This post was originally published in 2015 and has since been updated with more information about visiting the beautiful Karijini National Park.
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Most people have never heard of Karijini National Park. Despite being the 2nd biggest national park in Western Australia and one of the most incredible destinations in all of Australia, its remote location makes it one of the least visited parks in the country. Karijini National Park is located approximately 1400km from Perth, 850kms from Broome and 660km from Exmouth. It’s no small feat, making the journey to this unspoilt outback destination that much more special.
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Much of the southern half of Karijini National Park is inaccessible, so visitors tend to spend their time walking the trails and exploring Karijini gorges, rock pools and lookouts in the north.
Karijini National Park Map
The park is divided into 3 major sections, the Karijini gorges, each more stunning than the other.
Hamersley Gorge
Hamersley Gorge is the most remote gorge within the Karijini National Park. This section consists of one 1-hour walk along the base of the gorge.
Weano Gorge Area
This area is considered to be the section of Karijini National Park that is perfect for adventurous explorers. It is a getaway to 6 different gorges with Weano Gorge and Hancock Gorge being the most popular and the most difficult, Class 5 trails.
Dales Gorge Area
Dale Gorge area is the most popular within the park. It offers great lookouts and it’s easy to get to the Circular and Fern Pools of Karijini that allow you to take in the beauty of the Dales Gorge without a strenuous hike. Alternatively, visitors may choose to embark on a 2-3 hour return walk along the length of the Dales Gorge.
There is absolutely no point in even trying to explain the remarkable scenery at Karijini National Park, so instead, let us show you.
Hamersley Gorge
One of the rock pools at the top of Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National ParkHamersley WaterfallRock pools at the Hamersley Gorge
Weano Gorge
At the start of the Weano Gorge TrailFurther along the Weano Gorge Trail. As you reach the Handrail Pool, the passage gets a lot more narrowAfter descending down a set of steps just beside the waterfall, you end up in the heart of the Handrail Pool. Sit back, relax and admire the beautiful views!
Hancock Gorge
At the start of the Hancock Gorge trail, Karijini National ParkHancock Gorge. This trail is graded as Class 5. You can choose to swim through this narrow passage, take your boots off and walk across, or try to carefully climb the sidesA closer look at the sides of Hancock Gorge. There are quite a few rocks to step on and grab ontoTraversing the Hancock Gorge’s narrow passage. They call this section the Spider WalkKermits Pool inside the Hancock Gorge. One of the most stunning scenes of the Karijini gorgesA beautiful juxtaposition of the graceful yet fragile butterfly along the jagged rocks in Karijini National Park
Dales Gorge
Dales Gorge from up closeFortescue Falls, the iconic landmark in the Dales GorgeDales Gorge trail runs between the Circular Pool and Fern Pool Karijini and is about a 2-3 hour return walkCircular Pool, located on the other end of the Dales Gorge
Essential Travel Info for Visiting Karijini National Park
How to Get There
The easiest way to travel to Karijini National Park is by car, as it will allow you to get around and explore all the parts of the park on at your own leisure. The Karijini National Park is located approximately 1400km from Perth, 850kms from Broome, 660km and from Exmouth.
You can also choose to fly into Karratha, a city in the Pilbara region. It’s an easy 4 hours drive from Karratha to the Tom Price Access Road in Karijini National Park.
A number of day tours to Karijini National Park are also offered from Tom Price Visitor Centre. If you are exploring Western Australia, it is worth a little detour to check out the often over-looked Karijini National Park.
Where to Stay
Due to the remote location of Karijini National Park, accommodation options are limited, but its remoteness is the very thing that makes this place so special. Karijini camping is the main and most popular option when staying at the Karijini National Park.Unpowered campsites are available in Dales Gorge and Weano Gorge (Savannah Campground).
If Karijini camping is a little too rustic for you, then there are more comfortable and luxurious accommodation is also available at the Karijini Eco Retreat located in the Weano Gorge area.
There are no powered Karijini camping sites inside the park and no cell phone reception. Be prepared to go old-school, grab a Karijini National Park map and spend a few days completely unplugged!
BEFORE YOU GO: Don’t forget travel insurance!
We can’t stress enough the importance of travel insurance, especially in a country like Australia. Whether you just plan to explore the cities, do a little bit of hiking, or go extreme (think surfing, scuba diving, or ever skydiving), being protected on your travels is an irreplaceable peace of mind.We learned about the importance of travel insurance the hard way and now we never travel without coverage.
Get a quote through our recommended insurance provider, World Nomads.
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Will you be adding Karijini National Park to your Western Australia to-do list?
Oksana is the Editor-in-Chief, writer and photographer at DrinkTeaTravel.com. Canadian by passport, world citizen at heart, Oksana has lived on four continents and traveled to over 70 countries. Together with her husband, Max, they live an unconventional life, striving for an eco-conscious lifestyle. In her spare time, she can be found in a hammock with a good book and a cup of freshly steeped Earl Grey tea.
5 thoughts on “16 Amazing Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Karijini National Park”
Very nice photos and is Krajini really that colourful? A European couple who does vlogs gave Karajini National Park a score of 7.5 out of ten Looking st your photos Imwould give it a 9
Due to the remote location of Karijini National Park, accommodation options are limited, but its remoteness is the very thing that makes this place so special.
BEFORE YOU GO: Don’t forget travel insurance!
These are beautiful photos!
Thank you, Mary!
Very nice photos and is Krajini really that colourful? A European couple who does vlogs gave Karajini National Park a score of 7.5 out of ten Looking st your photos Imwould give it a 9
We thought the park was spectacular and was definitely worth the journey out there. It was one of the highlights of our time in WA!
Due to the remote location of Karijini National Park, accommodation options are limited, but its remoteness is the very thing that makes this place so special.