Karijini National Park: A Natural Wonder in Western Australia

Attractions in Karijini National Park

With its endless steppe landscapes and some of the most breathtaking gorges we’ve ever seen, Karijini National Park serves up one highlight after another.

We were unfortunately here for far too short a time — after all, Karijini is a whopping 627,000 hectares and the second-largest national park in all of Australia. Only some parts of the park are accessible at all, but they’re more than enough to keep you busy for a few days or even longer.

In a day and a half, we at least had the chance to visit some of the most important things to see in Karijini National Park. And that was enough to make it one of the most beautiful places in the world for us.

Our top picks are covered in this section, along with everything else worth seeing in the park.

Dales Gorge

Dales Gorge is one of the most well-known gorges in Karijini National Park, and nearly every visitor passes through here.

Within Dales Gorge there are several highlights. We started with Fortescue Falls. There’s a parking lot nearby, from which it’s only about a ten-minute walk.

The waterfall itself isn’t particularly spectacular. The real appeal is mainly the surrounding gorge with its many layers of rock.

If you walk a few more minutes past Fortescue Falls, you’ll reach Fern Pool.

Fewer visitors make it all the way there, even though this trail is not difficult. Here you can also take a swim and even enjoy a cool shower under a waterfall.

If you want to view Dales Gorge from above, definitely stop at the Dales Gorge Lookout — the panorama is seriously worth it.

Hancock Gorge

Hancock Gorge was our personal favorite in Karijini National Park.

Plan about three to four hours for the hike into the gorge. You start by climbing down a ladder, which is fine even if you’re not great with heights.

To reach the picturesque Kermit Pool, you have to walk through water. At first the water is just above knee height, but it gets quite deep further along.

You can either swim a short stretch or edge your way along the walls. Since we had our cameras with us, we chose the wall route. It’s not easy, but we managed to stay dry all the way to the end and back.

Heads up: If you don’t want to get wet, make sure you edge as low as possible along the walls. That way, if you slip, you won’t fall far.

The effort is absolutely worth it. Kermit Pool at the end is stunning and a great spot for a little refreshment. The passage through the narrow Spider Walk is also a truly memorable experience.

Oxer Lookout and Junction Pool Lookout

These two lookouts sit right next to each other and rank among the most beautiful viewpoints in the park. Some even say they’re among the best vantage points in all of Australia.

The view is truly breathtaking. At Junction Pool Lookout, the raw power of nature is on full display like almost nowhere else in Karijini National Park.

This is where three gorges meet: Weano Gorge, Hancock Gorge, and Red Gorge.

Knox Gorge Lookout

From here you have a fantastic view into Knox Gorge. There’s a viewing platform where you can safely peer straight down into the gorge.

Joffre Gorge

Another standout in Karijini National Park is Joffre Gorge. We admired it only from above — from the Joffre Gorge Lookout — the platform you can see in the first photo is on the opposite side of the gorge (just drive the Joffre Road all the way to the end). We were there around sunset. Simply magical!

Joffre Gorge is located right behind the Karijini Eco Retreat, the only place to stay within the national park.

From the viewing platform you also get a good look at the spot where you can descend into the gorge on the other side. The full round trip takes about two hours. The last 150 meters are very steep and challenging — the rest of the trail is quite manageable.

Mount Bruce

Mount Bruce is the second-highest mountain in Western Australia. Since Australia’s west is generally very flat, it only takes 1,234 meters to claim that title.

If you want to climb Mount Bruce, set aside a full day for it. The total trail is about nine kilometers long, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning vista over the surrounding landscape.

Starry Sky over Karijini

One of our absolute favorite moments in the park was the starry sky above it all. Up to that point, the most beautiful starry sky we’d seen was at Jasper National Park in Canada.

Karijini was actually even a notch more impressive. With no cities, no street lights, or any other light pollution for miles around, it gets truly pitch dark at night.

You can see the Milky Way with the naked eye, and in Karijini you’re almost guaranteed to spot stars you’ve never noticed before.

The Karijini Eco Retreat offers stargazing tours several times a week, giving you the chance to look through telescopes at the night sky.

Similar tours are also available at the Dales Gorge Campground.

Accommodations and Camping in Karijini

There aren’t many options for spending the night in Karijini National Park. You have three choices:

1. Staying at the Karijini Eco Retreat
2. Camping within the national park
3. Lodging in “nearby” towns

Whatever you choose: book as early as possible. Overnight capacity is limited, and when it’s full, it’s full.

Karijini Eco Retreat

There are no hotels in Karijini National Park. The only “proper” accommodation is the Karijini Eco Retreat, where we also stayed.

The Karijini Eco Retreat offers 50 large tents, all equipped with a comfortable double bed, a private bathroom, a patio, a table, and seating.

Each tent is powered by its own solar panel, which runs a lamp and an outlet. The property also includes a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The tents are well-equipped and you’re right in the middle of nature. The starry sky above the tents is simply breathtaking, and the morning sunlight is no less impressive.

As the only place to stay in the national park, the Karijini Eco Retreat comes at a price — one night in a glamping tent starts at around €200. It’s cheaper in the off-season.

If you’re not traveling with a camper van, the Eco Retreat is definitely the best option location-wise.

That said, we can’t recommend it without reservations. The atmosphere is relatively cool, the blaring music in the restaurant feels completely out of place, and the food quality is rather mediocre for the prices charged.

