Lkt is 250m N.
Features: GorgeWalk Track Point of Interest
Position: 118.5552ºE   22.4752ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Circular Falls and Pool
Distance: 0.75km
Average Speed: 34.59km/h
Circular Falls and Pool
Circular Falls and Pool is within Dales Gorge.
Features: Water Body,River,Stream,Falls
Position: 118.5627ºE   22.4765ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Dales Gorge Lookout
Distance: 0.75km
Average Speed: 34.59km/h
Dales Gorge Lookout
10 minute flat walk from campground, then steep descent to gorge floor, left to Circular Pool or right into main gorge and Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. Circular Pool Lkt is 250m N.
Features: GorgeWalk Track Point of Interest
Position: 118.5552ºE   22.4752ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Dales Rest Area
Distance: 0.37km
Average Speed: 33.27km/h
Dales Rest Area
Dales rest area is not too far from Dales Campground.
Features: P-Bay
Position: 118.5514ºE   22.4754ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Distance: 17.6km
Average Speed: 58.51km/h
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Junction for Karijini Drive and Banjima Drive. Leads to Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls, Circular Falls, and Gordon Falls.
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.4561ºE   22.5592ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Distance: 38.56km
Average Speed: 74.92km/h
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Junction for Karijini Drive and Banjima Drive
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.0968ºE   22.5702ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Distance: 25.59km
Average Speed: 45.98km/h
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Junction for Banjima Drive and Weano Road
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.2520ºE   22.4099ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Distance: 13.15km
Average Speed: 45.33km/h
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Junction for Banjima Drive and & Kalamina Road
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.3592ºE   22.4361ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Kalamina Gorge Lookout
Distance: 5.93km
Average Speed: 38.8km/h
Kalamina Gorge Lookout
Near to Kalamina Gorge Lookout is Kalamina Falls
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 118.4008ºE   22.4163ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Distance: 5.93km
Average Speed: 38.8km/h
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Junction for Banjima Drive and & Kalamina Road
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.3592ºE   22.4361ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Knox Gorge
Distance: 15.92km
Average Speed: 30.82km/h
Knox Gorge
Near Knox Gorge, there are lookout points, an information post, and hiking trails
Features: GorgePoint of Interest
Position: 118.2965ºE   22.3705ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Distance: 8.44km
Average Speed: 29.7km/h
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Junction for Banjima Drive and Weano Road
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.2520ºE   22.4099ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Weano Gorge
Distance: 12.82km
Average Speed: 39.17km/h
Weano Gorge
Northernmost of the three gorges which meet below Junction Pool lookout. Easy class 2/3 loop walk and then challenging class 5 into Handrail Pool. Class 6 beyond = abseil/rockclimb into Red Gorge
Features: GorgeWalk Track Point of Interest
Position: 118.2880ºE   22.3560ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground)
Distance: 11.53km
Average Speed: 32.98km/h
Karijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground)
Privately owned by Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, this campground was formerly known as Savannah Campground in Karijini National Park.
Features: Camp Fee
Position: 118.2628ºE   22.3863ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Distance: 4.65km
Average Speed: 24.26km/h
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Junction for Banjima Drive and Weano Road
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.2520ºE   22.4099ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Distance: 25.59km
Average Speed: 45.98km/h
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Junction for Karijini Drive and Banjima Drive
Features: Junction,Intersection,Turn Off
Position: 118.0968ºE   22.5702ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: RIP Lookout
Distance: 32km
Average Speed: 65.36km/h
RIP Lookout
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Point of Interest
Position: 117.8960ºE   22.6771ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tom Price
Distance: 18.22km
Average Speed: 70.45km/h
Tom Price
Tom Price is a mining town built in the mid 1960's to service the nearby Hammersley Mine. Located at the western edge of Karijini National Park.
Features: Populated PlaceService Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 117.7877ºE   22.6941ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

Entry and camping fees apply for Karijini National Park. Many tourists take advantage of the Holiday Park Pass or Annual All Parks Pass, which entitles the bearer to visit more than one national park in Western Australia. These can be obtained from WA CALM (Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management) and ExplorOz who are proud to be official agents for the complete range of WA CALM permits.

