Karijini National Park

StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesGreat Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve
FinishTom Price
DifficultyDifficulty 2/5
Suitable For4WD 
Distance339.8 km
Minimum Days2
Average Speed42.02 km/hr
Travel Time8 hrs 5 mins
Page Updated: 29 Dec 2017

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.

How to Use this Trek Note

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TIP

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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.

TrekID: 174

Preparation

MUST READ: You are strongly encouraged to read the following articles prepared by the knowledge experts at ExplorOz for your safety and preparation before undertaking any published ExplorOz Trek - Outback Safety, Outback Driving Tips, Outback Communications, and Vehicle Setup for the Outback.

TIP

Please refer to Road Reports published by the local shire and/or main roads for the area you intend to visit. Road/Track conditions can change significantly after weather events. Travellers must be responsible for their own research on current conditions and track suitability.
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.

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 DePAW (Department of Parks and Wildlife). 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 website.

Fuel Usage

DieselULPLPG
4cyl 48 litres4cyl 55 litres4cyl 68 litres
6cyl 52 litres6cyl 62 litres6cyl 60 litres
8cyl 52 litres8cyl 56 litres
Usage is averaged from recorded data (* specific to this trek) 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

Tom Price
Distance from Trek Mid Point 48.66km W
 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C38.335.934.231.627.623.523.025.529.133.635.637.8
Mean Min. °C23.022.320.617.612.08.07.28.511.416.118.921.8
Mean Rain mm82.395.560.430.920.425.316.810.82.44.410.940.7
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Map

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Directions

Great Northern Hwy & Karijini Dve to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Driving: 29.34 km
Heading: 296°
Avg Speed: 68.94 km/hr
EST Time: 25:32
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Karijini Visitor Centre
Driving: 10.35 km
Heading:
Avg Speed: 51.24 km/hr
EST Time: 12:07
Karijini Visitor Centre to Fortescue Falls Lookout
Driving: 9.3 km
Heading: 87°
Avg Speed: 40.54 km/hr
EST Time: 13:45
Fortescue Falls Lookout to Dales Campground
Driving: 2.33 km
Heading: 358°
Avg Speed: 25.26 km/hr
EST Time: 05:32
Dales Campground to Dales Rest Area
Driving: 1.01 km
Heading: 187°
Avg Speed: 12.47 km/hr
EST Time: 04:51
Dales Rest Area to Dales Gorge Lookout
Driving: 0.37 km
Heading: 101°
Avg Speed: 33.27 km/hr
EST Time: 00:40
Dales Gorge Lookout to Circular Falls and Pool
Driving: 0.75 km
Heading: 46°
Avg Speed: 34.59 km/hr
EST Time: 01:18
Circular Falls and Pool to Dales Gorge Lookout
Driving: 0.75 km
Heading: 226°
Avg Speed: 34.59 km/hr
EST Time: 01:18
Dales Gorge Lookout to Dales Rest Area
Driving: 0.37 km
Heading: 281°
Avg Speed: 33.27 km/hr
EST Time: 00:40
Dales Rest Area to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Driving: 17.6 km
Heading: 226°
Avg Speed: 58.51 km/hr
EST Time: 18:02
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Driving: 87.86 km
Heading: 268°
Avg Speed: 66.12 km/hr
EST Time: 01:19:43
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Driving: 25.59 km
Heading: 42°
Avg Speed: 45.98 km/hr
EST Time: 33:23
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Driving: 13.15 km
Heading: 105°
Avg Speed: 45.33 km/hr
EST Time: 17:24
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd to Kalamina Gorge Lookout
Driving: 5.93 km
Heading: 63°
Avg Speed: 38.8 km/hr
EST Time: 09:10
Kalamina Gorge Lookout to Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd
Driving: 5.93 km
Heading: 243°
Avg Speed: 38.8 km/hr
EST Time: 09:10
Banjima Dve & Kalamina Rd to Knox Lookout
Driving: 15.92 km
Heading: 319°
Avg Speed: 30.82 km/hr
EST Time: 30:59
Knox Lookout to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Driving: 8.44 km
Heading: 226°
Avg Speed: 29.7 km/hr
EST Time: 17:03
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Weano Gorge
Driving: 12.82 km
Heading: 32°
Avg Speed: 39.17 km/hr
EST Time: 19:38
Weano Gorge to Karijini Eco-Retreat
Driving: 11.53 km
Heading: 218°
Avg Speed: 32.98 km/hr
EST Time: 20:58
Karijini Eco-Retreat to Banjima Dve & Weano Rd
Driving: 4.65 km
Heading: 203°
Avg Speed: 24.26 km/hr
EST Time: 11:30
Banjima Dve & Weano Rd to Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve
Driving: 25.59 km
Heading: 222°
Avg Speed: 45.98 km/hr
EST Time: 33:23
Karijini Dve & Banjima Dve to RIP Lookout
Driving: 32 km
Heading: 240°
Avg Speed: 65.36 km/hr
EST Time: 29:22
RIP Lookout to Tom Price
Driving: 18.22 km
Heading: 260°
Avg Speed: 70.45 km/hr
EST Time: 15:31
Distance is based on the travel mode shown (Driving, Straight, Cycling, Walking etc), Direction is straight line from start to end, Avg Speed & EST Time is calculated from GPS data.

What to See

Facilities

Where to Stay

Services & Supplies

Wildflowers

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