The Eco Retreat is by no means bad, but you can tell that it’s not run with passion. That’s a shame, really, because the concept itself is great.

Book the Karijini Eco Retreat

Camping in Karijini National Park

There are two campgrounds in Karijini National Park. The simpler and more affordable of the two is the Dales Gorge Campground. There are no showers here, only toilets. On the plus side, you get to sleep under an incredible starry sky in a gorgeous setting.

The second option is the campground at the Karijini Eco Retreat. It has 82 sites in total with no power hookups, but with showers and an on-site restaurant.

Staying in Nearby Towns

Talking about “nearby” towns in Western Australia is a bit of a stretch. The closest town is Tom Price, about 100 km and a one-and-a-half-hour drive west of the Visitor Centre in the national park.

The town has only one motel, which unfortunately has terrible reviews. An alternative is the Tom Price Tourist Park, which offers campsites and basic cabins.

Getting to Karijini

Karijini National Park is truly in the middle of nowhere. From Perth, it’s about 1,400 km away. The nearest small town, Tom Price, is 100 kilometers away.

To the north, it’s 370 kilometers to the city of Port Hedland.

To the west of Karijini lie Coral Bay, Exmouth, and the Ningaloo Reef — about 650 kilometers away. We drove that route and stopped overnight at Cheela Plains Station along the way, which we highly recommend.

The nearest airport to Karijini National Park is in Paraburdoo. Qantas runs daily connections from Perth to Paraburdoo.

You can rent a car there, but you’ll need to return it to the same location. One-way rentals are not available (at least during peak season).

From Paraburdoo to Karijini it’s just under two hours of driving — by Australian standards, that’s practically around the corner.

Safety in Karijini National Park

As beautiful as Karijini is, it’s not entirely without risks. This is mainly due to the carelessness of some visitors, which repeatedly leads to serious injuries and even fatalities.

With common sense and a bit of caution, a visit to the national park is a safe experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Always wear sturdy shoes when hiking in the gorges. Hiking boots are ideal, and regular sneakers will do in a pinch. Flip-flops, however, are definitely not a good idea. If you’ll be hiking through water (e.g., in Hancock Gorge), we highly recommend water shoes.

2. Never enter the gorges when it’s raining. Flash floods occur regularly and can sweep away hikers or make trails impassable. If it starts raining heavily, head back quickly.

3. Never climb anywhere that is not explicitly permitted. The gorges are often made up of ancient sandstone layers, not solid rock. Stones can break off easily and send climbers plunging down.

4. In some areas there are signs warning of naturally occurring, cancer-causing asbestos deposits in the gorges. Generally this is harmless, as the asbestos is firmly locked within the rock. If you see exposed asbestos veins (they’re blue), stay away from them.

5. Always bring plenty of drinking water and sunscreen. You’ll need both!

Tips and Info for Karijini National Park

Here are a few practical tips and pieces of information for your visit to Karijini National Park.

Best Time to Visit Karijini National Park

The peak season in Karijini National Park runs from April to October. During this time temperatures are lower, the sun shines during the day, and it’s usually pleasantly warm.

Evenings get noticeably cooler, though. From July onward it can even get quite cold, so warm blankets are a must.

The best time to visit is probably May and June. It’s not too cold in the evenings yet and pleasantly warm during the day. The pools still have enough water for swimming at this time of year, and the risk of rain is minimal.

During the rainy season between December and March, a visit to Karijini National Park always carries a very high risk of rainfall. Some gorges may be off-limits due to recurring flash floods.

Park Entry Fee

As with all national parks in Western Australia, entry to Karijini National Park costs 17 AUD (€10) per vehicle. The fee is paid either at the park entrances or at the Visitor Centre.

If you’re visiting multiple national parks on your trip through Western Australia, the Holiday Pass might be worth it. It starts at 30 AUD (€18) and is available for 5 days, two weeks, and four weeks.

The Visitor Centre also provides plenty of information and maps for the park — well worth a stop when you arrive.

Internet and Cell Service

For a long time, Karijini National Park was one big dead zone. Wi-Fi was only available at the Visitor Centre.

Since then, mobile carriers Optus and Telstra have installed small cell towers at a few spots in the park, including at the Visitor Centre and the Eco Retreat. If you have a SIM card from either of them, you’ll get cell and internet reception in certain spots. The internet is quite spotty and not particularly fast.

Driving in the National Park

You don’t need a 4WD to get around the national park. If you have one, the drive is obviously more comfortable, but a regular car will get you by just fine.

Many roads are unpaved, but still firm enough that regular vehicles have no trouble. It’s also possible to enter the park with a camper van or motorhome.

There are no gas stations in the national park, however. The nearest gas station is in Tom Price, 100 kilometers away. Make sure you fill up there before heading in.

Guided Tours in the National Park

We spent a day exploring Karijini National Park with Pete West. Pete is a true character, and we had a fantastic time with him.

He has been offering tours in the national park for many years and has founded his own company: The Flying Sandgroper.

We honestly can’t recommend Pete highly enough. You can book one of his ready-made tours or have a custom tour tailored entirely to your wishes.

Visit The Flying Sandgroper

Our Verdict

Karijini National Park was the absolute highlight of our trip through Western Australia. We recommend planning at least two to three full days in the park — and honestly, you could easily fill more.

We’ve rarely seen such beautiful light and such a breathtaking starry sky as we did in Karijini. Photographers will absolutely love it here.