Karijini National Park – 2 Day Itinerary Guide

If you are planning a road trip through Western Australia in a car or camper, Karijini National Park is a must do! Karijini is Western’s Australia second largest national park and is easily one of the most instagrammable parks in Australia. It has a super unique landscape with a number of beautiful gorges and waterfalls. In this article I will provide a 2 day itinerary on the top things to do for Karijini National Park, as well as try to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get to Karijini National Park?

Karijini National Park is really located in the middle of nowhere, but then the whole of Western Australia is super spread out! You will need your own mode of transport to get to Karijini National Park, it’s about a 3 hour drive from Port Hedland and 6 hours from Exmouth.

Nearest gas stations to Karijini National Park

The nearest gas stations to Karijini National Park are:

• Auski Tourist Village is just before the entrance of the park if you’re driving from Port Hedland.
• Tom Price has 2 gas stations: Shell and a Coles Express.

Make sure to fill up before visiting!

Do you need a 4WD?

You do not need a 4WD (or 4×4) to visit Karijini but it is recommended! If you had a 2WD car make sure you drink extra slow and carefully. A lot of the roads are sealed however there are still lots of loose rocks around and the road that joins the east of the park to the west is unsealed (please see below), however you can avoid this by going out of the park and back in on another road.

We actually had a 4WD but still managed to get a slow puncture (despite being super careful). Luckily it was super easy to fix and only cost 45$.

Where to stay in Karijini National Park?

The best place to stay in Karijini National Park is within the park itself, as it will save you a lot of time (and less driving back and forth). However this does mean sleeping in your car or forking out for a ridiculously expensive tent at Karijini Eco Retreat.

You can stay at Dales Campground free of charge, however the facilities aren’t the best (no water or BBQ but there is a bush toilet). Or you can pay $20 per person to park at Karijini Eco Retreat to have access to their water, toilets/showers and BBQs, you can either sleep in your car/ campervan or pitch a tent.

Photo by Karijini Eco Retreat.

If you are hoping for more comfort then you might want to stay at the Tom Price Tourist Park just outside Karijini National Park. Here you will also find a few shops and restaurants. But make sure you book in advance as it’s the only accommodation in Tom Price.

I also stayed one night at Cheela Plains as we were heading to Exmouth next and it was in the right direction (cutting an hour off our drive for the next day).

Are there crocodiles in Karijini National Park?

No! Karijini National Park is so far inland (and far enough south) that you won’t find a single crocodile. So you are free to swim in all the pool and bodies of water in the park.

When is the best time to visit Karijini National Park?

The best time to visit Karijini National Park is from April to September, as it is more cool and dry, the average maximum temperatures remain below 30°C. However during this time the nights are rather cool, varying between 15°C and 10°C. If you’re planning on sleeping in your car make sure you bring some layers!

How many days do you need in Karijini?

As it is such a drive to get here I would recommend spending at least 2 days at Karijini National Park.

DAY 1 – You can spend the first morning driving there from Port Hedland, then visit the sites to the east of the park: Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool and Circular Pool. You can then finish the day at Joffre Gorge.

DAY 2 – Spend the second day exploring the west side of the park. Complete the spider walk at Hancock Gorge. Whilst you’re here you also might want to check out Weano Gorge if you have time. Then drive over to Hamersley Gorge to check out the beautiful spa pool (it’s about a 1.5 hour drive there).

If you have more time and are an avid hiker, you might want to consider hiking up Mt Bruce. I would recommend starting this hike at sunrise as it takes around 4-6 hours return. Personally we didn’t do this hike as we were there in February and it was incredibly hot!

Is there an entrance fee for Karijini National Park?

Yes, you will need a pass to enter Karijini National Park. You can bring this IN CASH to pay into the box as you arrive into the park ($13 per car per day), or if you are planning on road tripping through Western Australia then I would recommend buying a national parks pass online and printing it before your trip. At just $40 for 14 days and $60 for 4 weeks this pass will save you a lot of time and money.

Photo by Australia.com

Top Things to do in Karijini National Park

1) Take a dip in Hamersley Gorge

One of the most recognisable places (and the most photographed) in Karijini National Park is the beautiful Spa Pool in Hamersley Gorge.

Hamersley Gorge is located on the north-western side of the park. It is a big swimming hole with incredible layered cliffs and a couple of waterfalls.

If you want to find the insta-famous spa pool at Hamersley Gorge then as you walk away from the car park you want to head off the path to the right and follow the river upstream to the spa pool and waterfall. The spa pool is actually pinned on Google Maps (please see below).

The natural spa pool has recently had a ladder and handrails installed to make it easier and safer to access. However it is slippy, and there have been a number of accidents here, so please be careful!

2) Walk through Hancock Gorge

One of the coolest things to do in Karijini National Park is to hike through the beautiful red-rocked Hancock Gorge to Kermit’s Pool. This class 5 hike is often described as ‘journeying into the centre of the earth’ and it’s easy to understand why – the ancient rock formations in this gorge are over 2.5 billion years old!

The hike will take you about one hour each way (two hours return). Make sure you bring sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. Please be aware that there are times when your bottom half will be completely submerged, unless you are able to climb along the rocks on the side.

3) Relax next to Fortescue Falls

To the east of Karijini National Park you’ll find Dales Gorge. From this carpark you can visit a number of sites included Fortescue Falls, the park’s only permanent waterfall. It’s one of the most accessible places to swim and also super pretty! To get to Fortescue Falls you just need to follow the stairs down from the car park for about 15 minutes.

4) Cool down in the Fern Pool

Just a 15 minute walk from Fortescue falls is the spring-fed turquoise Fern pool. This is another great spot to chill out and swim.

As we were there during the dry season we didn’t end up swimming here as the water looked very

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5) Explore Joffre Gorge

Another super impressive gorge to explore in Karjini National Park is Joffre Gorge. You can choose to just check out the great views from the observation platform near the car park, or head down the steep, but short, trail down to the base of the gorge. Make sure you head right and follow the stream into a natural amphitheatre-like gorge with a curved waterfall.

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6) Hike Mt Bruce

The final top thing to do in Karijini National Park is hike up Mount Bruce (Punurrunha). The mountain is located to the west of the park, not too far from Tom Price. At 1,234 meters, it’s the second highest peak in Western Australia. Mt Bruce is a 10km (return) class 5 hike and will take you around 4 to 6 hours, so it’s not for the faint-hearted!

If you are planning on hiking Mt Bruce I would aim to go at sunrise so you can avoid walking during the midday sun as much as possible.

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