The Holiday Park Pass allows unlimited vehicle entrance into any fee paying national park for a period of four weeks.
The Annual All Parks Pass allows unlimited vehicle entrance into any fee paying national park for a period of 12 months.

For more information on fees and camping, please contact:
Karijini National Park Visitor Centre
Phone: (08) 9189 8121
Fax: (08) 9189 8113
Website: Karijini National Park - Visitor Centre

Tom Price Visitor Centre
Phone: (08) 9188 1112
Fax: (08) 9189 1441

There is also some good information including entry fees and camping fees on the DEC website.
Click for: Department of Environment and Conservation - Karijini National Park

 Things to See & Do

Dales Gorge Lookout - WA   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Gorge Walk Track Point of Interest
10 minute flat walk from campground, then steep descent to gorge floor, left to Circular Pool or right into main gorge and Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool. Circular Pool Lkt is 250m N.
Circular Falls and Pool - WA   
Water Body,River,Stream,Falls 
Circular Falls and Pool is within Dales Gorge.
Fortescue Falls - WA   
Water Body,River,Stream,Falls Point of Interest
Fortescue Falls is located in the Karijini National Park. One of Western Australia's most beautiful parks, which is located in the Pilbara region.
Weano Gorge - WA   
Gorge Walk Track Point of Interest
Northernmost of the three gorges which meet below Junction Pool lookout. Easy class 2/3 loop walk and then challenging class 5 into Handrail Pool. Class 6 beyond = abseil/rockclimb into Red Gorge
Tom Price - WA   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Tom Price is a mining town built in the mid 1960's to service the nearby Hammersley Mine. Located at the western edge of Karijini National Park.
Karijini Visitor Centre - WA   
Populated Place Point of Interest
The award winning Karijini Visitor Centre, which is built to represent a goanna, features interactive natural and cultural heritage displays, as well as a theatre.
Kalamina Gorge Lookout - WA   
Point of Interest 
Near to Kalamina Gorge Lookout is Kalamina Falls
Knox Gorge - WA   
Gorge Point of Interest
Near Knox Gorge, there are lookout points, an information post, and hiking trails
RIP Lookout - WA   
Point of Interest 
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Preparation

If you decide to tackle any of the walks within the park, please take great care. The gorges can be extremely hazardous and many of them are only recommended for people that are physically fit. You must notify a ranger before starting any of the longer walks.

Make sure you have all the necessary gear including good sturdy hiking shoes, adequate water and food, a navigational device such as a handheld GPS unit, and communications equipment such as a PLB and/or handheld UHF radio.

Take care in the gorges as rocks are smooth and slippery, especially during wet weather. If you are hiking overnight, let a responsible person know. Flash floods can occur in the region so always be vigilant of the weather. Do not enter the gorges if there is rain in the area. If you happen to already be in the gorges during signs of rain, you should leave quickly and safely.

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolTom Price Diesel4cyl 41 litres ULP4cyl 47 litres LPG4cyl 58 litres
6cyl 45 litres6cyl 52 litres6cyl 51 litres
8cyl 47 litres8cyl 48 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.

Best Time To Visit

Ideal time to visit is late autumn, winter and early spring. Winter days are warm and clear, nights may be cold and frosty. Summer has unpredictable rainfall and can reach over 40 degrees Celsius.

Closest Climatic Station

Wittenoom
Distance from Trek Mid Point 34.78km N
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 39.637.836.733.0 27.624.424.126.6 31.035.238.039.5
Mean Min. °C 26.025.324.321.1 16.112.811.413.2 16.820.623.625.4
Mean Rain mm 103.6109.373.030.0 28.828.714.89.3 2.53.78.050.2
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Tom Price

 Camp Sites & Accomodation

Karijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground) - WA   RatingRatingRatingRatingRating
Camp Fee 
Privately owned by Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, this campground was formerly known as Savannah Campground in Karijini National Park. It offers comfortable, furnished eco tents with en-suites or traditional campsites for pitching the tent, parking the camper or caravan (generators allowed).
Dales Campground - WA   
Camp Fee 
Dales Campground has picnic tables, toilets, firepits, room for caravans, and trails for hiking.
Tom Price - WA   
Populated Place Service Station,Roadhouse Caravan Park Fuel Water Supply Toilet Pub Food,Shopping Camp Fee Police Station Medical Services Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Tom Price is a mining town built in the mid 1960's to service the nearby Hammersley Mine. Located at the western edge of Karijini National Park.

