Karijini is one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Western Australia. It’s simply magic – beautiful gorges, refreshing spots for swimming, and the classic red dirt of the outback. I ended up spending two extra days here because of a road closure, and I’m so glad I did. If you’re driving through WA or road tripping the West Coast, do NOT miss a trip to Karijini! Here are the top things to see and do in Karijini National Park.

How to Get to Karijini National Park

You will need our own vehicle to get here. While some areas of the park are suitable for 2WD cars, I recommend having a 4WD. Some of the unsealed roads are pretty rough – even driving to Weano and Hancock Gorges, you should really have a 4WD. Check a map to see which roads are sealed/unsealed, before committing to your GoogleMaps directions.

What to Do in Karijini National Park

Hamersley Gorge

This was the first place I visited in Karijini. I arrived after a long driving day, and a slow-going unsealed road. There was barely anyone else here in the late afternoon, and getting in the water was so refreshing! Swim down the river a bit, but don’t miss the Handrail Pool. The Instagram-famous Hermit Pool is here, too – I actually didn’t find it, so you’ll have to tell me about it!

Joffre Gorge

Joffre Gorge was easily one of my favorite spots in Karijini. I liked it so much, I went back for another day a few days after my first visit! Hike down the gorge, and then wade over to the large pool for a relaxing dip. If you want a bit of a challenge, head left, through the narrow rocky gorge, and swim out along the river. I couldn’t stop thinking of the song Just Around the Riverbend from Pocohontas while I was swimming down the river!

Weano Gorge

Unfortunately, the Handrail Pool here was closed when I visited – the water was stagnant and not safe to swim. The trail down to the gorge isn’t too challenging. But when you head into the gorge itself, is when the fun begins! The narrow gorge walls make this section difficult – you might need to use all four limbs to climb above the water! (There was no water when I went, at the very end of the Dry season).

Hancock Gorge

This is another epic gorge to see in Karijini. There are quite a few staircases to get you down into the gorge. Then, you’ll be hiking through water (which may be up to your waist!), or using hands and feet to go along the gorge and reach Kermit’s Pool. Hancock Gorge is one spot I really recommend using water shoes or hiking sandals you can get wet. I actually didn’t end up hiking through the water, as Kermit’s Pool was closed for swimming (and I couldn’t be bothered!).

Oxer Lookout and Junction Pool Lookouts

These viewpoints near Weano and Hancock Gorge are just a short walk from the main car park, although they do have their own small car park here. The panorama over the gorges and rugged landscape of Karijini is just jaw-dropping. Make sure you don’t miss this spot when in Karijini!

Dales Gorge and Fortescue Falls

Dales Gorge, along with Joffre Gorge, were my two favorite places in Karijini National Park. There’s a great hike you can do here, which goes out to Circular Pool Lookout, and then down into the gorge and along the river to Fortescue Falls. Altogether, this hike was 4.5km and took me about 1.5 hours – although I spent several hours in the middle swimming at Fortescue Falls!

Fern Pool

This secluded pool is just a short walk away from Fortescue Falls. There is a platform and benches here to lay out, but it’s not a huge area. It’s much quieter than Fortescue Falls. If you’re headed here, bring a floatie with you so you can chill in the water!

Mount Bruce

Mount Bruce is the second-highest mountain in Western Australia – and hiking it at sunrise was one of my top experiences in all of Australia, and an incredible moment on my Karijini trip. The hike starts out easy, on well-trodden paths over grassy terrain. As you progress, there are some rocky bits of the trail, which require a bit of scrambling. One particularly challenging section has a chain on the rock wall to help guide you. The trail is well-marked with trail markers throughout. The views from the top were epic. Seeing the sun climb up over the peaks, casting a golden glow over Mount Bruce, is a moment I’ll never forget. I turned to my friend and simply said, with a huge smile on my face gesturing at the view, “good shit.”

The hike in total is 11km, with 586 meters of elevation gain. It took me 1 hour and 35 minutes to get to the summit – I spent about 20 minutes here, admiring the view. It took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to get back down. So, the total hike time was about 3 hours and 15 minutes. If you want to see the actual sunrise from the top, I’d recommend setting off about 2 hours before sunrise.

The national park does not recommend that any part of this hike is done in the dark – I never plan to do any hiking in the dark when I’m on my own. But I felt comfortable doing this hike with a friend. Be sure to bring a good headlamp if you’re hiking in the dark!

Kalamina Gorge

This was one gorge I missed in Karijini. Unfortunately, the road to get to Kalamina Gorge is meant to be rough – you NEED to have a 4WD, and be ready for bad corrugations. If you have the time and a sturdy 4WD vehicle, go for it. But if you don’t, this is one place in Karijini you’ll need to miss.

Knox Gorge

This gorge is west of Karijini Eco Retreat, past Joffre Gorge and accessed from Joffre Road. I didn’t end up going here as I’d parked at the eco retreat, and didn’t want to drive all the way around. But it’s a pretty gorge to visit, and there’s great views from the lookout here.

Planning Your Trip to Karijini National Park

The nearest airport is Tom Price airport, however this is a very small airport with mainly local and regional flights. Exmouth airport in the west or Broome airport will be the most convenient for flights – I use Skyscanner to find the best flight details. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. There are no grocery stores or shops in Karijini, so stock up on groceries at Port Hedland or Tom Price before heading into the national park.

Standard park entry fees apply for Karijini. The park entry fee is $17 AUD per vehicle, but I recommend getting a Western Australia parks pass. You can get a month-long pass for $70 AUD, or a year-long pass for $130 AUD. Both of these are better value than paying for each park individually! Note that the only shower facilities in the national park are at Karijini Eco Retreat for guests, or the Karijini Visitor Center ($4 AUD per shower). You’ll need your own car in Karijini, and I highly recommend having a 4WD vehicle to deal with the unsealed roads. If you’re after a tour, check out this full-day tour which leaves from Tom Price.

Where to Stay in Karijini National Park

There are only two accommodation providers in Karijini: Karijini Eco Retreat and Dales Campground. Karijini Eco Retreat has a number of different options, including a range of glamping tents and unpowered campsites. I spent two nights at Dales Campground – there are quite a few different areas, as the campground is massive. The facilities (drop toilets) are basic, but it’s affordable at $11 AUD per person, per night.

I also stayed at two of the main free camps in Karijini: Buddhas Overnighter, and the Mount Bruce Free Camp. Buddhas Overnighter has a great location, right across the entrance road to Hamersley Gorge. Mount Bruce Free Camp is off the main (sealed) road through the national park to Tom Price. It’s just a couple minutes down the road to the Mount Bruce car park, so a great spot if you’re planning an early morning wake-up call to hike Mount Bruce at sunrise. There are no facilities at either of these free camps, so be sure to leave no trace.

Other accommodation can be found in Tom Price, which has a big caravan park and a motel. Auski Tourist Village also offers roadhouse accommodation on the road into Karijini from Port Hedland.

Karijini National Park was such a highlight of my time in Western Australia. I loved every day – despite the flies – and had the best time swimming wherever I could and exploring the gorges. Don’t miss this epic national park in Australia! I hope this guide helps planning your trip to Karijini.

Have you visited Karijini yet? What were your favorite spots?

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