 Environment

In the northern section of Karijini National Park, numerous small creeks hidden in the rolling hillsides suddenly plunge into sheer-sided chasms up to 100 metres deep. These spectacular albeit dangerous gorges widen further downstream and their sides change from sheer cliffs to steep slopes of loose rock. On the eastern side of the park, Dales Gorge provides a stream, pools, and waterfalls.

There are various types of ferns and the occasional snappy gum can be seen perched on rocky ledges. Wildflowers vary with the seasons, whilst in the cooler months, the region is covered with yellow-flowering cassias and wattles, northern bluebells and purple mulla-mullas.

Karijini National Park is home to a variety of birds, red kangaroos, euros, rock wallabies, echidnas and handful a bat species. Reptiles that frequent the rocks include: goannas, dragons, geckos, legless lizards, pythons and many other snakes. There are also huge termite mounds to be seen and you may even find a rock pile from the rare pebble mound mouse.

 History

Karijini National Park is the traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people. The Banyjima name for the Hamersley Range is Karijini and evidence of their early settlements dates back over 20,000 years ago. During those times, Aboriginal land management practises such as ‘fire stick farming’, which describes the practise where fire was used regularly to burn vegetation to facilitate hunting and to change the composition of plant and animal species in an area.

Before Karijini National Park was coined, explorer Francis Thomas Gregory had named it Hamersley Range after leading a party into the region in 1861. Edward Hamersley was a friend and generous supporter of F.T. Gregory’s explorations, and thus had the mountain range named after him.

 Driving Directions

Time
Direction
Distance
Great Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve 29.34 km NW 296° 25 min
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Karijini Visitor Centre 10.35 km N 12 min
Karijini Visitor Centre to Fortescue Falls 9.3 km E 89° 13 min
Fortescue Falls to Dales Campground 2.33 km NE 45° 5 min
Dales Campground to Dales Rest Area 1.01 km S 197° 4 min
Dales Rest Area to Dales Gorge Lookout 0.37 km NE 67°
Dales Gorge Lookout to Circular Falls and Pool 0.75 km E 100° 1 min
Circular Falls and Pool to Dales Gorge Lookout 0.75 km W 280° 1 min
Dales Gorge Lookout to Dales Rest Area 0.37 km SW 247°
Dales Rest Area to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve 17.6 km SW 227° 18 min
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve 38.56 km W 268° 30 min
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd 25.59 km NE 42° 33 min
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd 13.15 km E 105° 17 min
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd to Kalamina Gorge Lookout 5.93 km NE 63° 9 min
Kalamina Gorge Lookout to Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd 5.93 km SW 243° 9 min
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd to Knox Gorge 15.92 km NW 319° 30 min
Knox Gorge to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd 8.44 km SW 226° 17 min
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Weano Gorge 12.82 km NE 32° 19 min
Weano Gorge to Karijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground) 11.53 km SW 218° 20 min
Karijini Eco-Retreat (formerly Savannah Campground) to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd 4.65 km SW 203° 11 min
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve 25.59 km SW 222° 33 min
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to RIP Lookout 32 km SW 240° 29 min
RIP Lookout to Tom Price 18.22 km W 260° 15 min
Great Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve to Tom Price 290.48 km     6 hr 51 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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What Others have Posted

ant_o_1984 : 23 Feb 09 19:26
hello people, i am traveling to Karinjini National Park in a week...

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 Page Sponsors

Karijini Eco Retreat Karijini Eco Retreat Premium Listing
Looking for luxury AND an authentic outback experience? Hidden in the depths of the Karijini National Park close to Joffre gorge, the Karijini Eco Retreat is a unique and ecologically sound development offering quality up market tented accommodation, campsites & caravan sites plus a number of on-site facilities and tours options.
KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK   KARIJINI, WA, 6751
Phone: (08) 9425 5591
More info | Website | Driving Directions